her for breakfast or dinner, Miss Wilson made a point of looking about both rooms to see that each article was as it should be. The very calmness of her manner was exasperating. Eli

ntended using it in a few minutes. She did not grant herself a second's grace. Her efforts were untiring during the first and seco

e discovered that she put her clothes away without thinking about it. She discov

dainty little widow, with a manner which she supposed to be pleasant and ingratiating but which the girls te

her daily rounds, she found both

er her. "I wish to commend you on the improvement you have made in keeping your apartments in order. It has been

credit to myself for the improvement. I've had such an example and men

the remark until Mrs. Smiles, smiling and bowing, dragg

evening. But I was provoked and-and-humiliated. Miss Watson ha

ould not have been more outwardly calm. I fancy Miss Watson went away in admiration o

oice, for in spite of her effort to forget, the

y my best to keep quiet when I'm angry; but now and then I express myself before I realize it. You can't expect perfection in any

ou hold such an opinion. From the way you spoke that

where Elizabeth stood, and throwing her arms about her, cried out, "You must not talk like that,

at time matters between the two moved smoothly as at first; but Elizabeth did not relax her vigilance. She realized how others might be inconvenienced and mortified by her carelessne

g. The Saturday previous she received a box from her mother. It was filled with all the good things a mother's heart co

cried, tossing back her hair, and talking as excitedly as

expressman was already there, wit

rth. When the contents had been properly disposed of on every available window-sill, study-table and on the floor close to the wall where they would not be in

corridors long after the retiring-bell has sounded its last warning; it means bated breaths, whispers and suppressed giggles. Its regalia is dressing-gowns or kimonos with bedroom slippers. It means mysterious knocks at

for them, if the time and place were opportune. But never in the history of school-life has permission been asked. Wit

she exclaimed, "after the lights are out. Do you think we could have it

upposed to be risky, else it would n

Exeter girls knew not friendship. Elizabeth could see that the girl herself made no advances. From her attitude, it was impossible to judge whether she was proud or shy. Scarcely the latter, for she carried herself with a self-poise which was suggestive of con

t ask her,

y n

None of the girls ever invite he

ch none of the other girls do, so I might as wel

'Day up and make a friend of her, t

opportunity, for I can let them as severely alone as they do Nora O'Day. If I cannot invite whom I please to my spread without asking the advice of a dozen other girls

have never done so. I treat h

comes where you girls are together. I know no evil of her. She has always treated me nicely, and I

beth, if yo

She was never tempted to tell news or bruit from one student to another what was no concern of hers. She hesitated because she was un

t if you ask Nora O'Day, you may expect to find me occupied at that time. Landis will not mind if

used by each and all of her friends. At Bitumen, her parents and Miss Hale had influenced her. But there had been such a sweet unselfishness in all they did, such an evidence that they were working for her good, that Elizabeth had allowed their will to become her own. As she considered the matter now, she could remember no instance when she had been co

hority, such a desire to have her own will in this, Elizabeth would have dropped the matter without a thought. But now she felt that she would ask Miss O'Day. If she d

re than any of the faculty." There was one thing they would teach her, she decided instantly, and that was to form her own opinions of people, and to follow out h

to jot down the names of those to be invited. Nora O'Day's name headed the list with Azzie Hogan's tagged on at the last. The majority of the girls were at cla

rom instruments where other girls drew discords-who would sit all day at the piano, and not find the time long; and who spent her leisure in dawdling over sofas, or playing practical jokes on every one about her. She was a long-limbed, fair-haired girl, wit

her rooms with cream for cocoa, and a few forks and spoons, borrowing cups and plates from the girls in the hall. Elizabeth had a class l

he last touches to a composition for the following day's rhetoric. Min was sitting on a low chair by the window, sewing braid on the bottom of a d

ood?" she asked. "She is putting a new braid on my everyday skirt. I caught my heel in it yesterday and rippe

sked Elizabeth. "D

he had been writing. She might have placed it there to keep the papers from being scattered over the room, but it looked more as though she placed it in a position to hide the title. She sank down in a low chair beside Elizabeth and watched Min work. Her speech impressed her hearer that she was doing work of so high an order that common spirits like her own could not

ork Landis does. What one of us likes to do, the other one don't. So we fit fairly well as roommates. This noon when she was complaining about the mending she must do, I told her I'd do

She stopped her as quickly as was consistent with tact. When

ur father is planning," said Land

er; she had merely stopped in to ask them both to come to her ro

f she thought of it. But that is the difference, a mother would think. If father was there, I'd go home to-morrow. But he won't be, so I would rather stay here than be in that

eave Min alone," she said, as though

eth. "I know her. I met her t

ing acquaintance, instead of one on whom she was depending for all she had. "I often think she would make an a

hat innocent way which springs from the heart of

he impression her manner gave to one who was merely a casual observer was that she deliberated and thoug

how it is with a family like ours-in fact all English families of the upper class. We've lived in one place for generations, and always have played the Lady Bountiful to the poorer folk until they grow to believe they have a claim u

ice's friends. She forthwith expressed her admirat

s statements made the evening of the reception, and now heard those made by Landis, she did not reach a conclusion in regard to t

he spread! Y

on! Of course we'll come. We have

e readiness. It was not until Azzie w

"If Smiles will allow me to do overtime this evening, I won't be able to com

be cranky. We want y

y-a little German composition. I want to work on it. It isn't

rtments, but this surpassed anything else at the Hall. The draperies between the doors were of imported India material; her tea-table showed many pieces of Royal Worcester; her extra chairs were of fine cabinet woods. The occupant of the room was se

he fashion of a grown-up woman. It was more noticeable, perhaps, beca

to a chair. She was pleased that Elizabeth had called, yet her manne

she said. "But I am glad you have come at last.

utiful, Miss O'Day," she said. "As you say, this is the first time I have been in them, but I ha

n before and seen it cl

question. She was not skilled in the littl

me come, though you have always been very pleasant when I have met you in the hal

d the good faith of this statement. But the glance satisfied her that her visitor was not acting a part. She leaned forwa

d lest I intrude. Your roommate, Miss Wilson, would not b

nothing at all to do with my callers. Surely

irl influences another so. I knew Miss Wilson did not wish me to come. How was I to know that she had

humility or whether she truly felt that her calls would not be looked upon with favor. Her manner was not easy at any time. It was marked

ions. So long as you treat me fairly, I would do the same by you. But really, you do Mary an injustice. She never told me anything against you. Of

ments for her to answer. Being disappointed in this, s

evening and I want you to come. It will be at the usual hour

ou think I can do it in that time? I haven't been late since I came to Exeter, so I shall not hurry

e hesitated. She spoke slowly as though she could not put her thoughts into the proper words. "I really wish to come, Miss Hobart. It is kind of you to ask me. I don't want to take advantage of your goodness, so I must tell you why the girls here do not care to know me. I did someth

mean," cried Elizab

pt your invitation if you do not know. If you wish me to tell you all abo

u to come to-night. I'd rather find

on know you int

ing." She did not add that Miss Wilson had exp

hen I sh

the night I always pay the cook a compliment by eating two portions-my own and Anna Cresswell's. She do

Gleason. She writes to invite me to spend a Sabbath with her at my earliest convenience. I am to bring yo

a white shirtwaist as she talked. "I never saw her

thought from the way she wrote that she knew you well. O

several weeks. I'm to

availables." Mary shook back her hair, as she adjusted the last pin in her cuff. "There's the last bell, Elizabeth, and you're not half ready.