r Grace nor Emma felt that they could bear to miss that last
gathering together of their beloved Semper Fidelis friends.

"I wonder who will be first on the scene," speculated Grace.

"Consult the time table, my child," advised Emma. "I have no time for
speculation. I am starting on a hunt in darkest Deanery for my cuff
links. They are tucked away in some remote corner of the Dean territory,
but which corner?"

"They are in one end of your handkerchief box. I saw you put them there
yesterday, you ridiculous person," laughed Grace.

"Thank you, thank you! 'One good turn deserves another,'" quoted Emma
fervently. "Bring forth the fateful time table and I'll sort out the
trains and the order of arrival of the clan."

"I haven't a time table," confessed Grace.

"Then we'll have to let the trains run merrily on, and the railroad do
its perfect work. I'm sorry I can't pay my debt of gratitude. I am
always helpful. I was always helpful. I have been helpful. I would be
helpful. I might have been helpful and I may yet be helpful," conjugated
Emma hopefully, "but not without a time table."

"I appreciate your splendid spirit of helpfulness even though it isn't
of any use at present," assured Grace satirically. "I suppose--"

A long reverberating ring of the bell cut short her remark.

The two friends exchanged questioning glances.

"It can't be one of the girls. It's only eight o'clock," was Emma's
quick comment.

Grace opened the door and listened intently. Emma joined her, peering
over her shoulder. Then Miss Duncan's dignified assistant in English
gave an unmistakable, though subdued, war whoop, and, seizing Grace by
the hand, made for the stairs. Grace needed no assistance. An instant
later they brought up at the foot of the stairs and made a simultaneous
rush for a tall, plump young woman, enveloping her in a tempestuous
embrace.

"I might have known you'd be the first," cried Grace with joyful
affection. "You must have taken a train in the middle of the night."

"I did," returned J. Elfreda Briggs calmly. "We are living in New York
this winter, so Pa brought me to the station in his own pet car and saw
me safely on my way. Emma Dean, you good old comrade, how are you?"
Elfreda turned from Grace to Emma.

Emma surveyed Elfreda with fond eyes. "Just now I'm overcome at seeing
you, J. Elfreda. How we have missed you!" Depth of feeling for the
moment checked Emma's irrepressible flow of humor. Next to Grace, in