Grace was now quietly jubilant over the way things had turned out.  She was so glad Mabel had chosen Elfreda.  “I wonder how she knew,” she said half aloud.

“How who knew, and what did she know?” inquired Frances quickly.

“Nothing,” replied Grace, in sudden confusion.  “I was just wondering.”

“I know what you were wondering and I’ll tell you.  A certain junior who is a friend of a certain sophomore told Mabel certain things.”

“Frances, you are a wizard!” exclaimed Grace in a low tone.  “How did you know of what I was thinking?”

“The question is,” replied Frances, “do you understand me?”

“I think I know who the sophomore is,” hesitated Grace, “but I don’t understand about the junior.”

“And I can’t tell you,” replied Frances gravely.  “I can only say that Mabel likes you very much, Grace, and that a certain junior who is fond of Mabel is jealous of your friendship.  Both Mabel and I admire your stand in the other matter.  You are measuring up to college standards, my dear, and I am sure you will be an honor to 19——.”

Frances finished her flattering prediction just as they stepped inside the doorway of the gymnasium.  Before Grace had time to reply they found themselves among a bevy of daintily gowned girls that were forming in line to pay their respects to the president of the sophomore class and five of her classmates who formed the receiving party.  After this formality was over the girls walked about the gymnasium, admiring the decorations.  Mabel Ashe was fairly overwhelmed by her admirers.  It seemed to Grace as though she attracted more attention than the receiving party itself.  It was:  “Mabel, dear, dance the first waltz with me;” “Come and drink lemonade with us, Queen Mab,” and “Why, you dear Mabel, I might have known the sophomores couldn’t get along without you.”

“She knows every girl in college, I believe,” remarked Anne to Edith Allen, as Mabel stood laughing and talking animatedly, the center of an admiring group.

“Every one loves her from the faculty down,” replied Edith.  “She hadn’t been here six weeks as a freshman until the whole class was sending her violets and asking her out to dinners.  She was elected president of the freshman class, too, and had the honor of refusing the sophomore nomination.  They want her for junior president, but she will refuse that nomination, too.  She is as unselfish and unspoiled as the day she came here and the most sympathetic girl I have ever known.  We are all madly jealous of Frances.”

Anne smiled at this statement.  “It is nice to be liked,” she said simply.  “That is the way it is with Grace at home.”

“I’m not surprised,” replied Edith, regarding Grace critically.  “She has a fine face.  That Miss Nesbit seems nice, too.  She is a beauty, isn’t she?”

Anne replied happily in the affirmative.  To her praise of her two dearest friends was as the sweetest music.