“I wonder what sort of a girl I would have been, if instead of always having the Wolf at the door, we’d have had bronze lions guarding the portals, and all the money that heart could wish.”

“Money!” sniffed Cornie.  “It isn’t that that makes the difference in Ethelinda.  Look at Alta Westman, a million in her own right.  There isn’t a sweeter, jollier, friendlier girl in the school.”

“Any way,” continued Mary, “I’d like to be able to put myself in Ethelinda’s place for about an hour, and see how things look to her—­especially how I look to her.  I’m glad I thought about that.  It will make it easier for me to get along with her, for it will help me to make allowances for lots of things.”

The door stood ajar, and catching sight of Jane Ridgeway coming up the hall, Mary started to meet her.

“Remember,” called Cornie after her.  “We’ve taken you under our wing, and claim you for our sorority.  We’re not going to have any of the Lloydsboro Valley girls imposed on, and if she gets too uppity she’ll find herself boycotted.”

As the door closed behind her Dorene remarked, “She’s a dear little thing.  I’m going to see that she has so much attention to-night that Ethelinda will wake up to the fact that she’s worth having for a friend.  I’m going to ask Evelyn Berkeley to make a special point of being nice to her.”

The thought that Cornie considered her one of the Lloydsboro girls sent Mary away with a pleasurable thrill that made her cheeks glow all evening.  There was something in the donning of party clothes that always loosened her tongue, and conscious of looking her best she plunged into the festivity of the hour with such evident enjoyment that others naturally gravitated towards her to share it.

“Congratulations!” whispered Betty, happening to pass her towards the close of the evening.  “You’re quite one of the belles of the ball.”

“Isn’t it simply perfect?” sighed Mary, her face beaming.

Herr Vogelbaum had just come in and was settling himself at the piano, in place of the musicians who had been performing.  This was an especial treat not on the programme, and all that was needed in Mary’s opinion to complete a heavenly evening.  He played the same improvisation that had caught her up in its magic spell the day of her arrival, and she went to her room in the uplifted frame of mind which finds everything perfection.  Even her strained relations with Ethelinda seemed a trifle, the tiniest thorn in a world full of roses.  Her last waking thought was a resolution to be so good and patient that even that thorn should disappear in time.

Mary’s popularity was not without its effect upon Ethelinda, especially the Lady Evelyn’s evident interest in her.  It argued that she was worth knowing.  Then, too, it would have been a hard heart which could have steeled itself against Mary’s persistent efforts to be friendly.  It was a tactful effort also, making her daily put herself in Ethelinda’s place and consider everything from her view-point before speaking.  Many a time it helped her curb her active little tongue, and many a time it helped her to condone the one fault which particularly irritated her.