Now that Marian had strayed away from the Phi Sigma Tau and straight to their common enemy, Grace felt uneasy as to the result.

“I don’t know what to think about Marian’s sudden intimacy with Eleanor,” she confided to Anne, one day at the beginning of the new term.

“So far nothing startling has happened,” replied Anne.  “Really, Eleanor happened along at a good time for Marian.”

“Why did she?” asked Grace quickly.

“Because I understand that she coached Marian in astronomy and just simply made her cut out Henry Hammond for her books.  It’s due to Eleanor that she passed,” answered Anne.

“I hadn’t heard that,” said Grace.  “Isn’t Eleanor a wonder in her studies?  It’s a pleasure to hear her recite.”

“I do admire her ability,” agreed Anne.  “Perhaps she will see through Henry Hammond and persuade Marian to drop him.”

“I don’t know about that,” said Grace dubiously.  “I saw him with Eleanor in the run-about the other day.  He was at the wheel, and they seemed to be having a very interesting session without Marian.”

“He never did give me the impression of being a very constant swain,” laughed Anne.

“I’m so glad that mid-year exams are over,” sighed Grace.  “I’m a sure enough graduate now, unless something serious happens.”

“So am I,” replied Anne.  “If I could get clerical work to do this term I’d recite in the morning only and give my afternoons to earning a little money.  It seems as though everything is against me.  Did you know that Mrs. Gray has postponed coming home until March?”

“Yes,” answered Grace.  She understood Anne’s growing despair as time went on, and the prospect of earning enough money to defray her college expenses grew less.

“I’m afraid I’ll have to give it all up for next year at least, Grace,” Anne’s voice trembled a little.  “But perhaps I can enter the year after.  I can’t give up the idea of being in the same college with you.”

“Don’t give up yet, dear,” Grace pressed Anne’s hand.  “Maybe the unexpected will happen.”

The girls separated at the corner and went their separate ways, Anne with the conviction that there was no use in wishing for the impossible and Grace deploring the fact that Anne was too proud to accept any help from her friends.

As Grace was about to curl herself up in a big chair before the fire that night with “Richard Carvel” in one hand and a box of peanut brittle in the other, she was startled by a loud ringing of the bell.  Going to the door she beheld Anne who was fairly wriggling with excitement.  Her cheeks were flushed and her dark eyes were like stars.

“Oh, Grace,” she cried.  “The unexpected has happened!”

“What are you talking about, Anne?” exclaimed Grace laughing.  “Stop dancing up and down out there.  Come in and explain yourself.  That is if you can stand still long enough to do it.”