h her father.
We must hurry downstairs, for Eleanor is to meet her father at half-past
six o'clock, and it is a quarter-past now."

Elfreda shook hands with Eleanor almost timidly. She was deeply
impressed with the latter's exquisite beauty.

"So this is Elfreda," smiled Eleanor, patting the stout girl's hand. "I
have learned to know you through the letters my friends have written me.
I feel as though you were an old friend."

"It's awfully nice in you to say so," murmured Elfreda, her eyes shining
with pleasure.

"Won't you go with us to the 'Tourraine'?" asked Eleanor sweetly. "I
would like to have you meet my father."

"Thank you," almost gasped Elfreda. "I'd love to meet him, but I
think--"

"Never mind thinking," interrupted Eleanor, gayly. "Just hurry into your
wraps and come along. We'll wait for you."

"That's sweet in you, Eleanor," said Grace in a low tone as Elfreda ran
upstairs. "She was wild to go with us. She has worshipped you ever since
we showed her your picture. She has heard your father play, too, and
considers him the greatest violinist living."

"I suspected she wished to be included in the invitation," smiled
Eleanor. "I imagine I am going to like her very much."

Guido Savelli had engaged a private dining room at the "Tourraine" for
his young guests. He welcomed them with true Latin enthusiasm, and to
see him seated at the head of the table one would never have suspected
him to be the moody, temperamental genius whose playing had made him
famous in two continents. When the time came to leave the hotel for the
train he was escorted to the station by an admiring bodyguard of five
young women.

"Remember, you have promised to visit Overton again before you leave New
York," reminded Grace as he walked down the station platform between
Grace and Eleanor.

"He will," declared Eleanor. "I shall make him come back to Overton for
me. Good-bye, Father. Take care of yourself. Remember to go for your
walk every day, won't you? He's the nicest father," she said softly as
the little group turned to leave the station after the train had gone.
"Now take me to your house and let us have an old-fashioned gossip. I
have so much to tell you, and I want to hear about Overton."

A happy party gathered in Grace's room that night for an old-time talk
about Oakdale. Elfreda was the only outsider present. For her benefit
the story of the stolen class money and its timely recovery by Grace and
Eleanor, as re