"Good!" she cried, drawing Blue Bonnet down beside her while Annabel stirred the fire. "Now, we'll have a regular old-fashioned gossip." The fire, after some coaxing, broke into a ruddy glow, and Annabel, dropping before it on the rug, took down her hair and began brushing it systematically. Annabel never, under any circumstances, neglected her hair. It was one of her chief attractions, and its soft, glossy texture testified to this regular treatment. "My, but you're enterprising," Blue Bonnet said, as Annabel brushed diligently, counting each stroke. "I couldn't brush my hair that way every night if my life depended upon it. Don't you ever feel too tired to do it?" "Oh, yes--sometimes; but it doesn't pay to neglect it. Wasn't it glorious over at the college to-day? Didn't you just adore it?" "Loved it!" Blue Bonnet said rapturously, while Sue clasped her arms about her knees and gazed into the fire dreamily. "I think it was perfectly dear of Sue's brother to have us; and weren't those nice men who drifted in? Do you think any of them had really lost anything?" Annabel laughed. "I told them that they ought to form a St. Anthony society. There's strength in union." "Who's St. Anthony?" "He's the saint that some people pray to when they've lost things. He helps find them." "Annabel--that's sacrilegious!" "I didn't mean it to be. The boys didn't take it that way, I'm sure." "That Billings person was quite nice after all, wasn't he?" Sue wakened from her dream long enough to remark. "I rather liked him. He's awfully devoted to Billy. It was quite touching the way he talked about him." Blue Bonnet and Annabel laughed outright. Sue was indignant. "I don't see anything to laugh at. What's the matter with him?" "Nothing. I think he's fine," Annabel answered. "And so clever! Just think of any one being discerning enough to find the way into Sue's good graces by the Billy route!" Sue got up and drawing her bath-robe closer about her started for the door. "I think I'll say good night," she said. "I have a Latin exam to-morrow and I've set my alarm for five-thirty." But Annabel, intercepting, drew her to the hearth-rug and began humble apologies. "Don't be silly, there's an old dear. I was only teasing--you know that. You're not going for an hour yet. Come to think of it, you'll not go at all; you'll sleep in Ruth's bed. We've loads to discuss, loads! We haven't mentioned Hammie McVickar or that Mr. what's his name--Stuart, wasn't it? or the refreshments. Come to think of it, Blue Bonnet's going to stay, too. We'll roll the couch over here by the fire and give her my down comfort--or my bed, if she prefers it." An invitation that was accepted after some protest by both. "But I've simply got to get up early, Annabel," Sue insisted. "I don't want to wake you and Blue Bonnet." "I'm rising with the dawn myself, thank you, my dear," and in a whisper Annabel sang: