Anne Towne.

"Why, good evening, Miss Towne!" Jerry extended a hospitable hand. "So
glad to see you. We wondered what had become of you. We knew you owed us
a visit and were waiting for you to pay it." Jerry ushered the wren-like
freshman into the room and offered her its most comfortable chair.

"I have been intending to call, but I--" Miss Towne paused, looking
rather confused. "You see--I--didn't know but I might intrude. You girls
are so different from myself," she suddenly blurted out, as though
anxious to bare her diffident soul to her dainty hostesses and have it
over with. "I mean different because you aren't poor and have lots of
friends and can entertain them and all that. I know it is the custom at
college for the upper class girls to be kind to entering freshmen. I
didn't care to presume on your kindness. I hope you understand me." She
flushed painfully.

"Nonsense," scoffed Jerry sturdily. "We aren't a bit haughty. We want
you to be our friend and hope to see you often. You mustn't think about
such things. Just go along with your head held high. If people don't
like you for your own merits, they are not worth cultivating."

"I believe you couldn't have been so very much afraid of Jeremiah's and
my great dignity or you wouldn't have dared come and see us tonight."
Marjorie smiled encouragement at the still embarrassed girl.

"Perhaps I wasn't really." Marjorie's winning smile communicated itself
to the other girl. Her tired little face brightened wonderfully. "I am
sure I won't be afraid ever again. I would love to call both of you my
friends."

"Do so; do so." Jerry's instant response in a pompous tone made Miss
Towne laugh. Marjorie thought her pretty when she laughed. Her teeth
were unusually white and even, and her face broke into charming little
lines of amusement.

"I will," she promised. "I came to you tonight for advice. You were all
so kind to me the other day, I thought you wouldn't mind my asking you
something. I have received an invitation to a picnic next Saturday to
be given to the freshman class. Here it is."

Miss Towne opened a small handbag and drew from it a heavy white
envelope. The faint odor of perfume still clung to it. Drawing from it a
sheet of paper to match, she handed the latter to Marjorie. It read:

"Dear Miss Towne:

"The Sans Soucians will be glad to see you at a picnic, to be
given in honor of the freshman class next Saturday afternoon,
the weather