"It isn't fair to ask me," fenced Grace. "You always invited me to
your parties."

"There, you can draw your own conclusions," retorted Miriam
triumphantly. "I don't object to telling about my past shortcomings
as I have at last outgrown a few of my disagreeable traits."

"Were you and Grace friends then?" asked Arline.

"We played together and went to each other's houses, but we were
never very chummy," explained Grace. "We were both too headstrong and
too fond of our own way to be close friends. It was after we entered
high school that we began to find out that we liked each other,
wasn't it, Miriam?"

"Yes," returned Miriam, looking affectionately at her friend. In two
sentences Grace had effectually bridged a yawning gap in Miriam's
early high school days of which the latter was heartily ashamed.

"Every one has told a tale but Ruth," declared Elfreda. "Now, Ruth,
what have you to say for yourself?"

"Not much," said Ruth, shaking her head. "So far, my life has been
too gray to warrant recording. That is, up to the time I came to
Overton," she added, smiling gratefully on the little circle. "My
freshman year was a very happy one, thanks to you girls."

"But when you were a child you must have had a few good times that
stand out in your memory," persisted Elfreda.