Several days afterward, Hilary was kneeling on the floor in her sanctum sanctorum. With her arms on the windowsill, she was looking absently toward the lake and the fleecy white clouds above it, when Cathalina, Betty, Diane, Eloise and Pauline came noisily in. “Back view of one of Raphael’s cherubs!” said Diane in her cheerful voice. “What’s the matter, Hilary? Can this be that industrious child who is always up and doing, as Shakespeare says.” “‘Shakespeare’!” “Well, somebody,—what’s the difference?” “You’ll get a high mark in literature, Di, if that’s your idea.” Hilary laughed as she hopped up briskly. “But to answer your question, I’m worried. Any of you girls know what’s the matter with Lilian?” “No, not I; why?” queried Eloise, while the others shook their heads to indicate their ignorance. “What do you mean, Hilary; is Lilian sick, or mad, or anything?” “Anything, probably.” “She isn’t sick,” said Betty. “I’m afraid she’s mad.” “At you? or more of us? or what?” Hilary smiled at the questions. “O, at me, I guess; but I can’t imagine what is the matter. She didn’t wait for me after English, as she usually does, gave me a cool nod this morning when I met her in the hall after breakfast, and pretended not to see me a little while ago when she was going down to the river with a bunch of girls. I had spoken yesterday of not having lessons this afternoon and we had planned to study together and then take a walk; so I feel sure something is wrong, or else she’s just sick of going around with me.” Hilary looked forlorn. “Cheer up, Hilary,” said Diane. “Sure you didn’t imagine it?” “O, Hilary isn’t a bit touchy, you know, Di,”—this from Hilary’s roommate, naturally an authority on that. “I know, Cathalina. You ask Lil, Betty.” “O, please don’t!” begged Hilary. “I count on you girls not to say anything. I don’t know myself whether to go and see Lilian or not; I’m not keen on being snubbed, you know. But if I’ve really done anything, I’ll apologize in a minute. I can’t understand.” “Wait a day or so,” counseled Eloise, “maybe she’ll come around all right and tell you herself.”