Grace sat down amid subdued applause, and every one began talking to her neighbor about the coming election.  Ruth Denton listened to the gay chatter with shining eyes.  She had forgotten all about her shabby suit.  Presently the curly-haired little girl came over and sat down beside her, asking her if she liked college.  Ruth looked admiringly at the little girl, whose dainty gown, silk stockings and smart pumps bespoke luxury, and answered earnestly that she liked it better every day.  “You must come and see me,” said the curly-haired little girl, whose name was Arline Thayer.  “We recite Livy in the same section, so we have something in common to grumble about.  Isn’t the lesson for to-morrow terrific, though?”

“I haven’t looked at it to-day,” confessed Ruth happily.  “I study hard on Sunday as a rule, but to-day is the first time, you see——­” Ruth hesitated.

“I see,” said Arline kindly.  “Hereafter you mustn’t study all day on Sunday.  You must come and take dinner with me next Sunday and stay all afternoon.  Promise, now, that you’ll come.”

“Oh, thank you.  I’d love to come,” stammered Ruth.  She could scarcely believe that this dainty little girl who wore such pretty clothes had actually invited her to dinner at Morton House.

“Did you have a good time, Ruth?” asked Miriam, as they started for home late that afternoon.

“Don’t ask her,” interposed Anne mischievously.  “She forsook me and hob-nobbed openly all afternoon with that curly-haired girl, Miss Thayer.  I am terribly jealous, and there is a deadly gleam in my eye.”

“Please, don’t think, Anne——­” began Ruth nervously, looking distressed.

“I am past thinking,” retorted Anne melodramatically.  “The time for action has come.  I shall challenge my rival to a duel the first time I see her.  We will fight with——­”

“Brooms,” grinned Elfreda.  “I once fought a duel down in our orchard with my cousin Dick.  Brooms were the chosen weapons.  We certainly did great execution with them.  They were new ones and the brushy part kept getting in our way until we happened to think of cutting it off and fighting with the handles.  After that things went more scientifically, until Dick hit me on the nose by mistake.  I wailed and shrieked and had the nose bleed, and Ma whipped Dick and sent him home.  That was about the only duel I ever fought,” concluded the stout girl reflectively, “but if there’s the slightest possibility of either of you choosing brooms for weapons, I’ll give you the benefit of my experience by training you for the fray.”

“Shall I take her at her word, Ruth?” laughed Anne.

“No, I’m not worth all that trouble,” returned Ruth half shyly.

“We won’t have time to escort you home, Ruth,” remarked Grace, looking at her watch.  “We must leave you at this corner.  Be a good child and don’t sit up all night to study.  Come over Tuesday evening to dinner, and we’ll all study together.”