hemselves roommates. Bertha was bright, pretty and
popular, the favourite of her classmates and teachers; Grace was a
grave, quiet girl, dressed in mourning. She was quite alone in the
world, the aunt who had brought her up having recently died. At first
she had felt shy with bright and brilliant Bertha; but they soon
became friends, and the year that followed was a very pleasant one. It
was almost ended now, for the terminal exams had begun, and in a
week's time the school would close for the holidays.

"Have some chocolates, Grace," said Bertha gaily. "I got such good
news in my letter tonight that I felt I must celebrate it fittingly.
So I went into Carter's and invested all my spare cash in caramels.
It's really fortunate the term is almost out, for I'm nearly bankrupt.
I have just enough left to furnish a 'tuck-out' for commencement
night, and no more."

"What is your good news, may I ask?" said Grace.

"You know I have an Aunt Margaret--commonly called Aunt Meg--out at
Riversdale, don't you? There never was such a dear, sweet, jolly aunty
in the world. I had a letter from her tonight. Listen, I'll read you
what she says."

_I want you to spend your holidays with me, my dear. Mary
Fairweather and Louise Fyshe and Lily Dennis are coming, too. So
there is just room for one more, and that one must be yourself.
Come to Riversdale when school closes, and I'll feed you on
strawberries and cream and pound cake and doughnuts and mince
pies, and all the delicious, indigestible things that school
girls love and careful mothers condemn. Mary and Lou and Lil are
girls after your own heart, I know, and you shall all do just as
you like, and we'll have picnics and parties and merry doings
galore._

"There," said Bertha, looking up with a laugh. "Isn't that lovely?"

"How delightful it must be to have friends like that to love you and
plan for you," said Grace wistfully. "I am sure you will have a
pleasant vacation, Bertie. As for me, I am going into Clarkman's
bookstore until school reopens. I saw Mr. Clarkman today and he agreed
to take me."

Bertha looked surprised. She had not known what Grace's vacation plans
were.

"I don't think you ought to do that, Grace," she said thoughtfully.
"You are not strong, and you need a good rest. It will be awfully
trying to work at Clarkman's all summer."

"There is nothing else for me to do," said Grace, trying to speak
cheerfully. "You k