have at length come into its purest
realization. Once the very thought of it had irked and distressed her.
Now she experienced a sense of deep surprise that she had been so blind.
Her Golden Summer had indeed descended upon her in all its radiant
glory. She rejoiced in the long peaceful mornings spent with her mother
on the vine-clad veranda, or in the clematis-wreathed summer house at
the end of the garden. They were busy mornings, too, filled with the joy
of preparing the countless dainty odds and ends, so necessary to her
trousseau. Their hands never idle, they talked long and earnestly of the
things which lay nearest their hearts, and a strange peace, which
Grace's naturally restless temperament had never before known, enveloped
her like a mantle.

Though anxious to meet her friends again in New York City, Grace had
sighed with genuine regret at leaving this new-found peace and departing
from Oakdale on the most momentous shopping tour she had ever before set
out to make. She and her mother had gone directly to the home of the
Nesbits, where a most cordial welcome awaited them. Two days had passed
since their arrival. It was now the evening of the second day and the
five girls whose fortunes had been so firmly linked together at Overton
College, by a series of happenings grave and gay, were paying a brief,
overnight visit to Arline Thayer at her home in East Orange.

"Thank you." Elfreda bowed at the unanimous response. "As an esteemed
representative of the law and a forlorn bachelor girl, I really think my
plea deserves some small consideration. I might also add that I could
see you were all anxious to come to Wildwood. I appreciate your delicate
opposition." Elfreda grinned boyishly. "Now that we've decided where,
we'd better decide when the reunion is to be."

"We didn't decide where, did we?" tantalized Miriam. "We only decided
that you were a distinguished lawyeress."

"Having once admired me, can you refuse my humble request?" retorted
Elfreda, with a sentimental rolling of her round blue eyes.

"Let's put her out of her misery," proposed Miriam. "Wildwood for me,
Elfreda, provided the rest are pleased. How about you, Arline? As an
almost-wed are you willing to sacrifice your reunion claim to Elfreda?"

"Of course." Arline made genial response. A peculiar look shot into her
pretty eyes, however, as she nervously began to turn the jeweled pledge
of engagement that decked her ring finger. She seemed about