and asked innocently, "Is that why you thought you'd like him? Because
he was older and more grown-up?"

Doris Leighton laughed a rippling laugh that had no shade of the
annoyance which Patricia felt rise hotly at Judith's rather pert
question.

"Bless you, no, child," she said lightly. "I merely thought he would
be more apt to be like your oldest sister, whom I admire tremendously,
as everyone knows."

Patricia could scarcely wait till Miss Leighton was out of earshot.

"What in the world made you so disagreeable?" she demanded of the
unconcerned Judith. "Any blind bat could see that you wanted to be
nasty, in spite of your namby-pamby airs."

Judith merely smiled her superior smile. "I know more about Miss Doris
Leighton than you think," she said, nonchalantly. "Her little sister
is in my class at school, and I just got acquainted with her yesterday."

Patricia stamped her foot in vexation. "What _do_ you mean?" she
cried. "You're the most exasperating----"

The words died on her tongue, as Elinor suddenly emerged from the
portrait class door, her face radiant and with an exclamation of quick
pleasure at the sight of them.

"I got my criticism! And he said the work was good! Now I can write
to Bruce," and her voice rang with a thrilling note of joy that carried
Patricia with her.

"Good old Norn!" she cried, with a mighty hug. "I told you that you
were the real stuff! Ju and I are mighty proud of our big sister,
aren't we, Ju?"

Judith caught Elinor's hand, and pressed close, silently adoring.

"You girls are angels to wait for me till the very last moment,"
chatted Elinor, stuffing her things into her locker recklessly. "I
hated to run the risk of not going to the station, but, oh, it was
worth it!"

Patricia watched her with studious eyes as she pinned on her hat and
hurried into her wraps, holding forth the while in an exultation most
unusual to her.

"You're 'fair lifted,' aren't you, Norn?" she asked curiously. "I
didn't know you ever got so daffy over anything. I've never seen you
if you have."

Judith looked wise. "I know how she feels," she declared, sagely. "I
get awfully excited when I write something good. Why, sometimes I cry,
I'm so happy about it, and I jump up and down, too, all by myself."

Patricia grinned. "You two geniuses understand each other, I see.
Might a humdrum mortal remind you that David is just about sliding into
the train shed at this moment?"

"Me