“The Academy Seniors are supposed to have enough sense to accompany the distinguished Collegiates! They have a _wonderful_ time, they say,—met by the boys in their uniforms, of course, escorted around to all the doings and if you know anybody there you can even _see_ him! There are plenty of teachers along, of course.” “My, I wish Phil were that near!” exclaimed Cathalina, with a homesick pang. “It it a real grown-up school? He isn’t going back to the same school, perhaps, next year, is just trying a new school this year, but he will be in college work, I guess.” “Don’t you _know_?” asked Hilary is some surprise. “Poor Hilary. Haven’t you learned yet, Hilary, that I’m just beginning to pay attention to school things?” “Sure enough. But they’re interesting, aren’t they?” “Fairly so,” replied Cathalina with a twinkle. CHAPTER XVIII BIRD CLUBS AND A PRINCESS “When may I see you alone, Miss Randolph?” Cathalina had slipped through the front ranks of the girls in the hall after dinner, and leaning close spoke in low tones. “Right now, Cathalina,” Miss Randolph drew Cathalina’s hand within her arm and completed the short distance to her door. “Anything serious?” “No, Miss Randolph, but I have a puzzle and I thought you might help me.” Miss Randolph closed her door and went straight to a low couch where she lay down and motioned Cathalina to a chair near. “Excuse me, but my head troubles me a little today and I want to rest.” Cathalina pushed the chair aside and drew up a small stool on which she dropped, taking the hand that Miss Randolph stretched out. “Let me rub your forehead as I do Mamma’s sometimes.” Miss Randolph closed her eyes a few minutes as she was soothed by Cathalina’s ministrations. Then she caught Cathalina’s hand and put it with the other in her own firm, white hand, “Now tell me,” she said. Cathalina very sincerely loved and admired Miss Randolph and to be here so intimately talking with the lady of whom some of the girls were in such terror was rather embarrassing when her first feeling of “poor lady with a headache” had gone. “It is a rest to have you here, Cathalina,” Miss Randolph continued, looking so sweet and womanly and kind, as she waited for Cathalina’s confidences that the young girl felt an affection even warmer than she had felt before. “It is not anything, then, that will add to my gray hairs?” Miss Randolph gave Cathalina a comical look as if to indicate that she was accustomed to such things.