thankful to
you for arranging for my coming to Overton. I would have cried my eyes
out with disappointment if Ida had come home with bad news," returned
the pretty girl in a plaintive tone which impressed Grace with a
curiously uncomfortable feeling that this attractive young woman would
have done nothing of the sort. There was that indefinable something
about her that contradicted, flatly, the idea of tears.

"Your sister was an eloquent pleader, Miss Ward. I would have made an
even greater effort than was necessary to place you, if only to please
her. I was greatly impressed with her unselfishness and nobility of
character," Grace made reply.

An expression of amusement showed itself on Evelyn Ward's face. "Ida is
a perfect old dear," she agreed lightly. "She takes life too seriously,
though. She worries over every little thing. Still her very seriousness
makes a good impression. She has ever so many friends; a great many more
than I." She shrugged her shoulders, as though to convey the fact that
the latter state of affairs did not trouble her.

"As your luggage is not heavy, we might walk to Harlowe House,"
suggested Grace. "This glorious fall weather is ideal for walking. Let
me take your suit case."

"With pleasure. It's altogether too heavy for comfort. Are there no
street cars or busses we can take? I like to walk, but not when I have
luggage to carry."

"We can take a car or an automobile bus if you like," said Grace
courteously, although she experienced a vague sense of annoyance at this
newcomer's calmly expressed preference.

"Oh, let's take the automobile, if it isn't too expensive!" exclaimed
Evelyn eagerly. "I love to ride in an automobile. Are there any girls at
Overton who own cars? If there are I shall certainly cultivate them. I
suppose they won't notice me, though, because I am a freshman and a poor
one at that," she ended with a pout, her fair face taking on almost
sullen lines.

Grace shook her head.

"Being poor doesn't count at Overton," she said, "I know a girl who
lived in a bare, cheerless room in an old house in the suburbs of
Overton and earned her way by doing mending for the students. She worked
in a dressmaker's shop during her summer vacations too, and yet she was
the chum of the richest girl in college."

"Why didn't the rich girl help her if she thought so much of her?"
inquired Evelyn rather sarcastically.

"Because the girl wouldn't allow her to do so. She was too indepen