, the atmosphere. It's too studious. Those
Kirkland girls are going to college, dearly loved cousins, quite
sufficient for themselves, and there's that granery, yallery, Grosvenor
Gallery, one who writes poetry and is too lackadaisical for anything.
What we want is a rollicking, fun loving girl to start us."

"And something's the matter with you, Phil. Have you been crossed in
love?"

Phillipa Rosewald turned scarlet. "No," she answered, "it's two of them
and I can't decide. One is rich and homely as a hedge fence and always
says 'drawring' and 'reel,' but has lots of money and a fair enough
family back of him. The other is handsome and oh, my! gay as a lark, but
he had about run through with a fortune, and I'm afraid he will flirt
now that the restraint of my serious and imposing presence is removed."

"Serious, that's good. Why didn't you say severe?"

Phil's love affairs were the entertainment of her coterie.

"Oh, girls, did you notice--well, I have a new name for them. 'Beauty
and the Beast.' How devoted they were this evening!" broke in Louie
Howe.

"Oh, you mean that Nevins girl? But _do_ you call Miss Boyd handsome?"

"Well--she has a fine complexion--"

Louie wrinkled up her nose.

--"and lots of beautiful hair, a good figure and regular features. Maybe
she lacks a certain style to make her noticeable--or something--"

"Money and position. I don't just see why a common sort of girl who has
to earn her living should be above the average, and that Nevins girl's
father is one of the firm of bankers in New York and London, and she's
horrid!"

"Oh, girls," exclaimed May Gedney, "they kissed each other last night in
the hall, a regular smack; I heard it. Fancy that pimply cheek being
pressed against yours! and that lap-over tooth that sticks her lips out,
and those pale gray-green eyes. Yes, Miss Boyd does look handsome by
contrast."

There was a great giggle. "We must watch the course of this ardent love.
Perhaps _she_ understands the worth of contrast."

They went back to Zay Crawford, who was a general favorite. She and a
brother nine years older than herself, a passed midshipman had gone to
Germany in the summer, where her mother had been taking treatment. The
Major had accompanied her. Miss Crawford had taken over the young
people.

It was true, to Lilian's surprise, that Alice Nevins had clasped both
arms around her and kissed her rapturously, exclaiming--"You are so
sweet! Oh, I wish mother a