“How lovely it was of Mrs. Gibson to suggest a theatre party and offer to chaperon us,” said Nora.

“Everyone has been too sweet for anything,” replied Anne, looking up from her task with a fond smile at the three eager faces of her friends.

“You didn’t have the least bit of trouble about getting away from school, did you?” asked Jessica.

“No,” replied Anne.  “You see, I have enough counts to graduate now.  I’m not depending on any of my June exams.  I can easily make up the time when I come back.”

“I imagine Marian Barber wishes that she hadn’t been quite so hasty,” said Nora.  “She is going to miss an awfully nice trip.”

“Perhaps we ought to send her an invitation,” suggested Jessica.

“No, Jessica,” said Grace gravely.  “Marian must be the one to make advances.  If she comes back to us, it must be of her own free will.  We have done our part.”

“Can we do anything to help you, Anne?” asked Grace.

“Yes,” replied Anne, looking ruefully at the overflowing trunk.  “You can all come over and sit upon this trunk.  I never shall get the lid down any other way.”

This having been successfully accomplished, the three girls took leave of Anne, who promised to be on hand for a final session that night at Grace’s.

Before eight o’clock the next morning Anne departed for New York, laden with flowers, magazines and candy, bestowed upon her by the Phi Sigma Tau, who had risen before daybreak in order to be in time to see her off.  She had purposely chosen an early train, as she wished to arrive in New York before the darkness of the winter evening closed in.

Mr. Southard and his sister were to meet her at the Jersey station, but careful little soul that she was, Anne decided that in case anything unforeseen arose to prevent their coming, she would have less difficulty in finding her way about in daylight.

“Take good care of yourself, Anne,” commanded Nora, patting Anne on the shoulder.

“You do the same,” replied Anne.  “Don’t forget that theatre party, either.”

“We’ll be there,” Grace assured her, as she followed Anne up the aisle with her suit case.  “By the way, Anne, here’s my sweater.  I thought you might need it during rehearsals.  The stage is likely to be draughty.”

“Grace Harlowe, you are too good to me,” murmured Anne, as she reluctantly took the package that Grace thrust into her unwilling hands.

“All aboard,” shouted the brakeman, and with a hasty kiss Grace hurried down the steps to join her friends, who stood on the station platform waving their farewells to the brown-eyed girl who was to separate from them for the first time since the beginning of their High School career.

The days slipped quickly away, and the girl chums heard frequently from Anne, who had arrived at her destination in safety, was met by the Southards and carried off to their comfortable home.  She was enjoying every minute of her stay, she wrote them, and every one was very kind to her.  Miss Southard was a dear, and she was looking forward to the visit of the Phi Sigma Tau with almost as much enthusiasm as Anne herself.