noon, Anne
turned to her sister-in-law.

"Yes. It flashed across me all of a sudden. You know Elfreda said Emma
might descend upon us when we least expected her. That's what set me to
thinking."

"I ought to have guessed," mourned Sara Emerson. "All the glory of the
discovery goes to my twin sister. How did you find her out, Julia?"

"It was what she said. You know how funny Emma is. When we were at
Overton she was forever saying 'Now I perceive.' The minute I heard it
to-night I began to perceive, too."

When presently Emma joined her friends on the lawn, all traces of the
fabled Seeress of the Seven Veils had vanished. In a simple white
evening frock, eye-glasses firmly astride her nose, she was her usual
jolly self. Although Grace Harlowe was undoubtedly the best-loved member
of Semper Fidelis, Emma held an individual place in their hearts.
Wherever she walked, fun and laughter followed at her heels. Grace was
their inspiration to noble deeds; Emma their spirit of good cheer. One
and all they gathered about her and marshalled her to the veranda where
a hilarious hour ensued, followed by a concerted invasion on the
living-room, where they proceeded to entertain Mr. and Mrs. Briggs, who
had tactfully declined to intrude upon the dinner party, with an evening
of the old, familiar stunts with which they had so often lightened their
student days at Overton College.

It was well after midnight when, by common consent, the will to retire
for the night claimed them. Knowing the deep regard that existed between
Grace and Emma, Elfreda had arranged matters so that they might room
together. Although Anne was Grace's oldest friend, she had cheerfully
resigned her claim on Grace to Emma for the week.

"Well, Gracious, how is everything?" were Emma's first words when at
last they had shut themselves in their room for the night. "I can't
begin to tell you how dreadfully I've missed you. It gives me the blues
every time I think of Overton next year without you. But I know you are
happy, and that's at least one consolation."

"It's a mutual miss, Emma," assured Grace. "I have thought of you a
great deal and wished you were with me at home. Aside from not being
able to have my dearest friends with me all the time, my happiness has
been so complete this summer that I feel as though I ought to walk very
softly, for fear of losing some part of it."

"I understand. It's always so. One wonders if it's even wise to mention
it for