hardships," said Grace,
who, now that the subject had been opened, wanted to hear more of Anne's
views of the stage.

"Unless any girl has remarkable talent, I should advise her to keep off
the stage," said Anne decidedly. "Of course when a girl comes of a
theatrical family for generations, like Maud Adams or Ethel Barrymore,
then that is different. She is practically born, bred and brought up in
the theatre. She is as carefully guarded as though she lived in a little
village, simply because she knows from babyhood all the unpleasant
features of the profession and how to avoid them. There is some chance
of her becoming great, too. Of course real stars do appear once in a
while, who are too talented to be kept down. However, the really great
ones are few and far between. When I compare my life before I came here
with the good times I have had since I met you girls, I hate the very
idea of the stage.

"Only," she concluded with a shame-faced air, "there are times when the
desire to act is irresistible, and it did make my heart beat a little
bit faster when I heard about the play."

"You dear little mouse," said Grace, putting her arm around Anne. "I
was only jesting when I spoke about your love for the stage. I think
I understand how you feel, and I hope you get the best part in the play.
I know you'll make good."

"She certainly will," said Nora. "But, to give the play a rest and come
down to everyday affairs, where shall we meet to go to the football
game?"

"Let me see," said Grace. "The game is to be called at three o'clock.
I suppose we shall all be through dinner by half past two. You had better
bring your girls to my house. Each of you is to have two and Jessica has
one besides Mabel. I am to have three; I found another yesterday. David
promised to get me the tickets. I wonder how he and Hippy will enjoy
chaperoning thirteen girls?"

"I won't have the slightest chance to talk to Hippy," grumbled Nora,
"and he has neglected us shamefully of late, too."

"Never mind, you can have him all to yourself at my party," consoled
Grace. "By the way, girls, do you think it would be of any use to invite
Eleanor?"

"Eleanor?" exclaimed Nora. "After what she has said to you! You might as
well throw your invitation into the fire, for it's safe to say that she
will do so when she receives it."

Nevertheless, Grace wrote a cordial little note to Eleanor that evening,
and two days later she received Eleanor's reply thro