“Ye-e-s,” said Grace slowly, her face flushing.  “I would have said she might stay, I think.  But, Miriam, you mustn’t hold me up as an example.  I couldn’t be more generous and loyal and broadminded than you.”

“In the words of J. Elfreda, ‘let’s change the subject,’” said Miriam hastily.  “Where’s Anne?”

“Anne is out visiting the humblest freshman of them all,” replied Grace.  “Her name is Ruth Denton.  Anne singled her out in English the other day, scraped acquaintance with her, and found that she has a room in an old house in the suburbs of the town.  She takes care of her own room, boards herself and does any kind of mending she can get to do from the girls to help her pay her way through college.  Anne only found her last week, but I have promised to go to see her, too, and I want you to go with me.”

They had paused at the door of Miriam’s room.  Her hand on the door, she said earnestly, “I’d love to go, Grace.  I might know that you and Anne couldn’t rest without championing some one’s cause.”

“What about you and J. Elfreda?” questioned Grace slyly.

“Oh, that’s different,” retorted Miriam.  Opening the door she glanced about the room.  Her own side was in perfect order, but J. Elfreda’s half looked as though it had been visited by a cyclone.  The cover of her couch bed was pulled askew and the sofa pillows ornamented the floor.  Shoes and stockings were scattered about in wild disorder.  Her dressing table looked as though the contents had been stirred up and deposited in a heap in the center.  From the top drawer of the chiffonier protruded a hand-embroidered collar, and a long black silk tie hung down the middle of the piece of furniture, giving it the effect of being draped in mourning.

Catching sight of this Grace pointed to it, laughing.  “It looks as though she were in mourning, doesn’t it?”

“For her sins, yes,” replied Miriam grimly.  “Isn’t this room a mess, though?  I’ve picked up her things ever so many times, but I’m tired of it.  Come in here to-night, Grace.  I want to see how it seems to have my dearest friend in my room, all to myself.”

“All right,” laughed Grace.  “I’ll get my books.”

Five minutes later she reappeared and, cosily establishing herself in the Morris chair that Miriam insisted she should occupy, the girls began their work.  For the time being silence reigned, broken only by the sound of turning leaves or an occasional question on the part of one or the other of the two.  Finally Miriam closed her book triumphantly.  “That’s done,” she exulted.  “Now for my English.”

“I wish I was through with this,” sighed Grace, eyeing her Livy with disfavor.  “I never do learn my lessons quickly.  I have to study ever so much harder than you and Anne.  Now, if it were basketball, then everything would be lovely.  Still, you’re a champion player, too, Miriam, so you’ve more than your share of accomplishments.  Anne, too, excites my envy and admiration.  She can act and stand first in her classes, too, while I have to work like mad to keep up in my classes and am not a star in anything.  Perhaps during this year I shall develop some new talent of which no one suspects me.  It won’t be for study, that’s sure.”