“I’d hate to have you, Frieda!” cried Beth giving her maid a warm little impetuous hug. “I think you’re the nicest girl! And you’re young and pretty. I like Anna Mary, of course, but I really don’t know what I’d do if I had to have such a solemn, rather frightening person to wait on me. Don’t you worry one bit, Frieda. You’ll see! The gym club is the Tanagers and Bluebirds. That’s what the girls are called. And I’m one of the bluebirds. Don’t you know the bluebird stands for happiness? Well, then! I’m going to be a real bluebird. But it will be Uncle Jim and Aunt Alida who will be more really bluebirds than I can be, because they can have Liebchen cured. I just know it will all turn out like a story. My! Aunt Rebecca isn’t one bit right! She is sort of afraid of money, but it’s like having a big, bottomless fairy chest that you can dip into and bring up most anything, for anybody! Does Liebchen speak English, or is she too young to have learned it?” “She was born in America, Miss Beth. I was only six years old when I came here,” replied Frieda. Beth was half-way to the door, suddenly realizing that she might be late in the gymnasium. She paused to say: “Isn’t that strange, Frieda? It must mix up families dreadfully to come to America. Queer to be German and have an American sister! You see if you don’t have a well-and-strong American sister! I’m sure the bluebird name is going to work.” With which this particular little bluebird flew out of the room, her short, full silken skirt fanned out by the opening of the door until it took only a slight effort of imagination to see her wings. At the door of the gymnasium Beth paused. The hum of voices, the pounding of heavy weights, the muffled pad of feet told her that while she had been getting ready and talking to Frieda the girls, of whom she was considerably afraid, had arrived. Summoning her courage she opened the door gently and slipped in through the smallest opening that allowed her to do so.