ts of the week end to settle down to
lessons, and this particular Monday, coming as it did just after
Muriel's party, made it even harder than ever.

The four girls, Phyllis, Janet, Daphne and Sally, were the center of
attraction, for the rest had only heard in part the story of their
exchange of partners and they wanted it all.

"I heard that Jerry Dodd was sick in bed all yesterday," Rosamond
teased. "He laughed so hard that he broke something in his side."

"You mean he ate so much," drawled Daphne. "I told him if he insisted
upon eating the sixth chicken pattie he would be sorry, and now I hope
he is."

The girls were all sitting on desks as near as they could get to Sally
and Janet.

"Dancing school begins next week," Eleanor announced. "Who's going
this year?"

"You and Janet are, aren't you?" Rosamond asked Phyllis.

"I haven't asked Auntie Mogs yet, but I suppose we are," Phyllis
replied. "How about you, Daphne?"

"Oh, yes, might as well." Daphne knew all there was to know about
dancing, but she did not consider that any reason for stopping.

"We're going of course," Eleanor said, "and, Sally, of course you'll
come."

But Sally shook her head. She had been unusually quiet, but none of
the girls had noticed it. Now they all looked at her in surprise.

"Oh, but, Sally, why?" Rosamond demanded.

"What's all this?" Madge Cannon stopped to join the group on her way
to senior row. "Sally not going to dancing school? Preposterous! It
won't be any fun without her. What's the trouble?"

"Wouldn't be worth while," Sally said shortly.

"Worth while! Sally Ladd, what are you talking about?" Phyllis
demanded. Something in the expression of Sally's eyes made her realize
that she was not joking.

"I mean I won't be here after Christmas," Sally said in a dull level
tone, and she stared straight before her as she spoke.

"Won't be here?"--the girls gazed at her in stupefied astonishment.

"You don't really mean that you are going to boarding school?" Eleanor
demanded. "You said something about it at the beginning of school but
no one believed you."

"Well, it's true," Sally said dismally. "Mother had a letter this
morning from the head of the school and it's all arranged."

"Oh, Sally--" the girls were speechless, each tried to picture the loss
of Sally, first to herself, and then to the school; then they looked at
Phyllis and Janet and then at Daphne, and realized that their sorrow
could