ter she and Elfreda, in a new brown suit and hat, wearing
the expression of a martyr, joined Grace and Anne on the veranda, and
the four set out for Exeter Field.

"I'm not going to talk about certain things to-day, Grace, but did you
notice that all the girls at our table were as nice with you as ever?"
said Anne in a low tone.

"Yes; I noticed it," returned Grace. "If they continue to be the same, I
shall think that we have been making a mountain of a molehill."

"Look at that crowd ahead of us," called Miriam.

A veritable procession of girls wound its way up the hilly street to
Exeter Field. There were big girls and little girls, all talking and
laughing happily, until the still October air rang with the sound of
their gay, young voices. The majority of them were well-dressed,
although here and there might be seen a last year's hat or coat that no
one seemed to notice or to mind. Overton had a reputation for democracy
in spite of the fact that most of its students came from homes where
there was no lack of money.

Arriving at the field the four girls followed the crowd, which for the
most part made for a long, low building at one end of the field.

"Where are they going?" asked Grace.

"For ice cream, of course," replied a young woman who stood near enough
to overhear Grace's question.

"Oh, I want some ice cream," piped up Elfreda.

"Very well, my child, you shall have it," said Miriam in a grave,
motherly tone.

The young woman who had answered Grace's question glanced at Miriam with
twinkling eyes. Then she smiled broadly. That smile warmed Grace's
heart.

"Won't you come with us?" she asked.

"Thank you, I believe I will," she replied. "I think I have the
advantage. I know you are Miss Harlowe, but you don't know me. My name
is Gertrude Wells, and I am a freshman, too. Now, suppose you introduce
your little friends, and we'll go over to the club restaurant. I was
waiting for my chum, but she has evidently deserted me."

Grace decided that she liked Miss Wells better than any other freshman
she had met. She had a dry, humorous way of saying things that kept them
all in a gale of laughter. Elfreda, too, seemed especially interested in
her, and exerted herself to please. After their second ice all around
they strolled over to where the manager of the college athletics
association was marshaling the candidates for the try out. Grace and
Miriam hurried off to the training quarters at one end of the fi