tion.

With regard to Dan Vernon in especial there was a soreness at Darsie's
heart. During the first days after the tragic happening Dan had been a
tower of strength, always at hand to comfort, support, and take every
difficulty upon his own shoulders. To outward appearance Darsie had
appeared oblivious of his presence, but subconsciously she had leaned on
his strength with a profound relief. It was hard to have Dan withdraw
into his shell just as she was beginning to long for his presence; but
he _had_ withdrawn, and like most naturally shy and reticent people,
withdrawn farther than ever, as if in reaction from his unusual
demonstration.

In hall itself the absence of Margaret France made a big blank. Having
passed her tripos with a first class, Margaret had placidly returned
home to help her mother in the house, and take part in an ordinary
social life. "What a waste!" cried her Newnham acquaintances, but
Margaret's friends, remembering her own words on the subject, believed
that she had chosen the better part.

With October came the return to Newnham, and for the first few weeks an
access of grief and depression. It was hard to fall into the old life
shorn of its greatest interest, to be reminded of Ralph at every turn,
to see his friends pass by, laughing and gay, while his place was blank.

Then it was that Darsie discovered the real tenderness of heart which
lies beneath the somewhat callous exterior of the college girl.
Freshers, second-year girls, even austere thirds themselves, combined to
surround her with an atmosphere of kindness and consideration. No
_word_ of sympathy was ever spoken, but almost every hour of the day
brought with it some fresh deed of comfort and cheer. Offerings of
flowers, tendered by a friend, or laid anonymously on "burry" or coffin;
bags of fruit and cake, invitations galore, surprise visits to her own
study, each in turn bringing a gleam of brightness to the day. Plain
Hannah, too, dear old plain Hannah! In the midst of her grief Darsie
was filled with amusement at Hannah's unique fashion of showing her
sympathy. Hot water evidently commended itself to her mind as the ideal
medium, for at a dozen hours of the day and night the door of Darsie's
study would open and Hannah would appear on the threshold, steaming can
in hand. Early morning, eleven o'clock, before lunch, before tea,
before dinner, before cocoa, before bed, Hannah and her can never failed
to appear. For