ecided to go for a drive through Central Park. It was a clear,
cold, sparkling day with just enough snow to make it seem like real
Thanksgiving weather.

"Too bad Anne can't be with us," said Grace regretfully.

"Everett will take her for a drive before bringing her home," replied
Miss Southard.

Shortly after their return to the house Mr. Southard and Anne returned
from their drive. Anne's eyes were sparkling and her cheeks rosy as she
ran up the steps.

"Anne must have heard good news!" exclaimed Grace, running from her post
at one of the drawing room windows into the hall, Miriam at her heels.

"The deed is done, girls," laughed Anne. "Behold in me the future star
of the Forest Stock Company. It doesn't sound much like Rosalind, does
it? and it means awfully hard work, but I'll earn enough money next
summer to almost finish paying my way through college."

"Hurrah!" cried Grace. "We won't allow you to become lonesome. We will
come and visit you during vacation."

"That ought to reconcile me to having to work all summer," smiled Anne.
"I shall be selfish and manage to have some of you girls with me all the
time."

"How do you like Mr. Forest?" asked Miriam.

"Ever so much," returned Anne. "Like most successful men, he is quiet
and unassuming. Mr. Southard and he did almost all the talking. I spoke
when I was spoken to and did as I was bid."

"Good little Anne," jeered Miriam. "As a reward of merit we will take
you shopping this afternoon."

"How would you like to go to the opera to-night?" asked Mr. Southard.
"'Madame Butterfly' is to be sung."

"Better than anything else, now that I've seen 'Hamlet'!" exclaimed
Grace, with shining eyes. Miriam and Anne both expressed an eager
desire to hear Puccini's exquisite opera, and Miss Southard called two
of her friends on the telephone, inviting them to join the box party.
The same evening gowns had to do duty for the opera as well as for
"Hamlet," but this did not detract one whit from their pleasant
anticipations. "The people who saw us at the theatre the other night
won't see us at the opera," argued Grace. The three girls were in
Grace's room holding a consultation on the subject of what to wear.

"That is if they saw us at all," laughed Miriam. "Elfreda says Oakdale
isn't down on the map, you know."

"That reminds me, what excuse did you make to Miss Southard about
Elfreda not coming with us, Anne?" asked Grace.

"I merely said she had changed her mind