like her old self than she had been in
weeks. And Molly was happy, too. She felt that she had saved Judy and
freed her at the same time from the clutches of Adele Windsor.

CHAPTER XVII.

A CHRISTMAS EVE MISUNDERSTANDING.

The old Queen's crowd rallied around the exiled Judy, even as Molly had
predicted, and Judy was prostrated with gratitude. Nothing could have
stirred her so deeply as this devotion of her friends.

"I feel like Elijah being fed by the ravens in the wilderness, only you
are bringing me crumbs of learning," she exclaimed to Molly who had
taken her turn in coaching Judy. "I hope you don't mind being called
'ravens,'" she added apologetically.

"Not at all," laughed Molly. "I'd rather be called a raven than a
catbird or a poll parrot or an English sparrow."

But Judy was already deep in her paper. Being a recluse from the world,
her life consecrated to study, she was playing the part to perfection.

If Adele Windsor knew that Judy was in the village, she gave no sign,
and so the exile, in her old room at O'Reilly's overlooking the garden,
had nothing to do but bury herself in her neglected text books. Indeed,
very few of the girls knew where Judy was. When she went out for her
walks after dusk she wore a heavy veil and thoroughly enjoyed the
disguise. One night the old crowd gave her a surprise party which Edith
had carefully planned. Dressed in absurd piratical costumes with skirts
draped over one shoulder in the semblance of capes, brilliant sashes
around their waists, many varieties of slouch hats and heavy black
mustaches, they stormed Judy's room in a body.

"Hist!" said Edith, "the captive Maiden! We must release her ere
sunrise!" Then they trooped in, danced a wild fandango which made Judy
envious that she herself was not in it, and finally opened up
refreshments.

So it was that Judy's exile was happy enough, and when Christmas
holidays approached she had made up most of her lost work and was ready
for Molly's careful coaching.

Thus it is that heaven protects some of the foolish ones of this earth.
Judy wrote to her mother and father that she was behind in her classes
and would remain to study with Molly Brown, and as Mr. and Mrs. Kean
were at this time in Colorado, they thought it a wise decision on the
part of their daughter.

Molly had grown to love the Christmas holidays at college. It was a
perfect time of peace after the excitement and hurry of her life--a time
when s