Anne, but very like her in face and
figure, appeared at the door.

"This is my sister," said Anne, taking the other's hand affectionately.

"Anne imagines she can't go, but she certainly can," went on the older
Miss Pierson, calmly, not in the least embarrassed by the strange young
girls. "Of course, she must go. I can arrange it easily."

"But, Mary----" protested Anne.

"Never mind, little sister," interrupted Mary, "it will be all right.
Miss Harlowe, what time must she be there?"

"At four o'clock," answered Grace, rising to go, "and I am delighted
that she can come. Remember, Anne, I'm counting on you to pour the
lemonade. The other girls are going to help with the sandwiches and ice
cream. By the way," she added, as they went down the steps, "be sure and
come to the basketball meeting at the gym this afternoon."

And so it was arranged that Anne Pierson, the shabbiest and poorest girl
in Oakdale High School, was to help receive at one of the prettiest and
most charming houses in town. Miriam Nesbit's rudeness was to bring
about a friendship between Anne Pierson and her three schoolmates that
lasted a lifetime.

After the half-past two o'clock dinner, which was the universal custom
in Oakdale, the chums met again at the gymnasium in the Boys' High
School. Wednesdays and Saturdays were nicknamed "ladies' days" by the
High School boys, for on these afternoons the girls were permitted free
use of the gymnasium.

The meeting to-day was not for gymnastic exercises, however, but an
important subject was to be discussed--the Freshman Basketball Team.
Also the captain of the team was to be elected.

Other club meetings were in full force when the girls arrived, and the
great room vibrated with the hum of voices. The three freshmen, who knew
better than to interrupt sophomores and juniors at their pow-wows, made
their way quietly across the hall to the appointed place of rendezvous.
Of course, the entire Freshman Class did not assemble to discuss this
subject. Many members were not interested in basketball, except to look
on. Girls who were overstudious, and not physically strong, could not at
any rate play on the team, and therefore they seldom attended such
meetings. Jessica Bright was one of these, nevertheless, she followed
her two friends, who had always been foremost in athletics at the
Central Grammar School.

The election of a captain was the first business of the meeting. That
over, the captain, after d