e the new Kathleen West dearly.
She is so clever, and now that we are friends I hope we can work
together in ever so many ways."

As the taxicab bore them swiftly toward Harlowe House the two young
women talked on of the happy past with its pleasure-marked milestones.

"We're almost there. Look, Emma! You can get a splendid view of all the
campus houses. Now isn't Harlowe House the prettiest of them all?"

"It is, I swear it," returned Emma solemnly, "and, if I'm not mistaken,
one of your household has arrived ahead of you. Certainly some one is
camping out on the front steps."

"Why, so there is. I wonder who she can be. One of the maids, I suppose,
or perhaps the cook. We'll know who she is in a minute."

The car had now come to a full stop. Without waiting for the chauffeur
Grace opened the door and sprang out. "Never mind our luggage," she said
as she paid the driver. "We'll carry it into the house. It's not very
heavy."

Gathering her belongings in one hand, and picking up one of Emma's suit
cases, Grace set off up the stone walk followed by Emma. As she advanced
there rose from the steps and came to meet her a most astonishing little
figure.

CHAPTER VIII

A STRANGE APPLICANT

"This is Harlowe House, isn't it?" was the sharp question that assailed
Grace's ears.

"Yes." Grace's eyes traveled in amazement over the curious little
stranger within her gates. She was a girl of perhaps eighteen, although
there was a strained, anxious expression in her large brown eyes that
made her look positively aged, an effect which the three deep lines in
her high projecting forehead served to emphasize. If she possessed hair
it was not visible under the small round hat of a by-gone style which
set down upon her head like a helmet. She wore a plain, cheap black
skirt and a queer, old-fashioned white blouse made with a peplum. Around
her waist was a leather belt, and on her feet were coarse heavy shoes
such as a farm laborer might wear. In one hand she carried a large
bundle, in a newspaper wrapping.

"I'm so glad. I thought I'd never get here," she said simply.

Grace and Emma exchanged amazed glances. This must be the maid. But such
a maid!

"Are you the young woman Mrs. Elwood engaged?" asked Grace politely.

The girl shook her head. "I don't know what you mean. No one engaged me.
I just came because I heard about Harlowe House and wanted to go to
college. I've passed all my high school examinations and I'