it to the sweet-faced girl whose only
glimpse of the big world was what was brought to her in her own room by
those who loved her. Arethusa's friendships never stopped contented
with knowing a person; she had to know all about them. She had met the
fiancee at the cottage many times, and she thoroughly approved of her
for Clay. And both of these girls adored Arethusa.

It was from one of these excursions she was returning when she brought
the automobile to such an abrupt stop, that Clay, who had yielded her
the wheel at her request and was not noticing just then at all, was
almost thrown out of his seat.

"There's Mrs. Cherry," screamed Arethusa. "Oh, Mrs. Cherry! Mrs.
Cherry!"

It was undoubtedly Mrs. Cherry and Helen Louise and Peter; Mrs. Cherry
holding a hand of each child and strolling slowly along gazing into
shop windows gaily decorated and full of Christmas things. Quite a bit
more prosperous-looking trio than of old they were, but Mrs. Cherry,
for all the better clothes, was still just as comfortably untidy as
ever.

"Mrs. Cherry!"

Arethusa waved wildly, fearful lest her friend should enter the store
into whose windows she was at that moment gazing, and miss her
altogether. But Mrs. Cherry turned around at this last wild cry, and
looked uncertainly up and down the crowded street and across, directly
at Arethusa, without recognizing her, or without locating the call.

"Here, Clay," Arethusa began clambering ungracefully over the brakes
and handles around the wheel of the car, and across him before he could
move. "Here, you take it, I must go speak to Mrs. Cherry!"

"Well, if it ain't Miss Worth'ton!" exclaimed Mrs. Cherry when Arethusa
had reached her, after a rather dangerous scramble between trucks and
horses and street cars.

Mrs. Cherry beamed all over in expansive greeting; Peter sidled shyly
behind her generous proportions, as for shelter; and Helen Louise
smiled, timidly, a slightly more toothless smile than hers had been,
even a few weeks past.

Arethusa held out both hands. "Oh, I'm so _glad_ to see you! I've
thought about you often and often and wondered where you were and what
you were doing. And Helen Louise and Peter!"

"You look just as pretty as a peach!" declared Mrs. Cherry, with hearty
warmth, grasping those outstretched hands to pump them vigorously, up
and down. "I never would have knowed you!"

"Come get in the automobile," invited Arethusa, "and then we can talk.
And oh!" sei