“I speak for the class prophecy,” said Grace.

“That leaves nothing for me but the grinds.  But that job would be greatly to my taste,” said Nora.

“What about the rest of the class?” inquired Anne, smiling at this monopoly of class honors.  “Are we to carry off all the glory!”

“Without a doubt,” Jessica answered.  “After us there are no more.”

“Be sure to come to my house for supper Thursday evening,” said Grace.  “We are to go to commencement together, you know.  The boys are coming, too.”

The chums parted with many expressions of satisfaction over the pleasant afternoon’s entertainment.

Thursday evening found them impatiently awaiting the boys.

“I suppose they all stopped to fuss and prink,” said Nora, as she peered through the vines that screened the porch.  “Men are, truly, vainer than girls.  There they come around the corner, now.  I really believe Hippy is growing fatter.  He looks awfully nice to-night, though,” she hastily added.

Hippy had a friend in Nora.

“Did you know that Tom Gray is in town?” asked David, as he took his place beside Anne and Grace.  The latter carried an immense bouquet of red roses to give to Ethel Post.

“Oh, how nice!” exclaimed Grace.  “I suppose he’ll be there to-night with dear Mrs. Gray.”

“Yes, they are going,” said David.  “I don’t believe Mrs. Gray has missed a commencement for the last twenty years.”

“I wonder who’ll get the freshman prize this year?” mused Grace.  “I hope it goes to some girl who really needs it.  I know one thing; there will be no claimant for the hundred dollar prize this year.  Anne broke the record.”

“Indeed she did,” said David, looking fondly at Anne.  “To be in company with Oakdale’s star prize winner is a great honor.”

“Oh, don’t,” said Anne who hated compliments.

“Very well, if you spurn the truth,” replied David.  “By the way, I have an invitation to deliver.  Miriam wants all of you to come up to our house the minute the exercises are over to-night.  Never mind if it is late.  Commencement comes but once a year.”

“De-lighted,” chorused the chums.

“Hush,” said Hippy.  “Make no uproar.  We are about to enter the sacred precincts of Assembly Hall.  I feel that on account of my years of experience I must make myself responsible for the behavior of you children.  Smother that giggle, Nora O’Malley,” he commanded, looking at Nora with an expression of severity that set oddly on his fat, good-natured face.

This made the whole party laugh, and Hippy declared, disgustedly, that he considered them quite ignorant of the first principles of good behavior.

They were seated in the hall at last, and for the next two hours listened with serious attention to the essays and addresses of the graduates.

Grace had sent Ethel Post her roses as soon as she entered the hall, and had the pleasure of seeing them in her friend’s hands.