"Of course not," and while that was perfectly true, Dolly knew that she could not take the same pride in introducing Mary that she could in introducing stylish, winning Beth; for Beth, despite her red hair, was strikingly pretty. Her freckles had disappeared with the summer, and her gowns always fitted to perfection. She could play and sing and act. There was no doubt, at all, but that she would prove very popular with Fred's chums. Beth was small and slender, her eyes were a marvelously deep blue and her complexion fair. Mary was tall, dark and awkward. Her hair was thick, and, properly arranged, showed its full beauty. But Mary knew nothing of the art of dressing. She felt it, and did not want her friend to be ashamed of her. She went to the point directly, which was characteristic of her, when she had once made up her mind on a point. "Will you tell me what dresses to take, and can you give me any hints about fixing my things up? Of course, I have not the clothes that you and Elizabeth have, but if you will help me, I will try to do the best I can with my limited wardrobe." Dolly studied a moment in silence. "White always looks well, even if it is simple. You have a couple of white dresses. They are laundered, I know. Take both of them along, you will need them for dinner dresses. Father always likes us to dress a little for dinner. He says it rests him to come home and see Mother and me with something pretty on, and we are quite ready to humor him. Then--I think--yes--I am sure that you had better wear your blue for a travelling dress. You'll not need anything else, for we shall be gone such a little time. Have you bright ribbons? Never mind if you haven't. We shall all draw on Mother's stock, she is used to that sort of thing, and doesn't mind a bit." "I must go down town today to buy a hat. Would you very much mind going with me to help?" "Not at all. I just love to buy things, but Beth and I have been down town so often lately that Miss Newton may refuse permission." "I'll fix that part," Mary said quietly. "You will? How confidently you say that. Professor Newton is very nice, my dear, and I adore her, but I don't imagine that she is very easily 'fixed.'" Miss Sutherland looked amused. "I will go and speak to her now," was all she said. She came back with the desired permission, and the two went off gaily, while Beth went to her room to write to Roy. To Beth's great surprise, Roy had answered that first letter of hers very promptly, and though his letter had been the short, unsatisfactory kind that boys always write, especially boys as young as Roy, Beth had been touched and pleased at his evident delight over the fact that she had written to him. Since then her missives went regularly. She felt sorry for the homesick lad. "I wonder if Dolly's father would have sent Fred off at that age," she said to herself. "I am anxious to see Dolly's people. Shall I like them? Well, the vacation is not long, anyway."