nd her invitation to you,
also. Mabel does not know----" began Grace. Then her face reddened and
she ceased abruptly.

Kathleen, understanding the flush, said dryly: "Miss Ashe is very kind
to think of me. However, it is out of the question for me to accept her
invitation. I will write her to-night. It is strange she did not write
me, too."

"She has been extremely busy," retorted Grace, her face flushing a still
deeper red at Kathleen's rudeness. "She invited Miriam, Elfreda and Anne
the same way."

"That has nothing to do with me," declared Kathleen. "If you will be so
kind, you might say in your letter to her that I will write her within a
few days." She kept her face half averted, her eyes refusing to meet
Grace's.

"Very well." Grace felt her anger rising. She turned from the door,
which closed almost in her face, and went back to her room hurt and
indignant.

"Refused and trampled upon as well," declared Elfreda after one glance
at Grace's stormy eyes. "Never mind, Grace. I wouldn't let a little
thing like that worry me. I wouldn't even think about it."

Grace gave a short laugh. "Of course 'you could see,'" she mimicked.

"I'd be blind if I couldn't," grinned Elfreda. "The look in your eyes
tells the story."

"You are right, as usual. She has frozen again. She is icier than ever."

"Where's Patience?" asked Anne.

"Gone to Westbrook. Won't be back until to-morrow. If she were here she
might prevail upon Kathleen to behave reasonably."

"We four have been known to enjoy ourselves together without adding to
our number," observed Elfreda in a dry tone. "I think I could live
without her."

Grace brightened. "Oh, wise and superwise Elfreda, in your words lurk
the essence of truth. We four will have one of our own special brand of
good times to-night. See, I throw all my cares to the winds." Grace
waved her arms as though to cast Care from her. "I have tried to solve
the mystery of the mysterious Kathleen and it is beyond me. I hoped
after last night that she would be different from then on, but to-day
she is more provoking than ever. I shall say nothing of her in my letter
to Mabel, except that I delivered the invitation, but when we go to
Mabel's for Thanksgiving if she asks for an explanation of certain
things I shall not hesitate to give it."

"That is the way I like to hear you talk," approved Elfreda. "I don't
mean the 'wise and superwise Elfreda' part. I'm not so conceited, I
hope. But it is hi