cleared. "What a stupid I
am--always getting up in the air about trifles! Doris Leighton is
tired to death, and wanted to get home. She was just as pleasant as
ever, even though she didn't have time or strength to be as sociable as
she'd liked. If she hadn't felt an interest in Elinor, she'd not
troubled to bring her keys back tonight. I hope she makes good with
her prize study, now that she's gotten an idea for it. She's a
stunning worker when she goes at it."

She tiptoed softly in to Elinor, who was sleeping quietly, and she
stood looking down at the sweep of eyelash and rounded cheek that the
low-turned light caught out from the jumbled masses of dark hair.

"Dear old Norn," she thought fondly. "You'll be at the head of the
night life, too, some day, like Doris is now, and you'll be cleverer
than any of them, for you aren't ever a bit cocked up about yourself."
Her eyes grew wide with thought. "That's the reason," she whispered
triumphantly, "that you're going to be a howling success--you've got
time to care about all the other things in life first, to think about
them and to enjoy them. And that means O-RIG-INAL-ITY. You've got
more ideas now than any of those old stagers, you adorable duck!" she
ended, so overcome by her feelings that she dropped on her knees by the
couch and pressed her warm lips on the dark hair.

Elinor merely stirred and mumbled something indistinct, much to the
contrite Patricia's relief.

"I'll never learn to be composed and considerate," she sighed as she
crept in beside the slumbering Judith. "I'm crazy for Elinor to finish
that lovely study of hers, and yet I'd wake her up just for my silly
whims. She's got to get it done tomorrow if she can. Wish I could
help her. Thank goodness, mine's done at last," and she drifted off to
sleep with a jumble of prize designs and golden dreams for the future
mingling with that recurring memory of Doris Leighton's hardening face
as she spoke of her study for the library panel.

The next afternoon when Elinor, completely restored after a day's rest,
took out her drawing-board and began to work, Patricia brought out her
own study for a final criticism before laboriously lugging it up to the
Academy.

Elinor and Judith were very enthusiastic over the intent, studious
figure that bent over its book in such lifelike fashion.

"It's that air of real hard study that makes it so good," said Elinor,
twirling the stool to catch every view of