“Then laugh at me,” responded Ruth, smiling.  “I don’t mind.”

“Pshaw!” said Jennie.  “There’s no getting ahead of you.  You’re just like the little kid I heard of who was entertaining some other little girls at a nursery tea.  ‘My little sister is only five months old,’ says one little girl, ‘and she has two teeth.’

“‘My little sister is only six months old,’ spoke up another guest, ’and she’s got three teeth.’

“The other kiddie was silent for a moment; she wanted to be polite, but she couldn’t let the others put it over her like that!  So finally she bursts out with: 

“’Well, my little sister hasn’t any teef yet; but when she does have some, they’re goin’ to be gold ones!’ Couldn’t get ahead of her—­and nobody can get the best of you, Ruthie Fielding!  You’ve always an answer ready.”

At Mrs. Sadoc Smith’s, Amy Gregg had just as little to do with the three older girls as she possibly could; but she remained friends with Curly.  She was his confidant, and although Curly considered Ruth about the finest girl “who ever walked down the pike,” as he expressed it, he felt in no awe of Amy Gregg and treated her more as he would another boy.

All was not plain sailing for Ruth in either her studies or in the writing of the scenario for “The Heart of a Schoolgirl.”  The coming examinations in all branches would be difficult, and unless she obtained a certain average in all, Ruth could not expect a diploma.

A diploma from Briarwood Hall was an entrance certificate to the college in which she and Helen hoped to continue their education the following autumn.  And Ruth did not want to spend her summer in making up conditions.  She wished to graduate in her class with a high grade.

It was a foregone conclusion in her mind that Mercy Curtis was to bear off the highest honor.  Nor had she forgotten that she must invent (if nobody else could) a way for Mercy to speak the principal oration on graduation day.

Her powers of invention, however, were taxed to their utmost just now as she wrote the scenario of the picture drama.  Before Mr. Hammond and the Alectrion Company left Lumberton, Ruth was able to get into town with the draft of the first part of the play, and read it to Mr. Hammond.

Miss Hazel Gray was present at the reading, and Ruth had given that pretty young girl a very good part indeed in the new film.

“You dear!” whispered Hazel, her arms around Ruth, and speaking to her softly, “I believe I have you to thank for much further consideration from Mr. Hammond.  And you have given me a delightful part in this play you are writing.  What a really wonderful child you are Ruth Fielding!”

Ruth thought that she was scarcely a child.  But she only said:  “I am glad you like the part.  I meant it for you.”

“I know.  Mr. Hammond told me that you insisted on my playing the part of Eve Adair.  And, oh! what about that nice boy, Thomas Cameron?  Are he and his sister well?  I received a lovely box of sweets from Thomas after I went back to the city that time.”