it was kind of you to invite us to the F. C.'s, too. But
we cannot attend both meetings--not in one evening."

Madge Steele was looking at her earnestly and found that Ruth neither
dropped her gaze nor appeared confused by her scrutiny. Helen was the
one who seemed confused.

"It is not our usage to interfere with those who are pledged to other
school clubs," said Miss Steele, speaking distinctly. "I understand,
then, that you are _not_ pledged?"

"Only to attend this meeting as visitors of Miss Cox," said Ruth,
simply.

"Very well, then," said Madge Steele, her pleasant face breaking into a
smile again, "I shall hope to see you at some future meeting of the
Forward Club. Here we are on the campus. It is cool and shady here,
even in the hottest weather. We think it is a decidedly pleasant
place."

She walked beside them, conversing pleasantly. Helen recovered her
good temper and ventured a remark about the fountain which graced the
center of the campus. It was a huge marble figure of a sitting female,
in graceful draperies and with a harp, or lyre, on the figure's knee.
The clear water bubbled out all around the pedestal, and the statue and
bowl were sunk a little below the level of the greensward, like a small
Italian garden.

"What is the figure supposed to represent, Miss Steele?" asked Helen.

"You are allowed three guesses--and then you won't know," laughed the
Senior. "You can see by the stains and moss on it that the fountain
has been there a great many years. Long before Briarwood Hall was a
school. But it is supposed to represent either _Poesy_, or _Harmony_.
Nobody knows--not even Mrs. Tellingham."

The bell stopped tolling with three, sharp, jerky taps. Madge Steele
quickened her pace along the path and the newcomers followed her.
Other girls were pouring into the building nearest to the main
structure of Briarwood. A broad stairway led up to assembly rooms; but
out of the lower hall opened a large dining room, in which were ten or
twelve long tables, and at which the girls were already being seated by
some sort of system.

"I don't know where you will be seated," said Madge Steele, hastily.
"I am at the second Senior table. Here comes Miss Picolet. She will
attend to you Infants."

"Oh, it's the little French teacher," said Helen.

Ruth met the little lady with a smile. Miss Picolet nodded to them
both and put out her tiny hand. She really was no taller than Helen.

"I am gl