se, dear?
Annie is busy."

Phyllis jumped up from the table and hurried to the hall.

"Suppose it's Tommy saying they're coming to-day!" she exclaimed. But
a minute later her aunt heard her voice drop to its natural tone as she
said:

"Oh, hello, Muriel; this is Phyllis--

"Why, how nice of you; of course I'll be in.

"Yes, isn't it too exciting for words!

"Oh, I think we'll both be there on Monday.

"Oh, wonderful; then I'll see you this afternoon, 'by 'till then."

"It was Muriel," she explained as she returned to the dining-room.
"She and some of the girls from school are coming over this afternoon.
They want to talk over some class plans and they want my advice. We
have class officers this year, you know. Muriel says I've missed an
awful lot. It's almost a month now since school started but it can't
be helped.

"Oh, dear, I wonder what class Janet will be in. I hope it won't be
too awfully low." She paused, and her pretty brows puckered into a
tiny frown.

"I don't think I'd worry if I were you," her aunt said softly. "Janet
may never have been to a school but she is very bright, and I don't
think it will be very long before she will be even with you."

"Oh, but, Auntie Mogs," Phyllis exclaimed, "you didn't think I meant
she was stupid. Of course she's bright, only she probably hasn't had
the same kind of lessons that I have. Anyway, we will soon know, and
even if she goes into the very baby class it won't make any difference
to me. Only you see it might to some of the others," she added
reluctantly.

"That won't bother Janet." Miss Carter smiled at the memory of her
independent little niece who, for all her quiet ways, was thoroughly
able to take care of herself.

"The only thing that worries me," she added, smiling, "is whether or
not Janet will like the girls."

Phyllis looked at her in astonishment.

"But of course she will," she exclaimed. "They are all, or nearly all,
awfully nice and--why, Auntie Mogs, she's sure to like them."

Miss Carter smiled as she left the table. She had given Phyllis a new
idea and she did not mean to dwell upon it.

"Hurry and finish your breakfast, dear," she directed. "I want you to
go down town and finish your shopping with me. When Janet comes I
don't want to think of anything but her clothes. There will be lots to
do if she is to start school on Monday."

"Of course," Phyllis agreed, drinking her very hot cocoa so fast that
it burned her