ould not
long for an education amazed her. And these bright, pretty girls who
must have congenial surroundings seemed the very ones to appreciate it.

They were still jesting when the luncheon bell rang. One new table was
filled and some vacant spaces in several others. It was beginning to
look like quite a family. But Helen had the feeling of being a guest at
a hotel, just as she had been all the week. They dispersed to their
rooms, and Helen tried to read a little, but the words were mixed up
with French and music. She would like the music she knew. She listened
to the sound of the piano on the floor below, and her whole soul
responded to the melody. Had anyone ever been so blest before? It was
like a fairy story.

"Well," exclaimed Miss Mays an hour or so later, looking in at the door,
"have you a mind ready for a walk, to see the town. For I doubt if
otherwise you can be introduced to it before next Saturday."

"Oh, yes," springing up with energy. "I begin to think strange places
are--" she cast about for a word--"fascinating."

"How many strange places have you seen?" laughingly.

"Not many. A week in New York and the pretty places and wonders
thereabout."

"New York is a marvel by itself. And I've never been there," sighing. "I
suppose I may be classed as a Westerner. The western part of the State.
I know several of those cities and Niagara Falls and the Canada side; we
were there two months ago. I _did_ manage to squeeze in, but the girls
didn't want me a bit. Papa managed that," exultingly.

Helen had been studying Miss Mays' attire. Her gray frock and coat were
just the thing, and her gray felt hat trimmed with scarlet and a bright
wing. So she put it on and was ready.

"You can learn a good deal by watching other people," Mrs. Van Dorn had
said. "And it is bad taste to make yourself conspicuous."

As they stepped out in the hall several others joined them. Mrs. Aldred
nodded to them as they passed out.

"Did you see those two girls on the veranda? They look like twins and
might almost as well be. They are fifteen, birthdays only a week apart.
Mothers are sisters, and the fathers cousins. Alice and Annie Otis. They
both have light hair, but one has darker eyes than the other. And the
blue-eyed one is a little stouter. They are to room together."

"Roxy Mays, I don't see how you find out so much about everybody," said
one of the group.

"By using my eyes and ears. One of them told part of this to M