t allusion at dinner to the meeting of the
board of directors had brought smiles to the faces of the six girls.
After they had again gathered in Grace's room, Elfreda was despatched to
Emma's room with orders to bring her to the council, no matter what her
engagements or obligations might be.

"I knew something was going to happen," was Emma's calm announcement as
she followed Elfreda into the room. "To quote my esteemed friend, Miss
Briggs, 'I could see' it in your eyes at dinner. I have a theme to
write, a dressmaker to see, and four letters to answer, but, still, I am
here."

"We can readily understand how deeply it must have grieved you to shun
the dressmaker, put off writing your theme, and tear yourself away from
your correspondence," sympathized Miriam Nesbit, her eyes twinkling.

"Then, as long as you understand it, we won't say anything more about
it," was Emma's hasty reply. "I move that we avoid personalities and
proceed to business."

CHAPTER XX

A WELCOME GUEST

The meeting in the library the next day, followed by a social session at
Vinton's, resulted in the enthusiastic organization of the society
proposed by Grace. As had been suggested, every girl had brought with
her a slip of paper on which was written the name she had selected for
the society. Arline collected the names and read each one in turn to the
assembled girls.

"Which one do you like best?" she asked, looking from one to another of
her friends.

"The first one," said Miriam Nesbit.

"So do I," echoed half a dozen voices.

"'Semper Fidelis,'" repeated Grace musingly. "I like the sound of that,
too. Who proposed that name?"

"I did," admitted Emma Dean. "I thought it might stand for our motto as
well. It means 'always faithful,' you know. That applies to us, doesn't
it?"

"Of course we shall be always faithful to our cause," declared Grace.
"All those in favor of the name Semper Fidelis, please manifest it by
holding up their right hands."

Twelve right hands were raised simultaneously.

"That settles it," stated Grace. "From now on we are the Semper Fidelis
girls. Let us lose no time in leaving the sacred precincts of the
library for Vinton's. We can make more noise there."

After the second sundae all around had been disposed of the society
settled down to business. It was decided that the club should be a
purely social affair. Arline was chosen for president, Grace for
vice-president and Gertrude Wells as secret