life, not merely
church-going.

So Miss Craven, curiously enough, had looked like a duty to Helen. She
and Daisy did their brief reading every night, but since Christmas so
many verses had pointed to the weaker brother. The stronger, wiser girls
in school did not want anything of her, at least she thought she had
nothing to give them, since they did not ask, and the word was "everyone
that asketh." Miss Craven had asked by a glance of the eye, a pressure
of the hand, a quiver of the wordless lips that hesitated to frame the
desire into speech. Yes, she did love her if charity and kindliness were
love, and--oh, there _was_ something deeper, wider, higher.

She had not settled the question when she fell asleep, rather late for
her and so she did not wake until Daisy touched her. Daisy Bell had half
a mind to let her oversleep and lose a mark, then she really did love
her too well.

"Oh, dear!" sighed Helen ruefully. "And I wanted to finish my Latin
translation this morning."

There could be no thought of anything but hurrying downstairs. Miss
Craven was in her place and glanced up with a certain eagerness in her
eyes. All through breakfast time Daisy made herself uncomfortable,
watching.

"So you have a rival in your sweetheart's affections," Miss Mays
whispered mischievously, linking her arm in that of Daisy's as they
sauntered through the hall. "The glances are something wonderful,
beseeching. If the eyes hadn't that dull, leady look they might prove
dangerous in years to come, but I doubt if young men will be drawn near
enough to experience their fascination. But she gains a little every
day, and you will soon lose your Helen of Troy."

"Helen of Troy is a free agent. She can make friends wherever she will,"
was the rather curt answer.

"But 'life is thorny and love is vain,'" quoted Roxy. "I _do_ wonder at
Helen Grant's taste."

There were lessons and exercises and Helen found her mind wandering,
having to bring it back by sharp turns. Daisy was very distant. "Oh, how
foolish girls can be!" Helen thought.

When they went in to luncheon a surprise greeted most of the girls.
Helen Grant saw the vacant seat beside her. One of the girls opposite
touched elbows with the other and both glanced at the end of the room.

Helen let her eyes wander down leisurely. Next to Mrs. Aldred sat a
stranger, next to her Miss Craven, more timid than ever.

The stranger was elegant and airy. Her cloth gown was of the newest