It was about time for news of the steamer’s arrival to reach Ruth, and in spite of her many new experiences the thought of her father was always uppermost in her mind.  The morning and evening newspapers meant to her simply the shipping news, and, several days before the steamer could possibly arrive, she began her daily study of the shipping lists.  Eight days had seemed long to wait for news of one’s best-beloved chum, but Ruth had to confess that the time had been filled so full that it had passed quickly.  Starting in school had not been so great an ordeal as she had expected.  To her joy she was to be allowed to see what she could do in the class with Betty and Charlotte, and she was determined to succeed, though she knew it meant harder work than she had ever done in her life.

The Glenloch Academy was the pride of Glenloch and the envy of the surrounding towns.  The money for its establishment and maintenance had been left the town by a public-spirited citizen, and the fund had been so generous that the best in the way of teachers and equipaient had been made possible.  It took the place of a high school in its methods of study, gave a thorough preparation for college, and offered six years of the most liberal training to those whose school education must of necessity stop there.  Ruth felt an interest at once in her new teachers, was charmed with the idea of doing regular gymnasium work in the fine gymnasium which had lately been added to the school, and altogether felt that her lines had fallen in pleasant places.

“Don’t be in such a rush,” called Dorothy, as Ruth ran down the school steps.  “I want to talk to you.”

“I’m in a hurry every day now,” confessed Ruth, “to get home and see if I have any news from papa.  Mr. Hamilton thinks that by to-night surely the ship’s arrival will be cabled, and I have a faint hope that I may have a cablegram from papa almost any minute.”

“I’ll walk around your way,” said Dorothy.  “Doesn’t it make you feel terribly important to be expecting a cablegram?”

“Why, I don’t know,” laughed Ruth, “perhaps it does, a little.  It’s been such a long time to wait to hear that papa is safe that I can’t think of anything else.”

As she finished speaking a long, low call made them both turn to see Charlotte and Betty running after them.

“What are you going to do this afternoon, Ruth?” called Charlotte as they got within speaking distance.  “We want you to go to walk with the ‘Social Six.’”

Dorothy raised her eyebrows questioningly, and Ruth asked curiously, “The Social Six?  Who under the sun are the Social Six?”

“It’s all right, Dolly,” said Betty reassuringly.  “You see,” she added, turning to Ruth, “we couldn’t tell you about them at first, because we had all agreed never to have more than six in the club and our number was full.  But just to-day one of the girls has told us that she is going to resign at this meeting, so we want you to join right away if you will.”  “Why, of course I will,” said Ruth, with perfect faith that whatever the three wanted her to do would be worth doing.  “But what is the club for and what do you do?”