th
her about honor and fair play? To Betty in her present mood it seemed a
mere waste of time and energy.

"Well, for one reason," she said at last, "Helen hasn't her own paper
done yet, and for another I don't think she writes as well as you
probably do;" and she rose to go.

"That was a joke, Bettina," Eleanor called after her. "I am truly going
to work now--this very instant. Come back at ten and have black coffee
with me."

Betty went on without answering to Rachel's room. "Come in," chorused
three cheerful voices.

"No, go get your lit. paper first. We're reading choice selections,"
added Katherine.

"She means she is," corrected Rachel, handing Betty a pillow. "You look
cross, Betty."

"I am," said Betty savagely, recounting a few of her woes. "What can we
do? I came to be amused."

"In a Miracle play of this type----" began Katherine, and stopped to
dodge a pillow. "But it is amusing, Betty."

"I'm afraid it will amuse Miss Mills, if the rest is anything like what
you read," said Rachel with a reminiscent smile. "What are you doing,
Roberta?"

"Writing home," drawled Roberta, without looking up from her paper.

"Well, you needn't shake your fountain pen over me, if you are," said
Katherine. "I also owe my honored parents a letter, but I've about made
up my mind never to write to them again. Listen to this, will you." She
rummaged in her desk for a minute. "Here it is.

"'My dear daughter'--he only begins that way when he's fussed. I always
know how he's feeling when I see whether it's 'daughter' or 'K.' 'My
dear daughter:--Your interesting letter of the 12th inst. was received
and I enclose a check, which I hope will last for some weeks.' ("I'm
sorry to say it's nearly gone already," interpolated Katherine.) "'Your
mother and I enjoyed the account of the dance you attended in the
gymnasium, of the candy pull which Mrs. Chapin so kindly arranged for
her roomers, and the game of hockey that ended so disastrously for one
of your friends. We are glad that you attended the Morality play of
"Everyman," though we are at a loss to know what you mean by the "peanut
gallery." However it occurs to us that with your afternoon gymnasium
class, your recitations, which, as I understand it, fully engage your
mornings, and all these diversions in one week, you could have spent but
little time in the study of your lessons. Do not forget that these years
should be devoted to a serious preparation for the multifarious