Mrs. Gibson invited Miriam to share her apartment, thus Grace and Anne were left to themselves, and indulged in one of their old heart-to-heart talks.

Breakfast the next morning was a late affair.  After breakfast, the entire party went for a drive, and after a one-o’clock luncheon repaired to the station.

Mrs. Gibson, James Gardiner and the Phi Sigma Tau were to take the 2.30 train for Oakdale.  The boys would leave at five o’clock.  Tom and Arnold were to travel part of the journey with David, Hippy and Reddy.  Then their ways diverged.

The girls kissed and embraced Anne tenderly, then there was a rush for the ferry.  They stood on the deck waving to her until they could scarcely see the flutter of her handkerchief.  After agreeing to meet the boys at the ferry, David escorted Anne back to the Southard’s and spent a brief half hour with her.

“Promise me, Anne,” said David earnestly, as he was leaving, “that you won’t accept any engagement that you may receive an offer of.”

“Of course not, you foolish David,” replied Anne.  “Notwithstanding the fact that you won’t believe me, I solemnly promise to run from prospective managers, as I would from small-pox, and there’s my hand upon it.”

“I am satisfied,” answered David, grasping her outstretched hand.  “I know you will keep your word.”

CHAPTER XIX

GRACE MEETS WITH A REBUFF

During the journey to Oakdale, Anne and the Southards formed the chief topic of conversation.  It was jointly agreed that Anne had been fortunate indeed in winning the friendship of the great actor and his charming sister.

“They treat her as though she were their own sister,” remarked Eva Allen.  “They will miss her sadly when she leaves them.”

“Every one misses Anne,” said Miriam Nesbit.  “She is so sweet and lovable that she simply draws one’s affection to her.  I am frightfully jealous of Grace.”

“Yes, Grace is Anne’s favorite,” said Jessica.  “Anne would give her life for Grace if it were necessary.”

“And Mabel Allison feels the same way toward you, Jessica,” interposed Grace.

“How I wish Mabel had been with us,” sighed Jessica.

“I received a letter from Mrs. Allison, just before leaving Oakdale,” said Mrs. Gibson.  “She expects to come east in June.  Mabel has set her heart upon being here for commencement week.  I shall invite the Southards, too, and perhaps your people will lend you to me for the week following graduation.”

“We should love to go,” said Grace, and her friends echoed her answer.

Before their journey ended night closed in around them.  They had dinner in the dining car, and after dinner the girls began to feel a trifle tired and sleepy.

James Gardiner had discovered a boy friend on the train and had been graciously granted permission by the Phi Sigma Tau to go over and cultivate his society.