e threats and come upstairs to see our quarters,"
commanded Grace.

Emma uncoiled herself from the window seat with alacrity and began
gathering up her belongings.

Grace turned kindly to Mary Reynolds. "If you will come upstairs with
us, Miss Reynolds, I think we can easily find a room for you. So far I
do not know just how many applications Miss Wilder has received. As I
told you, I am going over to the office after luncheon. You had better
go to your room and rest a little, then take luncheon with Miss Dean and
me and go with us to Overton Hall to see Miss Wilder, the dean."

"I--I--thank you," stammered the girl, the dull color flooding her
sunburnt cheeks. "I'm afraid--I--can't go to luncheon--with you.
I'm--not--very hungry."

Emma Dean flashed a quick, appraising glance at her from under her
eyelashes. "Neither are we," she assured the embarrassed girl, "but
still we don't care to miss luncheon entirely. You are a stranger in a
strange land, so you must be our guest, and then some day when you are a
seasoned Overtonite we'll insist on being yours."

Mary Reynolds regarded the two young women with shy, grateful eyes. "You
are so good to me. You must know, of course, that I am very poor. I have
nothing in the world but this bundle of clothes and ten dollars," she
said humbly. "It took me two years to save it, I have been so sure that
there would be some little corner of this wonderful house for me. I
can't bear to think that I may be too late. I don't know where I'd go. I
guess I'd have to try to find some place else. Do you suppose I am too
late?" Her tones vibrated with alarm.

"Of course you aren't," soothed Emma Dean. "I'm always late, but, as I
used to tell Miss Harlowe, I am hardly ever too late. You may be almost
the first girl to apply, or you may be among the latest, but not the too
latest. There, isn't that encouraging? The best thing for you to do is
to have an early luncheon and a long sleep. Suppose we go down to
Vinton's, Grace, as soon as we get the fond souvenirs of the railroad
off our faces. Then I'll come back here with Miss Reynolds and you can
go on to Overton to see Miss Wilder. My business with her will keep
until to-morrow. This little girl is too tired for interviews to-day."

"I think that's dear in you, Emma, and real wisdom too. Now let's go
upstairs, at once." Grace led the way and the trio ascended to the
second story.

"I'm going to put you in this room for the present, Miss