emble in Miss Craven's voice and she began to cry.

"And you will not let me advise you about the little things that make so
much difference with girls."

How did _she_ know? Helen flushed at her own assumption, and yet she
_did_ understand. She pitied Juliet Craven profoundly, too.

"Oh, don't cry. Can't I comfort you with some word? See here, I really
love you. You are so brave, so persevering, you have had such a hard,
lonely life, and I would like to make it brighter."

"Oh, Helen! Oh, Miss Grant."

"No; keep to the Helen," the younger girl interrupted.

"To have you love me! But I might have known so much care and kindness
could only spring from love. Oh, I think I shall not mind the other
girls now. I've been longing so for real love. Are you quite sure? It
seems too good when I have been making myself content with a simple
liking."

She pressed Helen's hands to her hot cheeks, wet with tears. Helen
kissed her on the forehead, but the elder drew her face down and
returned the kiss many times.

"The dinner bell will ring in a few moments," Helen declared presently,
"and we must both make ourselves fit to be seen, not of men, but between
thirty and forty feminines. I wish your gowns were not quite so grave,
but spring is on the way and we will take to light raiment and look like
a flock of birds. Good-by for five minutes," and she flashed away.

Daisy had a blue ribbon tied in her hair and a pretty chiffon neckgear,
and was really an attractive girl.

"Why didn't you stay all night with that woman of grays and browns and
general dismalness, and lose your dinner! There, you have almost. If she
had any beauty or charm about her I should be jealous, for you belong to
me, you know."

Helen slipped into a light shirtwaist and was ready in a trice. Miss
Craven did not come down. When the maid went to inquire, she said she
had a headache, and wanted only a cup of tea.

There was the bit of social life, the study period, and Helen seemed so
discomposed that she used up every moment of it until they were
dismissed. Daisy put her arm about Helen, another girl took the other
side, and three or four of them came into the room.

How they stayed! Helen summoned courage presently.

"Excuse me a moment," and she flashed out of the room, tapping at Miss
Craven's door.

It was open just an inch or two.

"I came to ask about your headache and say good-night," in a low tone.

"Oh, you dear, sweet friend! It did ach