“How can I ever thank you all?” said Mabel, taking one of Grace’s hands between hers and looking at her with a world of gratitude in her eyes.  “I will write to-night.  I must go now or I shall be home late.  Forgive me for hurrying away, but I daren’t stay,” she added piteously.  “You know that I should like to.  Good-bye, and thank you again.”

“Good-bye,” called Grace.  “I’ll let you know as soon as I hear from Mary Stevens.”

“What a sweet little girl she is,” said Jessica.  “I should like to keep her with me all the time.”

“She is a nice child,” said Grace, “and she deserves something better than her present fate.”

“To change the subject,” said Nora, “has any one seen Eleanor to-day?  She was not in English or geometry, although she may have come in late.”

“I don’t believe she was in school at all,” said Anne.  “Maybe the initiation was too much for her.”

“Oh, I don’t know.  She didn’t seem to mind it,” remarked Jessica.  “She will hear from Miss Thompson if she makes a practice of staying out of school.  Attendance is one of the chief requisites in Miss Thompson’s eyes.”

“I suppose we ought to call on Eleanor before long,” mused Grace.  “She has invited us, and it’s our duty to call on her first.  Anne has already been there.  Suppose we go over now; that is, unless you girls have something else to do.”

It was decided at once that they could go, and soon the four chums were walking briskly down the street in the direction of “Heartsease.”  It was an Indian summer day and the girls congratulated themselves on having taken advantage of it.  As school had closed at half past two, it was not yet four o’clock.  They would have plenty of time for their call without hurrying themselves.  So they strolled along, laughing and chatting in the care-free manner that belongs alone to the school girl.

As they neared the house one and all exclaimed at the beauty of the grounds.  The lawn looked like a great stretch of green velvet, while the trees were gorgeous in their autumn glory of crimson and gold, with here and there a patch of russet by way of contrast.  Over at one side were clumps of pink and white anemones; while all around the house and in the garden beds that dotted the lawn many-colored chrysanthemums stood up in brave array.

“What a delightful place ‘Heartsease’ is,” cried Grace as she paused just inside the gate to feast her eyes upon its beauty.  “Sometimes I think that autumn is the finest season of the year, and then again I like spring better.”

“What difference does the season make, so long as we have a good time?” said Nora blithely.  “I haven’t any preference.  They’re all good.”

“Eleanor will be surprised to see us,” remarked Grace, as she rang the bell.

“Let’s hope she will appreciate the honor of having four such distinguished persons descend upon her at one time,” said Anne.