ately come to the conclusion that I admire you more than any
girl I know."

Grace looked at her guest in uncomprehending wonder. Could this be the
sneering, insolent Miss Wicks who was speaking? There was no sign of a
sneer on her face now. She spoke with a simple directness that could not
fail to impress the most sceptical. "I have been hearing about you from
a source entirely outside Overton," she continued, "from a Smith College
senior who lives in Oakdale. She visited a friend of mine during the
holidays. I live in Boston, you know."

"I didn't know," began Grace, then with a little exclamation: "It can't
be possible! You don't mean Julia Crosby?"

"Yes," nodded Alberta. "I do mean Julia Crosby. Thanks to her, I have
had my eyes opened to a good many things. I--am--sorry--for everything,
Miss Harlowe." Her voice faltered. "I--never--saw--myself as I
was--until Miss Crosby made me see. Directly after meeting her she asked
me if I knew you, and I spoke slightingly of you. She said very
decidedly that you were one of her dearest friends, and defended you to
the skies. She told me about your saving her from drowning, and of how
badly she had once behaved toward you, and how brave and loyal you were.
Then we had a long talk and she made me promise to square things with
you the minute I came back, but I haven't had the courage until to-day."
She paused and looked appealingly at Grace.

Without hesitation Grace held out her hand. "I am not a very formidable
person," she smiled. "I am so glad you know Julia Crosby, too. She must
have told you of the good times we used to have together in Oakdale."

Alberta nodded. She could not yet trust her voice.

"Julia wanted me to go to Smith with her," Grace went on rapidly in
order to give her guest a chance to recover herself. "At first I thought
seriously of it, but later Anne and Miriam and I decided on Overton. And
we haven't been disappointed, not for an hour! I wouldn't exchange
Overton for any other college in the United States," she ended with
loyal pride. "Don't you love Overton, Miss Wicks?"

"No," returned the other girl shortly. "It is too late for that sort of
thing for me. I forfeited my right long ago. No one will miss me when I
leave. Other than Mary, I have no real friends, even in my own class,
and you know what most of the juniors think of us." Alberta's tone was
very bitter. "Of course, we have no one but ourselves to blame, but just
lately I've begun to wi