Patty shook her head sadly. "They're all alike. Founder's wouldn't be
Founder's if half the guests didn't develop serious illness or important
business or dead relations the last minute. The only safe way is to
invite three men and make out one program."

"I simply can't realize that to-morrow is Founder's," said Priscilla.
"It doesn't seem a week since we unpacked our trunks after vacation, and
before we know it we shall be packing them again for Christmas."

"Yes; and before we know it we'll be unpacking them again, with
examinations three weeks ahead," said Georgie the pessimist.

"Oh, for the matter of that," returned Patty the optimist, "before we
know it we'll be walking up one side of the platform for our diplomas
and coming down the other side blooming alumnae."

"And then," sighed Georgie, "before we even have time to decide on a
career, we'll be old ladies, telling our grandchildren to stand up
straight and remember their rubbers."

"And," said Priscilla, "before any of us get any tea we'll be in our
graves, if you don't stop talking and watch that kettle."

"It's boiling," said Patty.

"Yes," said Priscilla; "it's been boiling for ten minutes."

"It's hot," said Patty.

"I should think it might be," said Priscilla.

"And now the problem is, how to get it off without burning one's self."

"You're presiding to-day; you must solve your own problems."

"'Tis an easy matter," and Patty hooked it off on the end of a
golf-club. "Young ladies," she said, with a wave of the kettle, "there
is nothing like a college education to teach you a way out of every
difficulty. If, when you are out in the wide, wide world--"

"Where, oh, where are the grave old seniors?"

chanted the Twin.

"Where, oh, where are they?"

The rest took it up, and Patty waited patiently.

"They've gone out of Cairnsley's ethics,
They've gone out of Cairnsley's ethics,
They've gone out of Cairnsley's ethics,
Into the wide, wide w-o-r-l-d."

"If you have finished your ovation, young ladies, I will proceed with my
lecture. When, as I say, you are out in the wide, wide world, making
five-o'clock tea some afternoon for one of the young men popularly
supposed to be there, who have dropped in to make an afternoon call--Do
you follow me, young ladies, or do I speak too fast? If, while you are
engaged in conversation, the kettle should become too hot, do not put
your fin