e.

"There is an article in this number which Miss Dean says is worth
reading," she explained. "Keep my magazine if you like, and I'll read
this."

For the next two hours not a word was exchanged. The two girls read on
and on. As the afternoon began to wane Evelyn finished her magazine,
took off her hat, and, leaning her head against the high green velvet
back of the seat, closed her eyes. At last Grace laid aside her reading,
and idly watched, with half dreaming eyes, the fleeting landscape.
Occasionally her gaze wandered, in unwilling admiration, to Evelyn's
lovely, tranquil face. Why was such great beauty coupled with such
tantalizing perversity of spirit? was the thought that sprang unbidden
to her mind.

It was long after dark when the two young women passed through the iron
gates of the station to where their friends awaited them. Anne, David,
Miriam and Arline stood eagerly watching for Grace. At almost the same
moment Evelyn spied Althea. On seeing Evelyn's companions, Althea
hurried forward in time to receive the much-coveted introduction to
Arline Thayer, Anne and the Nesbits. After a brief exchange of
courtesies Grace's friends bowed themselves off, gleefully escorting
Grace to David's car.

Althea stared moodily after them. "I think they are awfully snobbish,"
she remarked resentfully. "How did you manage to get away, Evelyn?"

"Don't ask me," Evelyn made a gesture of deprecation. "All I hope is
that I'm not found out. I'm glad I overheard Miss Harlowe talking last
night about going to-day. If worse comes to worst, I'll say I came down
here with her."

"But what if she denies it?"

Evelyn shrugged her shoulders. "Ten chances to one I shall not be
missed, but if there is any trouble I'll appeal to her generosity of
spirit to help me. She pretends to be so helpful, let her demonstrate
her helpfulness by standing between me and Miss Sheldon."

CHAPTER XVIII

A HUMILIATING REPRIMAND

To Grace forty-eight hours with her chums seemed hardly longer than
forty-eight minutes, and she found it an exceedingly difficult task to
divide her time equally among them. She went directly to the Southards
for dinner, and to the theater that night with David, Miriam and Miss
Southard to see Everett Southard and Anne as the ill-fated king and
queen in "Macbeth." To her delight she discovered that the opposite box
held Elfreda, Arline, Ruth, Mabel Ashe, Mr. Ashe and Mr. Thayer, and
after the play they were Mr