lad to say 'Alberta Wicks is my friend.'"

"Can you say that and really mean it?" asked Alberta almost
incredulously.

"I would not say it unless I were quite certain that I meant it," Grace
assured her. "Your coming here to-night proved clearly that you were
ready to forget all past differences. Then, why should I hold spite or
nurse a grievance? Now, we are not going to say another word about it. I
should like to have you spend the evening with me. I am going to invite
Miriam and Elfreda to a conversation and tea party in honor of you."

"Oh, no!" protested Alberta, half rising. "They wouldn't come. Elfreda
will never forgive me for causing her so much trouble."

"Elfreda has forgotten all about what happened to her as a freshman. At
least she has forgiven you," added Grace. "She and Miriam will be glad
to know that we are friends." Grace spoke confidently, though she did
have a brief instant of doubt as to just how Elfreda would regard
Alberta's belated repentance. To her intense relief, however, when
leaving Alberta for a moment she ran down the hall to invite Miriam and
Elfreda, the one-time stout girl offered no other comment than a
grumbled, "Just like you, Grace Harlowe."

"But will you come to my tea party?" persisted Grace.

"Of course we will," accepted Miriam.

"She knows about it all, she knows, she knows," droned Elfreda. "What's
the use in asking me anything when Miriam is here?"

"All right." Grace turned to go. "I'll expect to see both of you within
the next ten minutes. Don't change your mind after I have gone."

"See here, Grace Harlowe!" Elfreda rose from her chair and walked toward
Grace. "I should like to know--"

"Don't say it, Elfreda," interrupted Grace. "Just say you'll come. If
you don't come Alberta will go back to Stuart Hall, disappointed and
resentful at having her friendly overtures rejected. She is at the
critical stage now, Elfreda, dear, and needs encouragement and cheering
up. She is a trifle bitter, and has the blues, too, although she is too
stiff-necked to admit it."

"You needn't be afraid. I wasn't going to throw cold water on the tea
party. Of course we'll attend, and bring the whole two pounds of fruit
cake we bought to-day with us. You can take our new cups and saucers,
too, can't she, Miriam? What I should like to know is how it all
happened."

"I can't stop to tell you now. Wait until Anne comes home to-night and
we'll congregate. I want to see Arline, too. I h