more Miss Gribble had them all in a gale of glee-Mrs. Rood breaking into low chuckles now and then, as Miss Gribble told them of her youngest nephew's pranks, of her vacation and the delights of all sorts that had been hers during the summer. "Let me see," she said at last. "Are n't you two girls Miss Roberts and Miss Clayton from Monroe? Then I believe there is another girl coming from your town, is there not? I met her aunt in Dexter this summer, a Miss Curtis, or something like it. Am I not right?" "Oh, yes, Martha Cutting," replied Virginia, a little smile, in spite of herself, curling her lips, for Martha had refused to come so early, saying she did n't care to arrive with the mob, but wanted to make a dignified entrance. "She will not be here until Thursday." "That is a pity," remarked Mrs. Rood, "as all the best rooms will be taken and the best hours chosen for practice. You came at the very best time, my dears." "The early bird catches the worm at Hope Hall, you see, as everywhere else," laughed Miss Gribble. "Are you to be my girls? You look as if you were musical." may 66 "O we?" cried both girls at once, looking up with such pleading eyes that Mrs. Rood nodded indulgently. It was with very different feelings that the girls climbed the long stairs the second time. Before they were strangers, in a strange land, now they had a friend and a room, and even if they had never seen the room it was sure to seem homelike with this cheery presence near. "Is n't she bully ?" whispered Sue to Alice Carr as they ascended the stairs together. Virginia was on one side of their divinity while Miss Wills still clung to that rescuing hand as if she were afraid she might drown in the flood of her own tears should she let go. "She is a lovely lady," replied Miss Carr a bit stiffly, though she had taken Sue's arm a moment before. "I hardly think I should describe her as bully?" Sue bit her lip over this most unlucky slip and decided in her headlong way that Alice Carr was a prig, and that she was n't going to like her, but just then Miss Gribble paused before a door marked 21 and said cheerily : 'Well, my dears, here you are at home." 66 CHAPTER XVI. GETTING ACQUAINTED. THE sun was streaming into the big, bare, bay window, when Sue roused by the jangle of a bell opened her sleepy eyes. Slowly the feeling of strangeness stole over her drowsy senses and she sat up dazed and winking. Virginia upon her knees before her trunk lifted a laughing rosy face from its depths as she heard Sue stirring. "Good morning, sleepy girl," she said gayly, "I've been up and dressed an hour. But you don't need to hurry, that was only the rising bell." "Goodness gracious, child!" gasped Sue, struggling with her hooks and eyes. "Why did n't you say a word? I did n't want to miss a moment of really being here!" "O Sue, we are the luckiest girls, the view from our window is over the river and it is beautiful. It was so kind of Miss Gribble to get this room for us. You know it is only empty because some senior decided not to come back." "Blessings on the senior, and, oh, won't Martha be hopping when she gets here and finds she 's left! Is n't it the biggest old joke. She was so high and mighty when she said that about not caring to arrive with the mob!' Won't it be fun to see her in some dinky little back room?" "I-don't-know-" said Virginia, slowly sinking back upon the floor and clasping her hands about her knees. "I did n't mean to VOL. XXXIII.—92. tell you, Sue, but you see, I really do like Martha, and even if I did n't-I knew she would feel horrid to come and have some unpleasant room-when I was here—and might have helped-so I asked Mrs. Rood last night to please arrange it. She said it was unusual, but at last she consented, and while you were singing for Miss Gribble I chose a room I am sure Martha will like. You don't care, Sue ?” "Care!" cried Sue, tumbling down in a heap beside Virginia. "Care, you precious! I'm glad Virginia! I truly am!" "And you don't think I'm trying to act goodgoody?" whispered Virginia with her head on Sue's shoulder. "I thought it would be lots of fun to see her dismay when I first thought of it, but really-" "But really this is a hundred times better. I'm not going to say I love Martha, but yet I'm glad I did n't get a chance to act mean." "And you don't think-" "That you are trying to preach to me? Not a bit of it! But goodness, I've got to hurry, or I'll get my head taken off the very first day!" Virginia and Sue-Sue very jaunty in her dyed jacket-opened their door at the first tap of the breakfast bell. "Good morning, dicky birds, on time, I see," came in a cheery voice from Miss Gribble's open door. "One moment and I will go with you. Ah, here are Miss Carr and Miss Wills," went on Miss Gribble, coming out just as the two girls appeared. "I notice we never have any lazy girls the first morning. I hope you all slept well. This is going to be a glorious day. Good morning, good morning!" The girls were appearing from all directions now and trooping together down the broad stairway, and pretty it was to see how each face brightened at Miss Gribble's greeting. "Good morning, young ladies. Good morning!" and a black-eyed, white-haired little woman who was standing just inside the diningroom door caught her gown and made a gay little courtesy to the whole group. "Why Miss Hope, when did you arrive?" cried the girls. "Did you really think I would let you get on without me?" laughed Miss Hope. "I surprised our good Mrs. Rood that I might have the pleasure of breakfasting with you. How do you do, Miss Gribble. Ah, here are Miss Sargeant, Miss White, Miss Decker and Fraülein Prather. Now all our teachers are here except Miss Childs and our new teacher, Miss Thaw, who will arrive to-day. We are going to do exceptional work after our long vacation, I am sure. After breakfast I shall expect to meet the young ladies in my office. Miss Decker, I will take breakfast at your table, with your permission; I have not quite decided upon my guests for the year." dear, I first knew your aunt when she was Serena Roberts, the prettiest, liveliest girl at Madam Whitney's academy. I think she was the veriest madcap I ever knew." "Aunt Serena!" gasped Sue in astonishment, in spite of her fear of Miss Hope. "Aunt Serena a madcap! Why I supposed she was a regular woolly lamb! She is always giving me Hail Columbia for every old thing I do!" It was Virginia's turn to gasp now, although Miss Hope made no reply to Sue's startling speech except a sharp glance, but turning to her desk she searched a moment for a letter which "Oh, Miss Hope, please!” cried a dozen of she looked over hastily. the older girls beseechingly. Miss Hope laughed and waving them a gay denial took Miss Decker's arm and crossed the room. "You see," said May Price, a Senior, to Sue, "It's a very great privilege to sit at Miss Hope's table. But you new girls must n't think she is always gay like that. My, just you wait until you see those black eyes flash and that little figure stiffen up, and if you don't feel like creeping under the sofa you are a braver girl than I am!" "Isn't she kind?" asked Virginia. "Oh, so-so," replied May, shrugging her shoulders. "She 's strong on discipline, and somewhat capricious, I think, but most of the girls adore her." As the girls filed into the office that morning it seemed to Sue that her heart had never beaten so hard nor fast in her life. Among the new girls she and Virginia were the first called. Miss Hope sat in her swivel chair before her desk. Sue felt that those black eyes saw and understood every fault within and without. "So this is Virginia Clayton," said Miss Hope, offering her hand to Virginia. "You have a father to be proud of, my dear, and I hope you will do your best to make him proud of you. Miss Sargeant, whom you will see in the library, will attend to your classes and standings. Mrs. Rood tells me you have been given a room and a roommate, and Miss Gribble has asked that both you and your roommate be placed at her table, and as long as you are both good I have no objection. And this is Susan Roberts, Mrs. Fulton's niece. My "Yes, I see, I see," she remarked. "I had almost forgotten. Well, Miss Roberts, as we grow older, there often takes place a great change in character, in mind and manner just as there does in appearance, or else all our teaching, studying, working and praying would be for naught. I am glad you two girls are to be together. Miss Sargent is waiting for you now and will attend to your placing,”—she dismissed them with an imperative wave of her hand and a keen smile that lightened her face without warming it. May Price was right, thought Sue, she could hardly believe this was the gay little figure with the sweeping courtesy. "What do you think of her, Virginia?" asked Sue as the two girls passed out and walked down the hall toward the library. "Are n't you surprised? She is n't a bit as I expected from those violet letters. I would n't care to get on the wrong side of her." "She is the most distinguished-looking small woman I ever saw, Sue, and I like her so much. When you said that awful thing about your Aunt Serena, though, I almost sank, for I expected to see you dragged off to a dungeon, but she never seemed to hear it." "She heard it all right, honey, don't you doubt that, I felt a shiver down my spine the moment those words left my lips, and those black eyes said something I could n't quite make out, but it meant that it would be 'all day with Susie' if she did n't be good. But all the same I liked her, Virginia. can tie to and I can't imagine any one away from my own home I'd rather have care for me or be pleased with me than Miss Hope." She's the sort you "Well," cried May Price, skipping down the hall after them, "Did you fall under the prexy's spell? Isn't she fine! Frightened you out of your wits, I suppose, poor little firsties! I feel for you most deeply. I will admit I was trying to frighten you this morning, but she certainly is a Tartar if you once rouse her and let her know you don't intend to study, or be what she calls a 'tru-r-r-r woman.' I'd rather have Miss Hope call me a 'tru-r-r-r woman' than be knighted. But I never expect it, for that only comes to a very select few." "Pets?" inquired Sue. "No-o-o," mused May. "You could n't tell the truth and say Elizabeth Hope has pets. She is the sort you can win only by your inward grace. Oh, you can't beg, buy, nor borrow, or even steal your way into her favor! I have seen every one of those ways tried, too. You can get there by just one route, namely, to earn it and I'm here to tell you the way is long and stony. She is slow, but she's sure, and there is n't any mothering in her, not a mite, for all she is so little, and pretty, and almost girlishly gay at times; so don't be expecting any sloppings-over." 66 Miss Sargent the real mother of Hope Hall. is good and dear and everybody loves her." The whole day came out beautifully, Sue told Virginia that night as she stood brushing out her curls before her mirror. Miss Sargent had been very kind and by a little extra study Sue would be able to enter the same classes with Virginia, except that while Virginia had third year French, Sue was just beginning. Then Miss Gribble's table was the merriest in the dining room and the girls were so friendly and nice. "I just love that Enid Fenno at our table. Don't you, Virginia ?" "You see, I never get acquainted as quickly as you do," yawned Virginia. "Ugh, but I am sleepy. I did like May Price though and that little Miss Crum. Did n't you?" "That Crum girl! O Virginia, I just detested her!" "Now, Sue, you know you don't mean that. Did you notice her lovely eyes, and she said such kind things of everyone." "So ho, Missy, I 've caught you this time. The reason you did not feel acquainted with Enid is because she is such a dandy gossip, but Any one can see that," assented Sue. she is awfully funny, and she can talk Irish as "But I like her just the same." if she came from Cork. Did you notice the empty chair at Miss Decker's table right behind me?" "She has a mind like a man," went on May. "My, wait until you are in one of her classes, and then if you are n't enthusiastic it is because you can't appreciate a good teacher! But it is always discipline with a large D, and she never errs on the side of mercy, let me tell you. The best way to get on with her is 'never to let her strike the first discordant note in you, then you are safe to have your melody at Hope Hall sweep on in sweetest harmony,'" chuckled May, making quotation marks on both sides of her blooming face by snapping her fingers. "Don't think for a moment I was smart enough to get up that delicious epigram, that's a bit from Anne Demuth who was graduated last year. Poor Anne, her melody did anything but sweep, but she was great fun, and did n't the feathers fly when she and Miss Hope met in the arena. But now you are going to meet "Yes I did, and Miss Crum said it was for Miss Dempcy, of Kentucky." "And, O Virginia, Enid says she is a regular cracker-jack of a girl! Her name is Nancy Jane Dempcy and all the girls call her Nancy Jancy Dempcy. Is n't that fun? And they say she is so awfully brilliant at her lessons. that Miss Hope puts up with her, though she gives her particular fits once a week and does not trust her at all. Oh, it has been a lovely day, but, oh-and oh, I would-like-tosee-mother-and-little-Ben!" And Sue's voice trailed away in a half sob. "Dear old slangy Sue," comforted Virginia, as she turned out the gas and raised the window shade. "See, dear, there is the same old moon that is shining just as kindly on Cherryfair.” (To be continued.) "TAKING TURNS "ONLY ONE BABY CARRIAGE TO THREe dolls. THE CURE OF JOE'S BEE-STING. (Founded upon an actual incident.) BY HARRY M. GRAVES. UPON taking her leave for a week's visit Mrs. Mento's last secret instructions to her son were of hygienic character. While grandpa was looking after his daughter's baggage Mrs. Mento improved the opportunity to speak upon a subject forbidden in his presence. "Now, Joe, in my absence don't forget what I have told you about Mental Science if you should be ill. You can treat yourself as effectively as I can, and do not forget grandpa is opposed to our way, and when you declare "the truth" be cautious, and do not let grandpa hear you or see you, for, being in the dark, as he is, he will, of course, check your further efforts, and the influence of his opposition will retard any cures you may attempt. Just remember that mind is all and matter is an error and no ills can hold you down." "All right, mama, I 'll remember to-" "Sh-h-h, grandpa is drawing near," and further conversation upon the forbidden topic was avoided. Soon the train pulled up at the station, and after a minute of hurry and bustle and din and clatter the train steamed away and Joe and grandpa returned home. After dinner, when grandpa had gone to the bank, of which he was president, Joe began to |