are
classes. I mean," she added, as if to forestall the outburst she saw
gathering behind her younger daughter's closed lips, "we must inevitably
draw to our own set by our natural or acquired tastes and by our
traditions and breeding."

"All very well in England, Mamma. I suppose dear Uncle Arthur and our
dear cousins would hardly feel called upon to recognise Annette as a
friend."

"Why should they?" challenged Rupert.

"My dear Patricia," said her father, mildly patient, "you are quite
wrong. Our people at home, your uncle Arthur, I mean, and your cousins,
and all well-bred folk, do not allow class distinctions to limit
friendship. Friends are chosen on purely personal grounds of real worth
and--well, congeniality."

"Would Uncle Arthur, or rather, Aunt Alicia have Annette to dinner, for
instance?" demanded Patricia.

"Certainly not," said her mother promptly.

"She would not do anything to embarrass Annette," said her father.

"Oh, Dad, what a funk. That is quite unworthy of you."

"Would she be asked here now to dinner?" said Rupert. "I mean," he added
in some confusion, "would it be, ah, suitable? You know what I mean."

"She has been here. Don't you remember, Mamma? She was often here. And
every time she came she was the cleverest thing, she was the brightest,
the most attractive girl in the bunch." Her mother's eyebrows went up.
"In the party, I mean. And the most popular. Why, I remember quite well
that Rupert was quite devoted to her."

"A mere child, she was then, you know," said Rupert.

"She is just as bright, just as attractive, as clever now, more so
indeed, as fine a girl in every way. But of course she was not a factory
girl then. That's what you mean," replied Patricia scornfully.

"She has found her class," persisted Rupert. "She is all you say, but
surely--"

"Yes, she is working in the new box factory. Her mother, lazy, selfish
thing, took her from the High School."

"My dear Patricia, you are quite violent," protested her mother.

"It's true, Mamma," continued the girl, her eyes agleam, "and now she
works in the box factory while Captain Jack works in the planing mill.
She is in the same class."

"And good friends apparently," said Rupert with a malicious little grin.

"Why not? We would have Captain Jack to dinner, but not Annette."

Her father smiled at her. "Well done, little girl. Annette is a fine
girl and is fortunate in her champion. You can have her to dinner any
eve