Josie, who
was sitting by the window. "She seems to be staying in town over the
holidays too. Wonder why. Perhaps she doesn't belong anywhere. She
really is a most forlorn-appearing little mortal."

There were two Ida Mitchells attending the Clifton Academy. The other
Ida was a plain, quiet, pale-faced little girl of fifteen who was in
the second year. Beyond that, none of the third-year Ida Mitchell's
set knew anything about her, or tried to find out.

"She must be very poor," said Ida carelessly. "She dresses so
shabbily, and she always looks so pinched and subdued. She boards in a
little house out on Marlboro Road, and I pity her if she has to spend
her holidays there, for a more dismal place I never saw. I was there
once on the trail of a book I had lost. Going, girls? Well, don't
forget tomorrow night."

Ida spent the next day decorating her room and watching for the
arrival of her cake. It hadn't come by tea-time, and she concluded to
go down to the express office and investigate. It would be dreadful if
that cake didn't turn up in time, with all the girls and Miss Monroe
coming in. Ida felt that she would be mortified to death.

Inquiry at the express office discovered two things. A box had come in
for Miss Ida Mitchell, Clifton; and said box had been delivered to
Miss Ida Mitchell, Clifton.

"One of our clerks said he knew you personally--boarded next door to
you--and he'd take it round himself," the manager informed her.

"There must be some mistake," said Ida in perplexity. "I don't know
any of the clerks here. Oh--why--there's another Ida Mitchell in town!
Can it be possible my cake has gone to her?"

The manager thought it very possible, and offered to send around and
see. But Ida said it was on her way home and she would call herself.

At the dismal little house on Marlboro Road she was sent up three
flights of stairs to the other Ida Mitchell's small hall bedroom. The
other Ida Mitchell opened the door for her. Behind her, on the table,
was the cake--such a fine, big, brown cake, with raisins sticking out
all over it!

"Why, how do you do, Miss Mitchell!" exclaimed the other Ida with shy
pleasure. "Come in. I didn't know you were in town. It's real good of
you to come and see me. And just see what I've had sent to me! Isn't
it a beauty? I was so surprised when it came--and, oh, so glad! I was
feeling so blue and lonesome--as if I hadn't a friend in the world.
I--I--yes, I was crying when that c