"When this chance came up, Tom and I thought at first, of course, just as you did, that it was quite out of the question; but--well, we decided to let her go. And I haven't been sorry a minute since. She's Tom's only brother's child, but we've never been able to do much for her, as you know. We can let her have this chance, though. And she's so happy--dear child!" "But what is it? How did it happen? Who's going? Edith's story sounded so absurd to me I could make precious little out of it. She insisted that the 'Happy X's' were going." The minister's wife smiled. "It's the girls' 'Hexagon Club,' Sophronia. They call themselves the 'Happy Hexagons.' There are six of them." "Humph!" commented Miss Sophronia. "Who are they--besides Cordelia?" "Bertha Brown, Tilly Mack, Alma Lane, Elsie Martin, and Genevieve Hartley." "And _who_?" frowned Miss Sophronia at the last name. "Genevieve Hartley. She is the little Texas girl. It is to her ranch they are going." "_Her_ ranch!" "Well--her father's." "But who is she? What's she doing here?" "She's been going to school this winter. She's at the Kennedys'." "A Texas ranch-girl at the Kennedys'! Why, they're _nice_ people!" exclaimed Miss Sophronia, opening wide her eyes. Mrs. Wilson laughed now outright. "You'd better not let Miss Genevieve hear you say 'nice' in that tone of voice--and in just that connection, Sophronia," she warned her. "Genevieve might think you meant to insinuate that there weren't any _nice_ people in Texas--and she's very fond of Texas!" Miss Sophronia smiled grimly. "Well, I don't mean that, of course. Still, a ranch must be sort of wild and--and mustangy, seems to me; and I was thinking of the Kennedys, especially Miss Jane Chick. Imagine saying 'wild' and 'Miss Jane' in the same breath!" "Yes, I know," smiled Mrs. Wilson; "and I guess Genevieve has been something of a trial--in a way; though they love her dearly--both of them. She's a very lovable girl. But she _is_ heedless and thoughtless; and, of course, she wasn't at all used to our ways here in the East. Her mother died when she was eight years old; since then she has been brought up by her father on the ranch. She blew into Sunbridge last August like a veritable breeze from her own prairies--and the Kennedy home isn't used to breezes--especially Miss Jane. I imagine Genevieve did stir things up a little there all winter--though she has improved a great deal since she came." "But why did she come in the first place?" Mrs. Wilson smiled oddly.