gave any of us up, even though we treated her so shabbily. That's why I
just said I hoped that the girls would appreciate Grace. I'd hate to think
that some stupid ill-natured freshman, it's more likely to be a freshman
than any one else, would behave like an idiot and spoil her first year at
Harlowe House." There was an expression of anxious concern on Elfreda's
round face.

"Don't worry, Elfreda," reassured Grace, "the students who come to Harlowe
House to live are sure to be nice. Girls who have their own way to pay
through college are usually cheerful and unselfish. They are anxious to
live and willing to let live."

"I don't know about that. Kathleen West wasn't a glaring pattern of
amiability when she entered Overton," reminded Elfreda. "Of course she's
now a brilliant example of what forbearance will accomplish, and you know
that I am very fond of her, but you and I remember what we went through
during the forbearing process."

"Don't croak, J. Elfreda Briggs," admonished Grace lightly, "I don't
imagine that everything will be plain sailing this year. That would be
asking too much. Still I hope I shall not have any serious
misunderstandings with my girls. I'm going to remember my motto, 'Blessed
are they that have found their work,' and not shirk anything that comes
within the line of it."

"I guess there isn't the slightest danger of shirking on your part," was
Elfreda's dry retort. "I hope the men that do the unpacking of this stuff
will be imbued with the same spirit. You'd better bring out that motto and
hang it up where they can see it. To change the subject, we haven't been
upstairs yet."