“No compliments allowed,” laughed Grace.  “We wish to ask your advice about something.”

“I am at your service,” said Jessica’s father, making her an elaborate bow.  “Command me as you will.”

“’Tis well, most reverend sir.  I thank you,” said Grace, with a curtsy.  “Now sit you down, I pray, for presently I have a tale to tell.”

Having conducted Mr. Bright with great ceremony to the arm chair in the corner, Grace established him with many low bows, much to the amusement of the girls, with whom Jessica’s father was a great favorite.  Then Grace began with her meeting with Mabel Allison and ended with the letter from Mary Stevens, enclosing the matron’s statement.

“Now, those are all the facts of the case, Mr. Bright,” she concluded.  “Will it be possible for us to get Mabel away from Miss Brant, or can Miss Brant hold her against her will?”

“Miss Stevens’ letter and the matron’s statement are sufficient,” answered Mr. Bright.  “This woman cannot hold your little friend.  Miss Brant will in all probability be very angry, and attempt to brave the matter out.  Suppose you and Jessica and I go down there together, Grace, and see what we can do?”

“O Mr. Bright!” cried Grace, clasping her hands delightedly, “will you, truly?  Then let’s go to-morrow and bring Mabel back with us.”

“Very well; you and Jessica meet me at my office at four o’clock to-morrow afternoon,” said Mr. Bright.  “But what do you girls intend to do with her, once you get her?  You can’t adopt her, you know.”

“She is to take turns living with us, papa,” said Jessica, slipping her hand into her father’s.  “May she come here first?  I’d love to have her.”

Mr. Bright drew Jessica to his side.  “My dear child, you know that you may do as you please about it.  I feel sure that she must be the right sort of girl, or you and your friends wouldn’t have become interested in her.  Try her, and if you like her, then she is welcome to stay as long as she chooses.  I think it would do you good to have a girl of your own age in the house.”

“Three cheers for Mr. Bright,” cried Nora.

The cheers were given with a will, then the girls joined hands and danced around Jessica’s father, sounding their class yell until he broke through the circle and made a rush for the library, his fingers to his ears.

“Now that we have that question settled,” said Miriam Nesbit, after the girls were once more seated, “I think we ought to have a sorority pin.”

“I think,” began Eva Allen, “that my brother would design a pin for us.  He is very clever at that sort of thing.”

“Let’s have a monogram,” exclaimed Grace.  “Old English letters of gold on a dull-green enamel background.  We can get them up for about two dollars and a half apiece.  Is that too expensive?”

The girls, who, with the exception of Anne, had small allowances of their own, expressed themselves satisfied; while Anne determined that for once she was justified in yielding to wild extravagance.