aid Grace, coolly. "She's gone to a
lecture, you see, so it is all right, truly it is.

"I saw her go; one horse was blind,
The tails of both hung down behind,
Their shoes were on their feet.

"I got so exhausted studying, I feared the vital spark might become
extinguished, might pop out, granny, if I didn't have some soda. Two
pineapple creams, please, and be quick about it. I'll be getting the
marshmallows while you pour it."

The old woman filled the long glasses, shaking her head all the time,
and muttering about naughty girls and dark closets.

Peggy drank the soda, but it did not taste very good, and her hand
trembled as she held the glass. Her eyes were fixed on the door, and
every moment she expected to see it open, and Miss Russell or one of the
teachers enter. But no one came. Grace found the marshmallows, and in
high spirits brought them to Mrs. Button to count and tie up for her.

"Granny, you look lovely to-night!" she said. "Don't try to look cross,
Granny Button, for you don't know how. Smile on me, lovely one, for we
must kiss and part."

"Indeed, then, we'd better, Miss Grace," cried the good woman; "and
don't let me see you here again this long while, save and except at
proper hours. I know well enough I ought to tell that good lady of all
the times you've been here out of hours. Yes, dear, I know it well
enough, and sometimes it makes me uneasy in my bed. But you have the
beguiling of the serpent himself, Grace Wolfe, and you know it, and
that's the worst."

"Isn't it?" said Grace, pensively; and her large eyes were full of
tender gravity, as she fixed them on the old woman.

"I'll add serpent to my menagerie, and thank you, granny! Nobody ever
called you serpent, did they, dear? Wait till you come to my time in
life, and you'll know what it is to suffer.

"Well, Innocent, shall we come? After all, it is hard to stay where one
isn't wanted, and the only trouble with Granny Button is that she has no
heart."

"Yes, go, dear!" said the old woman to Peggy, eagerly. "Go right along
home now, and don't let Miss Grace bring ye out again, as she's a
naughty girl, and so I always tell her, though I never can say no to
her, and that's the truth. But you are different, dear, and a freshman,
I'll be bound; and don't let me see ye here again without leave or
license, let alone the hour as is getting on for 'lights out.'"

"Fare thee well, my first and fairest!" said Grace, k