dent
to accept help. She did not wish to become obligated to any one, not
even her dearest friend."

"Foolish girl," was Evelyn's contemptuous comment. "If one can't ask
occasional favors of one's friends one might as well have none. I am
very sure that I would take the goods the gods provide without
murmuring. These extreme standards of ethics and honor are all very
pretty in books, but not at all practical in every-day life."

Grace made no reply. She was lost, for the instant, in a maze of
disagreeable reflection. She was afraid she now understood only too well
why Ida instead of Evelyn Ward had come to see her. In the Ward family
the hard tasks had apparently been thrust upon the patient elder sister,
while the younger reaped where she had not sown, without a conscientious
qualm. And it was for this beautiful, selfish girl that she and Emma had
curtailed their comfort. She almost wished she had been firm in her
first refusal to consider taking another girl into Harlowe House. Then a
vision of Ida Ward's thin face, lighted by two pleading eyes, rose
before her. With an inward rebuke for her own grudging attitude, Grace
squared her shoulders and resolved to look for only the best in this
latest arrival.

It took but a moment to hail an automobile bus which had just run into
the station yard, and they were soon on their way to Harlowe House.
Grace pointed out to Evelyn the various interesting features of Overton.
They impressed the latter but little.

"It must be a sleepy old town," she commented, as they passed through
the quiet streets. She did, however, evince some slight interest in
Vinton's, remarking lightly that she supposed she would never have money
enough to buy a dinner there for herself, let alone ever inviting a
guest.

"Do not look at your college life through such pessimistic spectacles,"
advised Grace. "You will be sure to be unhappy."

Evelyn made a pettish gesture. "You remind me of my sister, Miss
Harlowe. She is forever preaching patience and optimism and all the
other virtues in which I seem to be lacking."

A bright flush rose to Grace's cheeks at this unparalleled rudeness. She
cast a quick, curious glance at Evelyn, whose eyes were for the second
fixed upon the campus which they were now nearing, and who appeared to
be utterly oblivious of her impertinence.

"This is the campus." Grace decided to overlook the pointed remark. "We
are justly proud of Overton College and the campus."

"