nd to stop it, and
every time I wanted to say it I screwed up my mouth and counted ten.
Just the same with 'elegant.' I've broken myself of that, too, but it
was hard work."

"Elegant! simply elegant!" repeated Viola, thoughtfully. "The Goat won't
let you say that, either, or the Owls. What's the use of being so fussy?
besides, elegant is a real word, they can't say it isn't, so now!"

"Oh! of course it is, and it has its real use. You can speak of an
elegant dress, or an elegant carriage, and then it's all right; but I
used to say I had had an elegant time, don't you know? and talk about
elegant cake, and all that kind of thing. And when once you have learned
better, it does sound awfully silly."

"Well, they make just as much fuss about 'awful,' and there you are
saying that, and you say it all the time."

"I know!" said poor Peggy, hanging her head. "I know I do, though I try
awfully hard not to. There! that's the way it is. It does seem as if I
couldn't get over that, but I'm going on trying. And if you don't get
your hat this minute, V., I shall go without you. I can't wait any
longer. It's awfully--it's _very_ late."

"Why, I'm coming, as fast as I can; how impatient you are, Peggy! You
aren't half as fond of me as I am of you, or you would not be in such a
hurry to get away to that little fright. There, here it is! Now isn't
that dandy, simply dandy? I do think it is too perf'ly sweet for
anything!"

It was a pretty hat, and Viola certainly looked charming in it. She was
so pleased with her appearance that she could not resist the temptation
of "showing off" to the other girls; so she followed Peggy down to the
lawn, where a little group was already gathered. At sight of a junior,
even so unformidable a junior as Viola Vincent, poor little Lobelia
Parkins shrank into a small knotted heap of misery. Through Peggy's
intercession, Rose Barclay and the two other freshmen had been kind to
her, and had agreed to let her share their walks, which they took now
semi-weekly under Peggy's leadership. None of them cared for her, or
felt much interest in her, but they did care for Peggy Montfort, partly
because she was the strongest girl in the class, partly because of the
fame that had accrued to her since her exploit in resisting and breaking
up the famous Gang; but mostly, perhaps, because everybody felt and said
that Peggy Montfort was "all right," which in schoolgirl parlance meant
that she was a cheerful, kindly,