CHAPTER VII

GATHERING CLOUDS


"A sprained ankle is not so serious," declared Grace from her nest among
the sofa cushions. It was the Monday after the game. Her various
sympathetic classmates were seated about the Harlowe's comfortable living
room. A wood fire crackled cheerfully in the big, open fireplace, while a
large plate of chocolate fudge circulated from one lap to another.

"Jessica, will you pour the chocolate?" continued Grace to her friend, who
rose at once to comply with her request. "Anne, will you help serve,
please?"

Anne accordingly drew about the room a little table on wheels, containing
on its several shelves plates containing sandwiches, cookies and cakes.

"Trust to the Harlowe's to have lots of good things to eat," exclaimed
Marian Barber. "It must be fun to be laid up, Grace, if you can give a
party every afternoon."

"I must entertain my friends when they are kind enough to come and see
me," answered Grace. "But some people think sandwiches poor provender
unless they are the fancy kind, with olives and nuts in them. Miriam, for
instance would never serve such plain fare to her company as cream cheese
sandwiches."

"Here comes Miriam up the walk now," cried Jessica. "She looks as though