Rob Lindsey had met Gwen near the station, and she had looked at him
as sharply as if she had not seen him for a year.

"Do you _still_ go to school at Avondale?" she asked.

"Why, yes," Rob said. "Did you think we commenced to stay at home when
_you_ left?"

"Well, I wouldn't go back there for anything!" declared Gwen. "My mamma
calls me a very wonderful child, and when she told my new teacher that,
she said to mamma; 'I know she's an unusual child. I can see that at
a glance.'"

"Perhaps she'd call _me_ wonderful if I engaged her to do so. I might
tell her to just look at me and say if she'd give me a prize."

Lena laughed at Rob's disgust.

"I wonder if she will think any parties that are given at Avondale are
too _near_ to be interesting?" she said.

"I wouldn't risk inviting her if I didn't want her to accept," Rob
replied as he picked up his books and turned toward the door.

"Oh, say, Lena!" he cried, "I just happened to think of Captain
Atherton's party. Do you suppose Gwen is invited?"

"Why, Rob! What a question! Captain Atherton wouldn't slight any child
in this neighborhood. Of course Gwen will be invited," Lena said.