ents. No one had ventured an
explanation to her and she would not ask. Now at the mention of her name,
Miss Wilson grew dignified--a sure sign that she was half angry.

"I wouldn't ask her," she said.

"Why not?"

"Oh, simply because I wouldn't. None of the girls ever invite her, or
haven't for the last year."

"Oh, well, no doubt I do a great many things which none of the other girls
do, so I might as well do this. I don't object to being a little odd."

"Well, if you do--if you take Nora O'Day up and make a friend of her, the
other girls will surely cut you."

"Cut me?" exclaimed Elizabeth, for the first time in her life fairly
indignant. Her pride was aroused. "Cut me? Well, let that be as they
choose. They'll not have the opportunity, for I can let them as severely
alone as they do Nora O'Day. If I cannot invite whom I please to my spread
without asking the advice of a dozen other girls, then I'll not have it at
all. I don't know and don't wish to know why you girls snub Miss O'Day. As
far as I can see, she acts quite as well as some others at Exeter."

"We don't snub her, at least I have never done so. I treat her with
conventional courtesy."

"Conventional courtesy! Deliver me from it, then. Why, the thermometer
falls below zero whenever she comes where you girls are together. I know
no evil of her. She has always treated me nicely, and I shall treat her
so. When I discover that she is not fit to associate with, then I'll let
her alone."

"But, Elizabeth, if you only knew!"

"But I don't know and I don't want to know." Mary hesitated. She was not
tempted to tell Elizabeth the whole story of the year before. She was
never tempted to tell news or bruit from one student to another what was
no concern of hers. She hesitated because she was uncertain whether it
paid to carry the discussion further. After a moment's thought, she
decided that much talking would not be effective.

"Very well, Elizabeth, do as you please. Ask anyone you choose. Of course
the spread is yours. But if you ask Nora O'Day, you may expect to find me
occupied at that time. Landis will not mind if I go over to her rooms. I'm
off now to geometry! Of course, I'll help you get ready and all that."

With this parting shot, she quitted the room. Elizabeth had a vacant
period following, a time generally devoted to looking over her work.
To-day she employed it in reviewing her conversation with Mary Wilson. She
was gradually awakening to th