Mrs. Vernon paused here and looked at the girls. "I did not read the full text on that article, because I want you each to buy a Handbook and study it yourself. I find there are so many fine thoughts expressed in this book that I doubt whether it is wise of me to read them aloud to you while your minds are filled with the novelty of camp-life. It may not have the lasting impression it should."
"What comes next, Verny--anything about what scouts do on Sunday?" inquired Joan.
The Captain smiled as it was evident that the girls were more concerned in doing what they were told scouts might do on Sundays, than they were in hearing about the ideals and aspirations of the scout order.
"I now have to turn back to page four, where it says: 'It is not meant that Girl Scouts should play or work on Sunday, but that they may take walks where they can carry on a study of plants and animals.' This is all it says regarding Sunday occupation. So I suppose the organizers deemed it wisest to leave it to the discretion of the Captains and scouts in each individual group," commented Mrs. Vernon.
"If that is all the book declares we have to do, then we are at liberty to obey the rule and yet have lots of ways of passing the day," said Joan.
"I should say that reading rules and lessons from the Handbook was considered work," hinted Ruth.
"Then we won't have any more of that kind of work," laughed the Captain, closing the book emphatically.
"Good gracious, Ruth! Reading isn't work--particularly if the reading matter is wholesome as Girl Scout lessons must be. I should as soon say that listening to the preacher at church is not considered Sunday business, just because he lectures on certain interesting subjects connected with the Scriptures," argued Julie.
"Oh, really, you make a 'mountain out of a mole-hill,' Julie, every time I open my mouth," retorted Ruth, impatiently.
But the Captain interrupted this conversation before it gathered any added criticism, by saying: "I want to make a note for a bit of work to be attended to first thing in the morning, and then we will start for a nice walk.
"I find there are a great many wide crevices between the logs of the hut, where rain and insects can enter; especially is this so at the back wall where the timbers rest against the rocky side of the cliff.