had reached
Wayne Hall and the beauty of the autumn night made them reluctant to go
into the house, where an evening of hard study awaited them. "I'd like
to stay out here for hours and look at the stars."

"And have stiff neck and a cold of the fond, clinging type, to-morrow,"
jeered Elfreda.

"How disgustingly practical you are, Elfreda!" exclaimed Miriam.

"I'm only warning her," persisted Elfreda.

"It doesn't seem as though we'd been back at Overton for three weeks,
does it?" asked Grace.

"It seems longer than that to me," said Miriam Nesbit. "The freshman
dance happened ages ago, according to my reckoning, and nothing,
absolutely nothing, has happened since."

"Never mind, it won't be long until the sophomore reception," comforted
Grace. "I never suspected that you had such a rabid craving for
excitement, Miriam."

"The freshman dance was a tame affair," averred Miriam. "I think our
class was more interesting in its infancy than is this year's class."

"I think so, too," agreed Grace. "Still, we don't know what genius lies
hidden in the bosoms of 19--'s freshmen."

"This year we shall be the hostesses," exulted Elfreda. "Who are you
girls going to invite?"

"I'll ask Miss Taylor," volunteered Anne.

"I'll ask Miss Wilton," said Miriam.

"That's two from Wayne Hall," counted Anne. "There are two freshmen
left."

"One of us could invite that nice tall girl, Miss Evans," planned Grace.
"That leaves only one girl uninvited." She hesitated. Her three friends
read the meaning of the hesitation. Elfreda sprang loyally into the
breach.

"I'll ask Miss Atkins," she declared stoutly. "You notice, don't you,
that I am not addressing her by her pet name? I'll conduct her to the
reception and back, if she'll accept my manly arm, and buy her flowers
into the bargain. So go ahead and invite Miss Evans, Grace."

"J. Elfreda Briggs, you can never manage that Miss Atkins," protested
Miriam. "In the first place, she won't accept you as an escort, and if
she should happen to do so, it will be a sorry evening for you."

"I'll take the risk," replied Elfreda confidently. "I managed her once
before, didn't I? You girls go ahead and invite the others. Leave Miss
Atkins to me. I'll escort her in triumph to the reception, or perish
gallantly in the attempt."

"Do you really believe she will accept your invitation, Elfreda?" asked
Grace doubtfully.

"I can tell you better after I have asked her," was Elfreda's flipp