ged Grace. "I'd love to have you."

Arline shook her blonde head, at the same time slipping her hand into
Grace's. "I thought of that, too," she returned softly. "I was going to
ask you if I might go home with you for Christmas. Then Ruth and I had a
talk. I had asked her to go home with me, and she had refused because
she is so afraid of outwearing her welcome. Then came Father's letter.
Ruth was a dear about that. She said at once that if I wished to go home
and felt that I needed her she would go, but I couldn't bear to think of
spending Christmas in that big, lonely house. It is Father that makes it
seem so wonderful to go home." Arline's lip quivered piteously. "He and
I could be happy if we were the poorest of the poor. You must visit me
some time, Grace. Perhaps we could have an Easter house party. Wouldn't
that be splendid?" Arline's woe-be-gone face brightened. Grace patted
her hand.

"Get up, Arline, before some one sees you," she advised. "Whoever heard
of proud little Daffydowndilly Thayer crying like an ordinary mortal?"
Grace went on soothing Arline in this half-serious fashion, which
presently had its effect.

"You are so comforting, Grace," sighed Arline, as she rose from the
steps, an expression of gratitude in her pretty blue eyes. "Can't you
walk over to the house with me? I want you to hear my plan and tell me
what you think of it."

"I could put off my library business until to-morrow," reflected Grace,
smiling a little. "It will be a case of doing as I please instead of
doing as I ought. Still, as a loyal member of Semper Fidelis it is my
duty to comfort my sorrowing comrades. Don't you think so?"

Arline laughed an almost happy response to Grace's question.

"But I mustn't stay long," warned Grace a little later, as, seated
opposite Arline in the latter's room, she awaited the unfolding of
Arline's "inspiration."

"I'm going to stay here for Christmas," announced Arline with the
finality of one who knows her own mind. "Ruth is coming up to live with
me for the whole vacation, too. That isn't the inspiration, though. That
is only the first part of it. The second part is that Ruth and I are
going to see to the eight girls, and all the others who aren't going
away from Overton. What do you think of that?"

"I think it is dear in you, Arline," responded Grace very earnestly. "I
only wish I might stay to help you. However, Father and Mother have
first claim on my vacation. But let me help you