Tom glanced almost wistfully at Grace, who had turned from him and was
devoting her whole attention to Mrs. Gray. "I hope you girls are as glad
to see me as I am to see you," he said, his eyes still upon Grace.

"Of course we are. How did you happen to think of coming to Overton? Are
you going to stay until next Wednesday? If you do, then we can all
journey to Oakdale together."

"Ask Aunt Rose. I am her faithful bodyguard. I know she intends to stay
until to-morrow at least. I hope you can persuade her to remain at
Overton until you go home. I am a working man now, you know, and
Washington is a long way from here." Tom's ambition to make forestry his
life work had been in a measure realized, and with his graduation from
college had come the offer of a position in the Department of Forestry
at Washington.

"Yes, children, dear, I will remain in Overton until your vacation
begins if the town boasts of a comfortable hotel where I can not only
demand, but receive, good service."

"The 'Tourraine' is the very hotel for you, Mrs. Gray," said Grace. "We
stayed there for a day or two when we first came to Overton. The service
is excellent."

"Then see to my luggage, Tom, and find me a cab or an automobile. The
sooner I am settled the sooner I can hear what my girls have been doing.
I have heard very nice things of you, my dear," she said to Elfreda,
who, having shaken hands with Mrs. Gray, stood at the outer edge of the
little group, looking on with shining eyes.

"She looks like a piece of Dresden china," was Elfreda's remarkable
statement to Miriam as the little company, headed by Grace and Tom, made
its way to the other side of the station in search of an automobile.

"You funny girl," Miriam laughed softly, "what an idea!"

"But she does," persisted Elfreda in a low tone. "She's white and pink
and fine and--and--fragile. She's dainty and exquisite, and there's a
kind of rare china look about her that----"

"I am going to tell her you said she looked like a piece of Dresden
china," interposed Miriam. "Mrs. Gray----"

"If you do, Miriam Nesbit, you'll be sorry," warned Elfreda, clutching
Miriam's arm.

"What is it, my dear?" answered the old lady. They had come to a halt at
the end of the platform and were waiting for Tom to secure a car.

Elfreda surveyed Miriam with a threatening glare.

"Elfreda says that you"--she darted a mischievous glance at her
friend--"look just as she imagined you would."

Elfre