moment forgotten. Marion's approval seemed the
only thing that mattered. It was horrible to think that her chum's
friendliness was tinctured with pity. And friendly Marion undoubtedly
was. She shared packets of chocolates with Lesbia, gave her snapshot
photos which she had taken during the holidays, lent her books, and
spent every available moment of recreation in her company. Marion was
pretty and popular, so to be known as her chum was a matter for self
congratulation. For at least a fortnight the two girls were as
inseparable in school hours as a pair of lovers. The form, who had
witnessed frantic friendships before, looked on with stolid
indifference, tinged with occasional sense of injury. They preferred
Marion to distribute her chocolates equally rather than to fill her
chum's pockets. A really popular girl is seldom one who concentrates her
affection on one object. Human nature is selfish enough to demand
substantial reasons for placing a schoolfellow upon a pedestal, and VA,
conscious of being left out in the cold, was beginning to wonder whether
after all it had not been making too much fuss of Marion Morwood.

Lesbia, who went at least ten minutes out of her way every day in order
to walk back from school with her idol, carefully avoided discussing
home topics. She felt there was a sore spot that would hurt if it was
touched. She fenced the questions which were sometimes--with evident
curiosity--put to her.

One afternoon, as the chums had reached the Morwoods' gate, a heavy
shower gave Marion the excuse to ask Lesbia to come in and shelter. They
spent a rapturous quarter of an hour inspecting a collection of stamps,
then Lesbia, who was late already, glanced through the window at the
clearing sky.

"I must go," she groaned. "The rain's almost stopped now. Look at the
time! And we have tea at half-past four. Botheration! I _did_ want to
see the rest of your stamps."

"Can't you possibly stop?"

"No, I must sprint. They won't know where I am."

"Then come back after tea! Mayn't she, Mother? Leo and Kitty will be
here, and we'll try over some songs. _Do_ come!" Mrs. Morwood very
kindly endorsed her daughter's invitation, and pressed Lesbia to spend
the evening. Lesbia, longing to come, accepted provisionally.

"I will if I can, but I shall have to ask at home," she confided at the
hall door as she put up her umbrella.

Marion's face reddened with indignant sympathy.

"You don't mean to tell me they k