“To make them ashamed of themselves,” answered Sally promptly. “They look upon us as provincials and almost barbarians. When they find us actuated by feelings of humanity it begins in time to dawn upon them that they are dealing with kinsmen and brothers. Sometimes they are brought to such a keen realization of this that they refuse longer to fight us, and so leave the army. I have reasoned with some of them,” she ended demurely. “I’ll warrant thee has,” laughed Peggy. Thus chatting the girls walked slowly to the house, and then up to Peggy’s own little room where they began to help the latter to dress for the journey. She was ready presently, and then Sally cleared her throat in an oratorical manner. “Mistress Peggy Owen,” she began, untying with a flourish a small package which had escaped Peggy’s notice, “on behalf of The Social Select Circle, of which thee is an honored member, I present thee with this diary with the injunction that thou art to record within its pages everything that befalls thee from the time of thy leaving until the day of thy homecoming.” “All and everything,” supplemented Betty eagerly. “Why, girls, ’tis beautiful,” cried Peggy pleased and surprised by the gift. “It is sweet to be so remembered, and if The Circle wishes me to set down all the happenings of my journey, I will do so with pleasure. But there will be no adventures. ’Tis not to be expected on such a jaunt.” “Every jaunt holds possibilities,” observed Sally sententiously. “When thee was away before, look at all that befell; yet we have not heard the half of what happened because thee forgot. Now if thou wilt write every day in this little book for the benefit of thy friends The Circle can enjoy thy journey as well as thou.” “I’ll do it,” promised Peggy. “But you must not expect much. I shall be gone such a short time that you girls will scarcely have begun to miss me ere I shall be home again. ’Twill be a sad journey, I fear.” “But thy cousin may get well,” interposed Betty. “Just think of the romance contained in an unknown cousin. The relationship is just near enough to be interesting,” she ended with such a languishing air that both Peggy and Sally shook her. “Such an utterance from a member of The Social Select Circle,” rebuked Peggy. “I’m surprised at thee, Betty.” “Oh, the edict against the other sex is revoked now,” declared Betty. “And didn’t we always have better times when Robert was with us than when we were alone?” “We wouldn’t now, though,” answered Sally. “He doesn’t speak French, Betty.” “Sally, thee is dreadful! Don’t listen to her, Peggy. She is always trying to tease.” “I shall not, Betty,” consoled Peggy, casting a mischievous glance at Sally. “Never mind. Thee is patriotic, anyway.” “How?” asked Sally as Betty, foreseeing some further jest, would not speak. “By helping to cement the French Alliance, of course,” laughed Peggy.