you. Just be patient for a few days, and don't be afraid.
Everything will come right."

"How can I ever thank you all?" said Mabel, taking one of Grace's hands
between hers and looking at her with a world of gratitude in her eyes.
"I will write to-night. I must go now or I shall be home late. Forgive
me for hurrying away, but I daren't stay," she added piteously. "You
know that I should like to. Good-bye, and thank you again."

"Good-bye," called Grace. "I'll let you know as soon as I hear from Mary
Stevens."

"What a sweet little girl she is," said Jessica. "I should like to keep
her with me all the time."

"She is a nice child," said Grace, "and she deserves something better
than her present fate."

"To change the subject," said Nora, "has any one seen Eleanor to-day?
She was not in English or geometry, although she may have come in late."

"I don't believe she was in school at all," said Anne. "Maybe the
initiation was too much for her."

"Oh, I don't know. She didn't seem to mind it," remarked Jessica. "She
will hear from Miss Thompson if she makes a practice of staying out of
school. Attendance is one of the chief requisites in Miss Thompson's
eyes."

"I suppose we ought to call on Eleanor before long," mused Grace. "She
has invited us, and it's our duty to call on her first. Anne has already
been there. Suppose we go over now; that is, unless you girls have
something else to do."

It was decided at once that they could go, and soon the four chums were
walking briskly down the street in the direction of "Heartsease." It was
an Indian summer day and the girls congratulated themselves on having
taken advantage of it. As school had closed at half past two, it was not
yet four o'clock. They would have plenty of time for their call without
hurrying themselves. So they strolled along, laughing and chatting in
the care-free manner that belongs alone to the school girl.

As they neared the house one and all exclaimed at the beauty of the
grounds. The lawn looked like a great stretch of green velvet, while the
trees were gorgeous in their autumn glory of crimson and gold, with here
and there a patch of russet by way of contrast. Over at one side were
clumps of pink and white anemones; while all around the house and in the
garden beds that dotted the lawn many-colored chrysanthemums stood up in
brave array.

"What a delightful place 'Heartsease' is," cried Grace as she paused
just inside the gate to feast her