莫德的到来令大家十分高兴。然而，她的决定却令所有人大吃一惊。她竟然想到前线当一名护士！帕齐和贝丝受到莫德的感染，也想随她同去，约翰叔叔则极力反对。琼斯决定支持女孩们的决定，和她们一同到前线去，并邀请大家乘坐他的快艇启程。大家真的会去前线吗？
A sweet—faced girl，very attractive but with a sad and anxious expression，descended from the Pullman and brightened as she found her friends standing with outstretcheda arms to greet her.
"Oh，Maud！"cried Patsy，usurpingb the first hug，"howglad I am to see you again！"Beth looked in Maud Stanton's face and forborec to speak as she embraced her friend.Then Jones shook both hands of the new arrival and Uncle John kissed her with the same tenderness he showed his own nieces.
This reception seemed to cheer Maud Stanton immensely.She even smiled during the drive to Willing Square—a winning，gracious smile that would have caused her to be instantly recognized in almost any community of our vast country；for this beautiful young girl was a famous motion picture actress，possessing qualities that had endearedd her to every patron of the better class photo—dramas.
At first she had been forced to adopt this occupation by the stern necessity of earning a livelihood，and under the careful guidance of her aunt—Mrs.Jane Montrose，a widow who had at one time been a favorite in New York social circles—Maud and her sister Florence had applied themselves so intelligentlyto their art that their compensation had become liberal enoughto enable them to save a modest competence.
One cause of surprise at Maud's sudden journey east was the fact that her services were in eager demand by the managers of the best producing companies on the Pacific Coast，where nearly all the American pictures are now made.Another cause for surprise was that she came alone，leaving her Aunt Jane and her sister Flo—usually her inseparable companion—in Los Angeles.
But they did not question her until the cosy home at Willing Square was reached，luncheon served and Maud installed in the "Guest Room."Then the three girls had "a good，long talk"and presently came trooping into the library to enlighten Uncle John and Ajo.
"Oh，Uncle！What do you think？"cried Patsy."Maud isgoing to the war！""The war！"echoed Mr.Merrick in a bewildered voice."What on earth can—""She is going to be a nurse，"explained Beth，a soft glow of enthusiasm mantlinga her pretty face."Isn't it splendid，Uncle！""H—m，"said Uncle John，regarding the girl with wonder."It is certainly a—a—surprising venture.""But—see here，Maud—it's mighty dangerous，"protested young Jones."It's a tremendous undertaking，and—what can one girl do in the midst of all those horrors？"Maud seated herself quietly between them.Her face was grave and thoughtful.
"I have had to answer many such arguments before now，as you may suspect，"she began in even tones，"but the fact that I am here，well on my journey，is proof that I have convinced my aunt，my sister and all my western friends that I am at least determined on my mission，whether it be wise or foolish.I do not think I shall incura danger by caring for the wounded；the Red Cross is highly respected everywhere，these days.""The Red Cross？"quothb Uncle John.
"Yes；I shall wear the Red Cross，"she continued."You know that I am a trained nurse；it was part of my education before—before—""I had not known that until now，"said Mr.Merrick，"but I am glad you have had that training.Beth began a course at the school here，but I took her away to Europe before she graduated.However，I wish more girls could be trained for nursing，as it is a more useful and admirable accomplishment than most of them now acquire.""Fox—Trots and Bunny—Hugs，for instance，"said Patriciawith fine disdain.
"Patsy is a splendid nurse，"declared Ajo，with a grateful look toward that chubby miss.
"But untrained，"she answered laughingly."It was justcommon sense that enabled me to cure your malady，Ajo.I couldn't bandage a cut or a bullet wound to save me.""Fortunately，"said Maud，"I have a diploma whichwill gain for me the endorsementa of the American Red Cross Society.I am counting on that to enable me to get an appointment at the seat of war，where I can be of most use.""Where will you go？"asked the boy."To Germany，Austria，Russia，Belgium，or—""I shall go to France，"she replied."I speak French，but understand little of German，although once I studied the language.""Are you fully resolved upon this course，Maud？"askedMr.Merrick in a tone of regret.
"Fully decided，sir.I am going to Washington to—morrow，to get my credentials，and then I shall take the first steamer to Europe."There was no use arguing with Maud Stanton when she assumed that tone.It was neither obstinateb nor defiant，yet it conveyed a quiet resolve that was unanswerable.
For a time they sat in silence，musing on the many phasesof this curious project；then Beth came to Mr.Merrick's side and asked pleadingly：
"May I go with her，Uncle？"
"Great Scott！"he exclaimed，with a nervous jump."You，Beth？""Yes，Uncle.I so long to be of help to those poor fellows who are being so cruelly sacrificed；and I know I can soothe much suffering，if I have the opportunity."He stared at her，not knowing what to reply.This quaint little man was so erratica himself，in his sudden resolves and eccentric actions，that he could scarcely quarrel with his niece for imitating an example he had frequently set.Still，he was shrewd enough to comprehend the reckless daring of theproposition.
"Two unprotected girls in the midst of war and carnage，surrounded by foreigners，inspired to noble sacrifice through ignorance and inexperience，and hardly old enough to travel alone from Hoboken to Brooklyn！Why，the thing's absurd，"he said.
