houghtfully.

"I hope they won't be too hard on me," she said slowly. "I'd be sorry
to begin my term with anything that left the least bitter taste.
Everything here is so free-spirited and high-minded that I want it to
keep on being so for me always."

Patricia's eyes narrowed. "I believe I'll make my candy up in as
attractive a way as I possibly can, and I'll spring it on them first
thing, so they'll be in too good a humor to want to haze me very hard.
Don't you think that might work for you, too?"

"Indeed I do," replied Elinor, heartily. "I'm getting an idea already,
and if I can put it through, I don't believe the committee will have so
much fun with me as they may think."

CHAPTER III

ANTICIPATION

"What a pack of mail," said Judith.

It was Friday morning, and the three girls were the last in the
dining-room. The sun was slanting brightly in over the table and fell
across the pile of letters with a prophetic shimmer, making the little
red and green patches of the stamps flame into gay prominence.

Patricia sorted them over rapidly before Elinor had reached the table.

"Here's one for you from Frad," she announced, "and one for me from
Miss Jinny, and there are two for Judy from Rockham--looks like Mrs.
Shelly and Hannah Ann, but I'm not sure--and the rest are only
circulars. Atkins' Diablo Water and Bartine's Foreign Tours."

"I do wish they wouldn't send those circulars to us. They're so
disappointing, for half the time they look like real letters," said
Judith, reaching an eager hand for her own mail. "I think they ought
to keep them for older people who don't care so much. Oh, it is Mrs.
Shelly, Miss Pat," she broke off, as she tore open the first envelope
and began eagerly to scan the sheets.

Patricia, absorbed in her own letter, merely grunted "Uh-huh" and
turned the page. Then she burst out joyfully, "Well, of all people in
the world! Listen, Norn. Miss Jinny is coming to town next week to
stay four or five days, and she wants to know if we can get her a place
here. Isn't that jolly!"

Elinor, who had lifted her eyes perfunctorily, gave real attention.

"How splendid!" she cried. "Now we'll have a chance to give back a few
of the kindnesses she showered on us last summer. Of course we can
find a place, and we won't let her come except as our guest, and we'll
give her the very best sort of a time we can, to show how glad we are
to have her here."

"If Mrs. Hudson hasn't