does." It was Frank Morse's voice, and Ada, turning quickly, saw
him and Lucy standing a few feet behind her. The four children were alone
in the deserted hall.

"Here," went on Frank bluntly, "I want you two girls to kiss and make up."

Ada blushed violently as she met Lucy's questioning, wistful look.

"Are you coming down to the auto, Frank?" she asked coolly. "Mother will be
waiting."

"Oh, come now, Ada, be a good fellow. If you and Lucy want to put on the
gloves, I'll see fair play; but for pity's sake drop this icy look
business. Great Scott, I'm glad I'm not a girl!"

The genuine disgust in the boy's tone as he closed did disturb Ada a
little, and then Lucy added at once, beseechingly:

"Oh, it's like a bad dream, Ada, to have anything the matter between us!"

"Whose fault is it?" asked Ada sharply. "Why did you fly at me so
yesterday?"

Both girls had forgotten Alma who, like a soberly dressed, big-eyed little
bird, was watching the proceedings in much distress.

"You just the same as accused me of sending Alma the 'comic,'" continued
Ada.

"Oh, _didn't_ you send it?" cried Lucy, fairly springing at her friend in
her relief. "I don't care what you do to me then! I deserve anything, for I
really thought you did."

Her eloquent face and the love in her eyes broke down some determination in
Ada's proud little heart, and raised another, perhaps quite as proud, but
at least with an element of nobility. She foresaw that the dishonesty was
going to be more than she could bear.

"I did send it," she said suddenly, with her chin up. Then, ignoring Frank
and Lucy's open-mouthed stares, she turned toward Alma. "I sent you the
'comic,'" she went on. "I thought it would be fun, but it wasn't, and I'm
sorry. I should like to have you forgive me."

Her tone was far from humble, but it was music to Alma's ears. The little
girl clasped her hands together. "Oh, I do," she replied earnestly, "and it
made everybody so kind! Please don't feel bad about it. I got the loveliest
valentines in the evening, and Miss Joslyn came to see us, and we had a
letter from my father and he has a splendid place to work and--and
everything!"

Ada breathed a little faster at the close of this breathless speech. Alma's
eagerness to ascribe even her father's good fortune to the sending of the
'comic' touched her. In her embarrassment she took another determination.

"If you'll excuse me, Frank," she said turning to him, "I think I'll