ch other. I'll tell her the exact circumstances
as soon as she comes home to luncheon, and let her decide what we had
better do." Having determined upon her course of action Grace went
downstairs again and was soon deep in the laying-out of next week's menu
for Harlowe House, a task in which she had been engaged when Miss Ida
Ward was announced.

It was now two weeks since Overton College had opened. The thirty-two
applicants for places in Harlowe House had, without exception, passed
through the trying ordeal of their entrance examinations with varying
degrees of success, but not one had actually failed. They had come into
the house, which was their Open Sesame to college, in twos and threes.
Few of them were pretty, but even the plainest of their faces bore the
unmistakable stamp of intelligence that marks the scholar. The
half-brooding, anxious look in young eyes and the womanly dignity,
prematurely gained through hand to hand conflict with poverty, were
certain indications that the girls of Harlowe House were there for
earnest work and not for play.

And now a thirty-third girl was knocking at the gate for admittance to
the Land of College. Grace wondered vaguely why Evelyn Ward had not come
to plead her own cause. The words of Ida Ward, "I thought I might be
able to manage her college fees," returned to her with disquieting
force. Then she made a little impatient gesture. "Grace Harlowe, what is
the matter with you? You are judging poor Evelyn Ward without giving her
an opportunity to defend herself. You know nothing whatever of the
Wards' affairs. There may be a dozen good reasons for Miss Ward's coming
here in her sister's behalf. Don't be so suspicious. Wait until you see
Evelyn Ward before you judge her."

Although Grace did not realize it she was already thinking of Evelyn
Ward as a member of Harlowe House. There was no fear of refusal on
Emma's part. Long acquaintance with her good-natured, easy-going
classmate had taught her that Emma was equal to, if not more than a
match for, almost any emergency.

"Emma would take her belongings and camp out in the hall if I asked her
to," smiled Grace to herself as she went slowly downstairs to her office
and, seating herself at her desk, took up the writing on which she had
been engaged when her caller was announced.

She was still hard at work when the girls began to come in for luncheon,
one after another, and at last she heard Emma's delightful drawl as she
exch