The scene before her was so pretty that Beth forgot all about the timid Bluebird hovering on its threshold. Sixteen girls in various shades and designs of warm red and brilliant blue costumes were running, fencing, tumbling, perching on horizontal bars, swinging dumb-bells, stretching their flexible young muscles in all sorts of ways to get them into order for the real business of the day. Among them, in a sense, but quite apart, stood Dirk in black, his black silk jersey ornamented with a monogram combining the blues and red of the club colors. Dirk’s expression was disdainful, yet Beth saw at a glance that he was enjoying his boyish sense of superiority over inferior girls. He was the first to espy Beth and beckoned to her frantically to hurry on. A tall young man, splendidly vigorous and strong, with a friendly, jolly face Beth guessed was Mr. Leonard, the instructor. She felt immediately that he was full of a big-boyishness which justified Dirk in saying that it was suitable to call him “Bob” Leonard. Dirk came over to escort Beth into the room; he meant to carry out his promise and see her through. Natalie swung down from a bar on which she had been perched, like a great tanager in her vivid scarlet gymnasium suit. Natalie was perpetually taking away her little cousin’s breath by her tropical beauty, seen in a new setting. Beth looked at her now quite overawed, and Natalie laughed, pleased by the adoration she saw in those honest blue-gray eyes. “Come along, Cozbeth! Isn’t that a nice name? Not Elizabeth, but Cousin Elizabeth, then just little Cozbeth! Come along, Bethie dear, and get acquainted with the girls and everything,” Natalie said, joining Dirk and Beth. She led the way across the floor to Mr. Leonard. “Mr. Leonard, this is a new bluebird we’ve captured. My cousin, Beth Bristead, from Massachusetts. Beth, this is Mr. Leonard who teaches us more than we are clever enough to learn,” said Natalie. Beth smiled back with her ready friendliness to the friendly smile Mr. Leonard bent upon her. But she found time to notice how grown up Natalie’s little speech sounded and to think that Natalie had inherited from Aunt Alida her pretty tact, as well as her dark eyes. “Now, face the music, Cozbeth!” whispered Natalie, wheeling Beth around toward the girls. “Tanagers and Bluebirds, here’s the new Bluebird. Some of you know her already. I’m not going to introduce you all separately. This is my cousin, Beth Bristead, and she’s our duck, as well as our Yankee bluebird.” Beth’s face was crimson, but she smiled bravely, trying to conquer her shyness. “We’ll begin now that your cousin has come, Miss Natalie,” said Mr. Leonard. “Oh, were you all waiting for me? Isn’t that dreadful!” cried Beth. “But, Natalie, I had to talk to Frieda. Her little sister’s lame and I want to tell Aunt Alida----”