She looked into the girls’ faces with a half-questioning, half-pleading expression as if fearful that this confession of her possession of a title would raise a barrier between them.

“What was your title?” asked Hinpoha, leaning forward in her chair and immensely impressed.

“My father was the Baron Szathmar-Vasarhely,” replied Veronica.  “I was what would be called in English Lady Veronica Szathmar-Vasarhely.”

“Lady—­what?” asked Hinpoha in comical bewilderment.

Veronica laughed.

“Do you wonder why I changed my name when I came to America and took the simple, sensible name of Lehar?  Imagine going to school here under the name of Veronica Szathmar-Vasarhely!  You can just hear the teachers pronouncing it, can’t you?  Why, I’d never have any friends at all, because people would rather avoid me than attempt to introduce me to anybody!  Besides, it’s extravagant to have such a name, it takes so much ink to sign it!  Lehar is ever so much more convenient.  You can’t tell how light and airy I feel since I threw away that long name!”

“But Veronica, why didn’t you tell us before about this?” asked Hinpoha.  “We never dreamed your name had ever been anything else but Lehar!”

“Because I was afraid you wouldn’t take me into your group and treat me as one of yourselves,” said Veronica simply.  “I did so want to be an American like the rest of you.  I was afraid you might object to having a title in your midst.  But now you really love me and won’t let it make any difference?” she pleaded wistfully.

“Of course not, you goose,” said Sahwah emphatically.  “We love you for yourself and it wouldn’t make any difference to us if you had a title as long as a kite tail!  Now do you believe it?” and she bestowed a convincing hug on Veronica that nearly took her breath away.

“But Veronica,” said Nyoda, both amused and perplexed, “is it possible to throw away a title like that?  If you were born Lady Veronica Szathmar-Vasarhely can you deliberately say you ‘won’t be it’?  I thought titles either had to be kept or formally transferred to someone else.  Until this is done you are still the rightful owner of the title under the law of your country and no one else can claim it.”

“They can’t make me go back, can they?” cried Veronica, starting up in alarm.

“Why, no,” replied Nyoda reassuringly, “and I suppose if you want to give up your claim to the title nobody will stop you.  I was simply amused at the way you announced that you had ‘thrown away’ your title and proposed to have nothing further to do with it.”

“I won’t go back!” declared Veronica with kindling eyes, springing to her feet and clenching her little fists.  “I won’t!  I won’t!  I’m going to be an American, so there!  I won’t be a baroness!” Her great black eyes flashed lightnings at the girls, who looked at her in consternation.  Veronica, in a passion, was something to strike awe into the breast of the beholder.