myself when I tried to fix her up, and then after a while I got tired of
her and let her alone. I was horrid, but she's forgiven me and we're
real friends now."

"Well, we can't do but so much apiece," said Mary practically. "And I've
noticed that 'jam,' as your valentine girl called it, is a mighty hard
thing to give to people who really need it."

Nevertheless the gift had been managed in Helen's case; she had gotten
her start at last. Miss Mills's tactful little attention had furnished
her with the hope and courage that she lacked, had given her back the
self-confidence that Caroline Barnes had wounded. Whatever the girls
might think, she knew she was "somebody" now, and she would go ahead and
prove it. She could, too--she no longer doubted her possession of the
college girl's one talent that Betty had laughed about. For there was
Theresa Reed, her friend down the street. She was homely and awkward,
she wore dowdy clothes and wore them badly, she was slow and plodding;
but there was one thing that she could do, and the girls admired her for
it and had instantly made a place for her. Helen was glad of a second
proof that those things did not matter vitally. She set herself happily
to work to study T. Reed's methods, and she began to look forward to the
freshman-sophomore game as eagerly as did Betty or Katherine.

But before the game there was the concert. Jack Burgess, having missed
his connections, arrived in Harding exactly twenty-seven minutes before
it began. As they drove to the theatre he inquired if Betty had received
all three of his telegrams.

"Yes," laughed Betty, "but I got the last one first. The other two were
evidently delayed. You've kept me guessing, I can tell you."

"Glad of that," said Jack cheerfully, as he helped her out of the
carriage. "That's what you've kept me doing for just about a month. But
I've manfully suppressed my curiosity and concealed the wounds in my
bleeding heart until I could make inquiries in person."

"What in the world do you mean, Jack?" asked Betty carelessly. Jack was
such a tease.

Just then they were caught in the crowd that filled the lobby of the
theatre, and conversation became impossible as they hurried through it
and into the theatre itself.

"Checks, please," said a businesslike little usher in pink chiffon, and
Jack and Betty followed her down the aisle. The theatre was already
nearly full, and it looked like a great flower garden, for the girls all
wo