"Aw, really, how brave you are Margie!" replied Aurora, looking admiringly at her classmate. "You will not desert me? By the way," went on Aurora, gradually recovering her composure, "I just met Norma Southworth coming from the modiste with her graduation gown. It was such a bonnie gown, aw, so lurid and so sweet, don't you know." "I bet you hers won't cut any ice with my togs, when they arrive tomorrow. Aurora, you and I will make a jim-dandy pair on graduation day. I am curious, however, to get a glimpse of her dream of a gown, but before we start, my dear, let us once more go over the details of tomorrow night's event." "It makes me somewhat nervous to think about it. I wish truly it was all h'over, Margie." "So do I, Aurora. I am afraid we'll make a beastly flunk at the show, aren't you?" "Bah Jove, it will be awfully dweddful, Margie, to make a failure, after so many months of preparation. I hope we will come h'out all right," said Aurora with thoughtful anxiety. After they finished their examination of the program, both started out to inspect Norma's gown, intending from thence to go to the final rehearsal. While crossing the Grand Court of the Seminary they spied Professor Cielo Allenson coming toward them on his motor-cycle. "There comes the dear 'Old Guard'" said Aurora. "Isn't 'e a dear, aw, isn't 'e sweet?" "To be sure Aurora, I am head over heels in love with his lilacs; aren't they elegant?" was the ready rejoinder of Margaret. "Eh, what! aw, really, 'ow often must I caution you not to use such h'expressions," said Aurora, reproachfully. "'E may 'ear you, Margie, 'e may 'ear you." "There, ring off, sweet child, you better pick up your 'h's' and get a gait on, or else we'll be late for practice," laughed Margaret. "Oh, how do you do?" piped both girls. The professor, slackening his pace, greeted them courteously: "I presume you ladies are well prepared for the ordeal of tomorrow night?" "Quite so, Professor; we are looking forward with extreme pleasure to meeting our gallant adversaries under your charge," answered Margaret. "H'in fact, we are now going to our final rehearsal," added Aurora. "Well, I wish you success, ladies; I must be off myself, to give the boys at the Academy my last instructions; so goodby." "Good afternoon, Professor; goodby." The June graduation day of 1960 at the Seminary was not far distant, falling on the second week of the month. The recitations had been discontinued and the only sessions that were held by the professors were chiefly for purposes of review.