Never once did Mary suspect that the spread was in her honour also, till she was led to the seat at the head of the table, where another birthday cake stood like a mound of snow with seventeen green candles all a-twinkle.  She was overwhelmed with so much distinction at first.  The musical little acrostic by the sorority poet gratified her beyond expression.  Cornie Dean’s toast almost brought the tears it was so sweet and appreciative, and the affectionate birthday wishes that circled around the table at candle-blowing time made her feel with a thankful heart that this early in her college life she had reached the best it has to offer, the inner circle of its friendships.

Each one told the funniest Irish bull she had ever heard, and then all sorts of conundrums and foolish questions were propounded, like, “Which would you prefer, to be as green as you look or to look as green as you are?” When the conversation touched on the birthstone for March, some one suggested that Mary ought to be made to do some stunt to show that she was worthy to wear a bloodstone, since it called for such high courage.

“Make her kiss the Blarney stone!” cried Judith Ettrick.

“At Blarney castle they let you down by the heels.  That’s the only way you can kiss the real stone.  But Mary can hang by her knees from one of the turning-pole bars, and we’ll build up a pyramid under her to put the Blarney stone on, so that she can barely reach it, you know.  Make a shaky one that will topple over at a breath.  That will make it harder to reach.”

The suggestion was enthusiastically received by all but Mary, who felt somewhat dubious about making the attempt, when she saw them begin to catch up glasses and plates from the table with which to build the pyramid.  But by the time the structure was completed and topped by a little china match-safe in the shape of a cupid, to represent the Blarney stone, she was ready for her part of the performance.

“That’s what you get for being born in Mars’ month,” said Elise, as Mary balanced herself a moment on the bar, and then made a quick turn around it to limber herself.

“You wouldn’t be expected to do such things if the signs of your zodiac were different.”

“Look out!” warned Cornie.  “You’ll see more stars than the ones in your horoscope if you lose your grip.”

“Abracadabra!” cried Mary gamely.  “May I hold on to the pole, and the pole hold on to me till we’ve done all that’s expected of us.”

It was a dizzy moment for Mary, and a breathless one for all of them as she swung head downward over the tottering pile of china and glass ware.  The china cupid was almost beyond her reach, but by a desperate effort she managed to swing a fraction of an inch nearer, and seizing its head in her mouth came up gasping and purple.

“Now what about being born in Mars’ month!” she demanded triumphantly of Elise as soon as she could get her breath.  “A bloodstone will do more for you any day than an agate.”