“You will be taken away back and set down with a jar in about two seconds if you are seized with another of those spells,” promised Tom Gray, turning a withering glance upon Hippy.

“What sort of jar,” asked Hippy, with an interested grin.  “A cooky jar or merely a glass candy jar?  Be sure you make it a full one.”

“It will be a full one,” replied Tom with emphasis, “and will last you for a long time.”

“I don’t believe I’ll take up with your proposition,” said Hippy hastily.  “There is something about the tone of your voice that makes my spinal column vibrate with nervous apprehension.  I think I had better confine my conversation strictly to Nora.  She is sympathetic and also skilled in argument.”

With this, he took Nora by the arm and would have marched her out of the group had she not protested so vigorously that he turned from her in disgust and began questioning James Gardiner as to how he managed to survive the journey and what methods he had used to insure good behavior on the part of his charges, much to the embarrassment of that youth, who was anything but a “ladies’ man.”

“My dear young people,” finally said Mrs. Gibson, laughingly, “this impromptu reception is liable to last all night unless it is checked by a stern hand.  It is almost five o’clock, and we haven’t even seen our rooms yet.  Besides, Anne will have to leave before long for the theatre.  Let us hurry with our dressing, order an early dinner and keep Anne here for it.  Shall you be able to stay?” she asked, turning to Anne.

“I think so,” replied Anne.  “I do not have to be in the theatre until after seven.  But I am not dressed for dinner,” she added, looking doubtfully at her street costume.  “You see, I came straight from rehearsal.”

“Never mind, Anne,” interposed Grace, “you are a star, and stars have the privilege of doing as they choose.  At least that’s what the Sunday papers say.  Miriam and I are going to room together.  Come up with us.”

Mrs. Gibson had engaged rooms ahead for her party, and the girls soon found themselves in very luxurious quarters, with a trim maid on hand to attend to their wants.

The boys had engaged rooms on the floor above that occupied by Mrs. Gibson and the Phi Sigma Tau.  James Gardiner heaved a sigh of relief as he deposited his suit case beside Tom’s in the room to which they had been assigned.

“Girls are an awful responsibility,” he remarked gloomily, with a care-worn expression that made Tom shout with laughter.  “I like them all right enough, but not in bunches.”

By making a special effort, the party was ready by six o’clock to descend to dinner, which was served to them in a private dining room, Mrs. Gibson having thoughtfully made this arrangement, in order to give the young folks as much time together as possible.

They made a pretty picture as they sat at the round table, the delicate finery of the girls gaining in effect from the sombre evening coats of the boys.  Mrs. Gibson, gowned in white silk with an overdress of black chiffon, sat at the head of the table and did the honors of the occasion.