are very
fond of her; but you know that I have never trusted her, and this
affair ought to show you, too, that she isn't to be trusted. She has
always had her own way, and she isn't a wise girl. She hasn't been a
very good influence for you, as you must have seen. Partly because of
her influence we quarrelled, you know. She has laughed you out of
doing many things that you know well you should have done. I am not
blaming you, Alma. It is only because I know that in time Mildred
would make you very, very unhappy that I'm telling you not to make her
your closest friend."

"She--she--I mean that in many ways she should be a very _good_ friend
to have," began Alma, in a low voice.

"Oh, Alma darling, you mustn't think that simply because a girl has
money and position and influence that she is, on the face of that, a
valuable friend. A girl like Mildred is very fickle, anyway. To-day
she may want to do everything in the world for you, and to-morrow she
may hardly speak to you. So long as you follow her blindly, she may
show a great fancy for you, but if you were to follow your own ideas,
contrary to her, she would quarrel with you in a minute."

"I don't believe that of Mildred," exclaimed Alma, with sudden
defiance. "You have no idea how generous she is, and--and how
broad-minded. I'm sure that you are prejudiced against her, Nancy. I
know that she often appears to be rather a snob, but in reality she
isn't one at all. Yesterday was no more her fault than it was mine. I
was just as wrong as she was."

"Yes, but you were unhappy because you had done it, and Mildred isn't
unhappy about it at all--as a matter of fact, she thinks that it was
quite a clever thing to do."

Alma was silent. Then she said, presently:

"I can't quarrel with her."

"You don't have to quarrel with her. I never asked you to do that. I
said only to think and act as you know to be right. Certainly, then,
if she grows cool with you, she will respect you more. I--I hate to
see my sister so absolutely a--a--I mean I hate to see you doing
blindly everything Mildred does. Because she thinks it silly and
'high-brow' to study hard, you don't study. I hate to see you so
afraid to lose a friend that you will go against your own conscience
and judgment just to keep her good-will. It's just--snobbery,
Alma--and it's worse than even Mildred's snobbery, because it's
cowardly, while hers is just--impudent."

"I won't let you say such