felt badly enough, and it did mean so much to her," finished the
sympathetic scout.

"Oh, yes, I suppose so," rather reluctantly agreed the ambitious
Grace. "But I shouldn't relish the feeling that some grimy mill
girl was wearing the badge in a smoky factory."

"Oh, Grace, shame! That's not scouty. You must not speak so of the
mill girls. We hope to take some of them in our troop before long.
We would have no right to public support if we did not do
something definite for others, and the mill girls have so few
chances. So don't, Gracie dear, ever speak like that again."

"I won't if you say so, also if it isn't scouty. I am out to win
the goal, and I don't mind what I may have to do to get my scout
good conduct ball into the official basket. Now, how's the heel?
Did the little pad of soft leaves help to keep the pressure off?"

"Yes, that was a fine idea, and I shall see to it that some day,
when original work is called for, you get credit for the nature-
aid heel pad. Rather a clumsy title, but when we explain how easy
it is to get soft leaves to make pads for suffering feet, I am
sure it will be welcome news to many an ambitious hiker."

"Oh, Madie dear," suddenly exclaimed Grace. "Where are the girls
gone? They are not in the hazel nut clump, and I can't hear a
sound!"

"Oh, my! Suppose they have gone looking for us the other way?"