When the Academy is open and I have my lessons to study, I don't mind
so much. But the holidays take all the courage out of me."

"We should have fraternized more this week," smiled Ida, regretting
that she hadn't thought of it before. "I couldn't go home because of
the measles, and I've moped a lot. We might have spent the time
together and had a real nice, jolly holiday."

The other Ida blushed with delight.

"I'd love to be friends with you," she said slowly. "I've often
thought I'd like to know you. Isn't it odd that we have the same name?
It was so nice of you to come and see me. I--I'd love to have you come
often."

"I will," said Ida heartily.

"Perhaps you will stay the evening," suggested the other Ida. "I've
asked some of the girls who board here in to have some cake, I'm so
glad to be able to give them something--they've all been so good to
me. They are all clerks in stores and some of them are so tired and
lonely. It's so nice to have a pleasure to share with them. Won't you
stay?"

"I'd like to," laughed Ida, "but I have some guests of my own invited
in for tonight. I must hurry home, for they will most surely be
waiting for me."

She laughed again as she thought what else the guests would be waiting
for. But her face was sober enough as she walked home.

"But I'm glad I left the cake with her," she said resolutely. "Poor
little thing! It means so much to her. It meant only 'a good feed,' as
Josie says, to me. I'm simply going to make it my business next term
to be good friends with the other Ida Mitchell. I'm afraid we
third-year girls are very self-centred and selfish. And I know what
I'll do! I'll write to Abby Morton in Trenton to send me Mrs.
Henderson's address, and I'll write her a letter and ask her not to
let Ida know she didn't send the cake."

Ida went into a confectionery store and invested in what Josie Pye was
wont to call "ready-to-wear eatables"--fancy cakes, fruit, and
candies. When she reached her room she found it full of expectant
girls, with Miss Monroe enthroned in the midst of them--Miss Monroe
in a wonderful evening dress of black lace and yellow silk, with roses
in her hair and pearls on her neck--all donned in honour of Ida's
little celebration. I won't say that, just for a moment, Ida didn't
regret that she had given up her cake.

"Good evening, Miss Mitchell," cried Mary Craig gaily. "Walk right in
and make yourself at home in your own room, do! We all met in the
ha