Still, you're a champion player, too,
Miriam, so you've more than your share of accomplishments. Anne, too,
excites my envy and admiration. She can act and stand first in her
classes, too, while I have to work like mad to keep up in my classes and
am not a star in anything. Perhaps during this year I shall develop some
new talent of which no one suspects me. It won't be for study, that's
sure."

Miriam smiled to herself, but said nothing. She knew that Grace already
possessed a talent for making friends and an ability to see not only her
own way clearly, but to smooth the pathway of those weaker than herself
that was little short of marvelous. She knew, too, that before the end
of the school year Grace's remarkable personality was sure to make
itself felt among her fellow students.

"What are you smiling to yourself about, Miriam?" demanded Grace.

But at this juncture the door was burst violently open and J. Elfreda
Briggs dashed into the room, threw herself face downward on her
disordered bed and gave way to a long, anguished wail.

CHAPTER VI

A DISTURBING NOTE

Miriam and Grace sprang to their feet, regarding the sobbing, moaning
girl in blank amazement.

"What on earth is the matter, Elfreda," said Miriam.

The answer was another long wail that made the girls glance
apprehensively toward the door.

"She'll have to be more quiet," said Grace, "or else every girl in the
house will hear her and come in to inquire what has happened." Going
over to the couch, she knelt beside Elfreda and said almost sharply,
"Elfreda, stop crying at once. Do you want all the girls in the house to
hear you?"

"I don't care," was the discouraging answer, but in a lower tone,
nevertheless; but she continued to sob heart-brokenly.

"Tell me about it, Elfreda," said Grace more gently, taking one of the
girl's limp hands in hers. "Something dreadful must have happened. Have
you had bad news from home?"

"No-o-o," gasped the stout girl. "It's the sophomores. I can't go to the
reception. They won't let me." Her sobs burst forth afresh.

Grace rose from her knees, casting a puzzled glance toward Miriam. "I
wonder what she means." Then placing her hands on Elfreda's shoulders
she raised her to a sitting position on the couch and dropping down
beside her put one arm over her shoulder. Miriam promptly sat down on
the other side, and being thus supported and bolstered by their
sympathetic arms, Elfreda gulped, gurgled, sighe