her cheek against hers for a moment. Twenty minutes later she was fast
asleep in her good friend's bed.

The following day all was bustle and excitement at Sunny Bank, for great
preparations were being made for the dance in the evening, and
understanding how much pleasure it gave the girls to feel that they were
of some assistance, she let them fly about like so many grigs, helping or
hindering, as it happened.

They brought down all the pretty trifles from their rooms, piled up sofa
pillows till the couches resembled a Turk's palace; arranged the flowers,
and rearranged them, till poor Miss Preston began to fear that there would
be nothing left of them. However, it was an exceedingly attractive house
which was thrown open to her guests at eight o'clock that evening, and the
girls had had no small share in making it so.

A very complete understanding seemed to exist between Toinette and Miss
Preston now, for, although no words were spoken, none were needed; just an
exchange of glances told that two hearts were very happy that night, for
love and confidence had come to dwell within them.

CHAPTER XX

"NOW TREAD WE A MEASURE."

Shall we ever grow too old to recall the pleasure of our school dances?
Then lights seem brighter, toilets more ravishing, music sweeter, our
partners more fascinating, and the supper more tempting than ever before
or after.

The house was brilliantly lighted from top to bottom, excepting in such
cosy corners as were specially conducive to confidential chats, and in
these softly shaded lamps cast a fairy-like light.

Miss Preston, dressed in black velvet, with some rich old lace to enhance
its charms, received her guests in the great hall, some of the older girls
receiving with her.

There were ten or more girls who were taking special courses, and these
were styled "parlor boarders," and at the end of the school term would
enter society. Consequently, this dance was looked upon as a preliminary
step for the one to follow, and the girls regarded it as a sort of "golden
mile-stone" in their lives, which marked off the point at which "the brook
and river meet."

A prettier, happier lot of girls could hardly have been found, and none
looked lovelier, or happier, than Toinette. Her dress, a soft, creamy
white chiffon, admirably suited to her golden coloring, had been sent to
her by her father, whose taste was unerring. No matter how many miles of
this big globe divided them, he nev