Among Ethel's school friends was a girl--Nannie Bigelow by name--of
whom she was very fond. Nannie had a brother in Yale whom she (Ethel)
disliked. He was a member of the ultra fashionable set and was desirous
of making a wealthy match, as his family as well had little but their
name. One of his sisters had married a titled man and lived abroad. It
was Mrs. Hollister's ambition to have Ethel like Harvey Bigelow, although
she knew that he had as little money as she. She tried to adjust things
satisfactorily, and being a clever woman she hit upon a plan which we
shall reveal later. Of course, the girl was only sixteen and must first
graduate. Ethel, who had imbibed many of her mother's fallacies, did not
openly rebel. She was quite a little snob in her way, nor did she realize
what the family daily sacrificed for her, although her heart smote her
when she saw how her father was aging, for she adored him; nor were her
eyes opened until after she had joined the Camp Fire.

Grandmother Hollister had two sons, John and Archie. Kate Hollister was
the daughter of the former. They lived in Columbus, Ohio, and Kate had
been invited to visit her New York relatives. She was a tall, handsome
girl much older than Ethel, for she was over thirty. Kate was the
Guardian of a company of eight Camp Fire Girls called the "Ohio." She had
told her grandmother and Ethel all about the new movement one evening,
and Ethel who loved the romantic side of camping out was crazy to have
Kate obtain permission from her mother to let her join, as her father had
said that she might visit Columbus that coming summer. But lo! when she
spoke to Mrs. Archie--or Aunt Bella--about it she was politely snubbed.
When Kate tried to explain how wonderful was the organization and what
benefit a girl--especially a delicate girl like Ethel--could derive from
belonging, the lady sneered and likened it to the Salvation Army and
forbade her guest from mentioning it to the girl or even speaking of it