innocently. "I had made up my mind not to go, but she thought I ought to
and said if I met some other freshmen I would not have to go alone. I
don't live on the campus so I haven't much opportunity of meeting other
students."

"I see," nodded Phyllis. A swift tide of color had risen to her cheeks.
From the instant she had set eyes on Marjorie Dean she had adored her.
She now felt as though she had been lacking in true college spirit. If
Marjorie thought Miss Towne should attend the picnic, undoubtedly she
must think that the rest of the freshmen ought to do likewise.

"I will play especial escort to you at the picnic," she now laughingly
offered. "I hadn't intended to go either, but I have changed my mind.
Oh, Marjorie," she called across the room, "I'll take care of Miss Towne
at the picnic."

"Will you, truly?" The eyes of the two girls met. A silent message was
exchanged. "Then she will be sure to have a nice time," was what
Marjorie put into words.

Robin and Marjorie also exchanged sly smiles. Each suspected that humble
little Miss Towne was responsible for Phyllis's sudden change of mind.
More, it was apparent that Phyllis had taken one of her sudden likings
to the unassuming freshman.

Later, Robin found an opportunity to confide to Marjorie that she didn't
know how it had happened, for Phil was terribly obstinate when once she
had set her mind against a thing. Nor did Marjorie know until long
afterward that she had been responsible for a decision on Phyllis's part
which was the beginning of a warm friendship between Phyllis and Anna
Towne.

Meanwhile the prospective hostesses of Saturday's outing were spending
the evening in Leslie Cairns' room squabbling over their plans for the
picnic. They could not agree on the refreshments, the amusements, or, in
fact, anything pertaining to the affair. The truth of the matter was
they were already tired of their beneficent project. They had never made
a practice of unselfishly trying to please others, and the process bade
fair to be too difficult for their infinitely small natures.

For once, during the wrangling that went on, Leslie Cairns honestly
tried to keep her temper. The straw that broke the particular camel's
back in her case, however, was an extended argument between Dulcie Vale
and Natalie Weyman regarding the refreshments. These two, with Harriet
Stephens, had been appointed to look after the luncheon. Harriet lazily
expressed herself as indifferent t