e has
changed a great deal, and I believe it is due to the influence of that
horrid Henry Hammond. I simply can't like that man."

"Nor I," said Grace. "It requires an effort on my part to be civil to
him. I think, too, that the boys are not favorably impressed with him,
although they are too polite to say so."

"I believe in first impressions," remarked Anne. "I think that nine
times out of ten they are correct. I may be doing the man an injustice,
but I can't help it. Every time that I talk with him I feel that he is
playing a part, that underneath his polish he has a cruel, relentless
nature."

"Are you girls ready!" called Nora's voice just outside their door.

"In a minute," answered Grace, and with a last glance at the mirror she
and Anne stepped into the hall, where Nora, Jessica and Eva Allen stood
waiting.

"Where's Marian?" asked Grace, noticing her absence.

"Don't ask me," said Eva, in a tone bordering on disgust. "She won't be
out for some time."

"Shall we wait for her?" inquired Anne.

"No," replied Eva shortly. "Let us go, and don't ask me anything about
her. When she does finally appear you'll understand."

"This sounds very mysterious," said Miriam Nesbit, who in a white dotted
Swiss, with a sprig of holly in her black braids, looked particularly
handsome. "Come on, girls, shall we go down?"

The six girls descended to the drawing room, looking the very
incarnation of youth and charming girlhood, and the judge's eyes
brightened at sight of them.

"A rosebud garden of girls," he cried gallantly, "but I seem to miss
some one. Where is the seventh rosebud?"

"Marian will be here directly," said Grace, as they gathered about the
big fireplace until dinner should be announced.

But ten minutes went by, and Marian still lingered.

"Dinner is served," announced the old butler.

The girls exchanged furtive glances, the judge looked rather
uncomfortable, while Mr. Henry Hammond frowned openly.

Then there was another ten minutes' wait, that the girls tried to cover
with conversation. Then--a rustle of silken skirts and a figure appeared
in the archway that caused those assembled to stare in sheer amazement.

Was this fashionably attired person plain every-day Marian Barber? Her
hair was drawn high upon her head, and topped with a huge cluster of
false puffs, which made her look several years older than she had
appeared in the afternoon, while her gown of blue satin was cut rather
too low f