“That Miss Erskine seems to have a special talent for getting up Thursday evening entertainments, to invite our people who are supposed to be interested in the prayer-meeting, but who rarely fail to make it convenient to go to the party.  I imagine a bevy of them being entertained by Eurie Mitchell.  She can do it, and she is looking forward to just that sort of thing, for I heard her rejoicing over it.  That girl will be injured by Chautauqua; I know it as well as though I already saw it; and the question with me is, whether the amount of evil done will not overbalance the good.  At the same time I am inconsistent enough to wish with all my heart that I could be there.”

“What about Miss Shipley?  Perhaps relief will come to you from that quarter.”

Those shoulders again.

“She is nothing in the world but a little pink feather, and she blows precisely in the direction of the strongest current; and Satan looks out for her with untiring patience that the wind shall blow in the exact direction where it can do her the most harm.  Going to Chautauqua with the influences that will surround her, with Miss Erskine and Miss Wilbur on the one side, and Eurie Mitchell on the other, will be the very best thing that Satan can do next for her, and he doubtless knows it.”

“I do not know Miss Wilbur at all.  Is she also one of your flock?”

Dr. Dennis’ face was dark and sad.

“She is an infidel,” he said, decidedly.  “She does not call herself such; she wouldn’t like to be known as such, because it would be likely to affect her position in the school.  But the name is rightly hers, and she would do less harm in the world if she owned it.”

“It is an extraordinary representation, I declare,” Mr. Harrison said, a little startled.  “I have been half inclined to be envious of you because you were to hear so directly from the meeting, but I believe on the whole I shall be quite as well off without any delegates as you will with them.”

“Better, decidedly.  I am distressed at the whole thing.  It will result disastrously for them all, you mark my words.”

And having settled the affairs at Chautauqua, apparently beyond all repeal, the brethren shook hands again and went to their studies.

Meantime the express train was giving occasional premonitory snorts, and the four young ladies who had been so thoroughly discussed were in various stages of unrest, waiting for the moment of departure.  A looker-on would have been able to come to marked conclusions concerning the different characters of these young ladies, simply from their manner of dress.  Flossy Shipley was the one to look at first.  That was a very good description of her usual style—­something to look at.  She had chosen for her traveling dress a pale, lavender cashmere, of that delightful shade that resents a drop of water as promptly as a drop of oil.  It was trimmed with a contrasting shade of silk, and trimmed profusely; yards of gathered