m Roxy Mays,
not half as hard as my name sounds. In full its Roxalana. I've tried
several other ways of shortening it, but they are delusions and snares.
I was named after a rich old great-aunt, she was my sponsor and
consented to promise I should renounce everything desirable. Why is it
that rich people have such ugly names and are always wanting to
perpetuate them, or do you get rich on an ugly name? There ought to be
some compensation. Now--have you any objection to stating yours before
supper time?"

"Mine is Helen Grant."

"Oh, that is splendid and strong and easy to call. There was Helen Mar,
and Helen of Troy, and several other famous Helens. Well, I like your
name to begin with. Are you going to be a doctor?"

"A doctor!" Helen gave a little shudder.

"Oh, that settles it. You haven't the courage for all you look so brave.
Two of our last year's graduates have chosen that walk in life. One goes
to New York bound to work her way through, the other to Wellesley. Seven
years of study, think of it and weep!"

"But if she loves to study?"

"Depravity of taste. Spider, ask in this timid fly hovering about your
gates," and as Helen stepped back with a gesture of the hand Miss Mays
entered and glanced around, though she kept on talking. "Do you like
getting settled, and are you not bothered about the right places?--oh,"
with almost a shriek--"you have that lovely Bodenhausen Madonna! I have
the Sichel and I never can decide which I like best. And then Gabriel
Marx, and Dangerfield! We're not hopelessly modern, for I have the
Sistine. Nearly every girl has it. And oh, who is this handsome woman? A
Duchess at the very least!"

"That is--a dear friend," Helen flushed. "That must have been taken when
she was younger. She is quite old now."

"Elderly. There may be old men and old peasant women in pictures, but
the living women are simply elderly. Well, one wouldn't mind growing
old if one could look like that. Have you ever been away at school
before?"

"No," returned Helen.

"North, South, East or West? Brevity is the soul of wit. I sometimes set
up for a wit when I can do it on a small capital."

"Rather southerly from here," laughed Helen. "A little country place
called Hope Center."

"Hope Center. Helen Grant. Well that has a sound! You will do. What else
are you going to put up?"

"I haven't anything else."

"That's delightful. Most girls bring so much from home, to cry over. You
don't really look li