as they
talked, happily and lazily. The girls followed Kit into the library, as
she went on a hunt after Semele, and here Amy faced her accusingly.

"You never told us a word about this Billie boy," she declared, "and ever
since you came here, you've made believe to overlook boys. You haven't
wanted them in any of our affairs. You made fun of the girls who did want
them, and all the time you've had this one up your sleeve. Kathleen,
explain."

"If he's a relative," Peggy interposed, serenely, "we'll let you off.
You've never been initiated into anything. You haven't even had your
freshman hazing, because the Dean doesn't approve of such doings, and we
felt that we'd better keep it out of the family, but there are limits,
aren't there, girls?"

Kit laughed up at them, as she groped about on the floor picking up the
scattered pages of notes.

"Well, he's a relative, if you must know," she retorted. "He's my father's
first cousin's husband's grandchild. Now haze me if you like."

Vowing that this connection was altogether too nebulous to save her from
the threatened penalty, the girls buried the hatchet for the time being in
the entertainment of the guests.

"I suppose Hope looks pretty small to you after the universities back
east," Norma said to Billie, as they made the rounds of the buildings,
after Amy had played hostess with Kit's help, and had brought down a
goodly supply of fudge and peanut nougat.

"Looks mighty good," returned Billie, heartily. "I think you can have
loads more fun in a place like this than you can at the big schools. And
you know, I'm not going to a university or anything of that sort. I'm just
at the 'Prep' and taking up special branches outside with Mr. Howard."

"What kind of branches?" queried Norma.

"Oh, science, and physics, but specially entomology and forestry. He's in
government service, you know."

"He doesn't act a bit important or dignified, does he?" Norma said
thoughtfully. "You'd almost think he was a sort of grown-up boy."

"I wish I knew all he does. It's mighty nice for a fellow to have a friend
like Stanley. It's like being a little bicycle running in the track of a
speeding motorcycle. You may not be able to keep up, but it's mighty good
exercise trying to hit the pace."

Kit was walking behind the others with Amy and Anne. Now that they had
joined the others, and the girls were talking about Stanley also, she had
become strangely silent.

"You don't know him v