CHAPTER II

J. ELFREDA INTRODUCES HERSELF.


For the first half hour the three girls were silent. Each sat wrapped in
her own thoughts, and those thoughts centered upon the dear ones left
behind. Anne, whose venture into the theatrical world had necessitated
her frequent absence from home, felt the wrench less than did Grace or
Miriam. Aside from their summer vacations they had never been away from
their mothers for any length of time. To Grace, as she watched the
landscape flit by, the thought of the ever widening distance between her
and her mother was intolerable. She experienced a strong desire to bury
her face in her hands and sob disconsolately, but bravely conquering the
sense of loneliness that swept over her, she threw back her shoulders
and sitting very straight in her seat glanced almost defiantly about
her.

"Well, Grace, have you made up your mind to be resigned?" asked Miriam
Nesbit. "That sudden world-defying glance that you just favored us with
looks as though the victory was won."

"Miriam, you are almost a mind reader," laughed Grace. "I've been on
the verge of a breakdown ever since we left Oakdale, and in this very
instant I made up my mind to be brave and not cry a single tear. Look at
Anne. She is as calm and unemotional as a statue."