“Indeed she did,” assented Mrs. Eustice warmly.  “I must have a special talk with Betty soon, for she has an ambitious program before her.  And here are Libbie and Frances from the state I remember so affectionately from girlhood visits there.”

But it was Norma and Alice Guerin, sensitive Norma and shy Alice, who were welcomed most cordially after all.

“So you are Elsie Guerin’s daughters!” said the principal, putting an arm around Norma and holding her hand out to Alice.  “My own dear mother taught your mother when she was a little girl with braids like yours.  And your dear grandmother used to give the most wonderful parties.  People talk about them to this day.  It was at her Rose Ball I first met my husband.  You must go up the north road some day and see the old Macklin house.”

Norma and Alice fairly glowed as they went back to their rooms with the other girls.  Ada Nansen had heard, and she was regarding them with evident respect.

Norma and Alice might have been uneasy had they heard Ada’s comment when she and Ruth were once more in their own rooms.

“They must have money,” argued Ada, “though I never saw such ordinary clothes.  Giving balls and parties in the lavish Southern style costs, let me tell you.  Probably they have some fine family jewels in that shabby trunk.”

“I’ll tell you what I think,” said Ruth Gladys wisely.  “I think the money is all used up.  Probably they’re here as charity pupils for old friendship’s sake.”

This speculation was duly stored up in Ada Nansen’s mind to be brought out when needed.

After dinner Miss Anderson played for them to dance in the broad hall, but every one was tired from train journeys, and at nine o’clock they voluntarily sought their rooms.

“Get into a kimono and brush your hair in here,” hospitably suggested Betty, and Bobby seconded her by flinging the suitcases under the beds.  All of the rooms were fitted with pretty day-beds so that a cover quickly transformed them into couches and the bedrooms into sitting rooms.

Four gay-colored kimono-wrapped figures came pattering in presently and curled up comfortably on the beds.  Norma and Alice were the last to arrive, and when they did come they mystified their friends by prancing in silently and waltzing gaily about the room.

“Oh, girls!” they chortled when they had tired of this performance, “what do you think?”

“We couldn’t help hearing,” said Norma deprecatingly.

“Laura Bennett called us in,” declared Alice.

“Don’t sing a duet,” commanded Bobby sternly.  “What are you talking about?  One at a time.  You tell, Norma.”