g. Only she is just like the rest of us, and that seems more
natural; that's all."

"And 'beyond a doubt we are the people; and wisdom will perish with
us,'" quoted Gerald, his face brightening as he spoke. "'Tis well. Come
on, thou antiquated ape, and let us pump out the float."

Meantime the girls had sought their favorite pine parlor, and were deep
in talk. _High_ would be a more descriptive adjective; for Viola Vincent
was the principal talker, and her shrill, clear treble quivered up to
the very tree-tops, startling the birds in their nests, and sending the
squirrels scampering to and fro with excitement.

"My dear, this is too delicious, simply _too_! I should expire, if I
lived here, of pure joy. Oh, Snowy, what a darling you are! Your nose is
just as straight as ever, isn't it? Rulers, my dear, are crooked beside
it, aren't they? If I had a straight nose, I should pass away from sheer
bliss. My nose turns up more every year; it's the only aspiring thing
about me. Pothooks are straight by comparison. Isn't it a calamity?"

"Tiptilted like the petal of a flower," said Gertrude, laughing. "I
always thought your nose one of your prettinesses, Vanity, and I believe
you think so, too."

"Oh! my _dear_, how _can_ you?" cried Viola, caressing her little nose,
which was certainly piquant and pretty enough to please any one. "You
don't really mean it, do you? You just say it to comfort me, don't you?
You _are_ such a comforting darling! Where did you get that heavenly
shade of green, Snowy? I never saw anything so lovely in my life. It is
just the color of jade. My dear, I saw some jade bracelets the other day
that were simply _made_ for you. I wanted to tear them from the girl's
arms, and say, 'What are you doing with the Snowy's bracelets?' She was
a dump, with a complexion like Doctor Somebody or other's liniment. A
person who can wear jade is simply the--"

"Oh, come, Vanity!" said Peggy, good-naturedly. "Come out of the
millinery business, and tell us about yourself, and about the other
girls. What has become of Vex--of Vivia Varnham?"

"My dear! haven't you heard?"

"Not a word! You have never written, you know, since we left school, and
she would not be likely to."

"You didn't love each other quite to distraction, did you?" said Viola.
"Poor V. V.! she really was the limit sometimes, wasn't she? I never
minded her, of course, because I never listened to what she said.
Besides, she was like pickles, you k