oung friends, dear!" said Minnie
earnestly.

"Yes, of course. You must have friends of your own age," endorsed Paul.

So half a dozen of the elect of VA were bidden for tea and games, and
spent a hilarious Saturday afternoon in the Hiltons' drawing-room.
Minnie made a gracious hostess at the tea-table, but had the tact to
leave the girls to themselves afterwards. The children, in their
prettiest clothes, were duly paraded, but not allowed to stay too long
among the visitors. There were chocolates in little bon-bon dishes, and
there were two competitions for prizes.

"I _have_ enjoyed myself," said Calla, in the bedroom where the party
was putting on hats and coats to go home. "It's been ripping--absolutely
top-hole."

"Scrumptious!" agreed Kathleen, hugging a first prize.

"You're a lucker, Lesbia!" proclaimed Phillis.

"Those kids are priceless, and I like Mrs. Hilton awfully," commented
Aldora.

"Relations generally play up for parties. I wonder what they're like in
private?" whispered Marion to Etta, as the two sat on the floor changing
their shoes.

She whispered it very softly, and she really did not intend Lesbia to
overhear, but her chum chanced to move forward at that very moment and
caught the unpleasant words. It made the only disagreeable note in her
party. Marion shook hands warmly with Mrs. Hilton and thanked her for
her hospitality as she said good-bye, but Lesbia, standing near, thought
her politeness lacked a genuine ring. She could not forget the chance
whisper she had overheard in the bedroom.

At the High School matters were going briskly this new term. Miss
Tatham's scheme for self-expression found favour with the girls. It was
so delightful to be able to choose your own lessons, if only for two
afternoons during the week. There were tremendous debates about the
various subjects on the list.

"It's a grizzly nuisance we mayn't do a bit of everything," mourned
Marjorie Johns. "I want to paint and sing and act and learn
wood-carving as well. Why can't we fit it all in?"

"Because the powers that be say there isn't time, my child. With your
voice there's absolutely nothing for it but song-drama. It's Kismet."

"But I want to make my Christmas presents. Carving would be _so_
useful."

"You'll have to make them at home. You're booked for song-drama, I tell
you. Miss Bates has her eye on you."

"Oh, indeed! What about free choice then?"

"I think I shall go in for song-drama, it sounds