"Well," exclaimed Miss Mays an hour or so later, looking in at the door, "have you a mind ready for a walk, to see the town. For I doubt if otherwise you can be introduced to it before next Saturday." "Oh, yes," springing up with energy. "I begin to think strange places are--" she cast about for a word--"fascinating." "How many strange places have you seen?" laughingly. "Not many. A week in New York and the pretty places and wonders thereabout." "New York is a marvel by itself. And I've never been there," sighing. "I suppose I may be classed as a Westerner. The western part of the State. I know several of those cities and Niagara Falls and the Canada side; we were there two months ago. I _did_ manage to squeeze in, but the girls didn't want me a bit. Papa managed that," exultingly. Helen had been studying Miss Mays' attire. Her gray frock and coat were just the thing, and her gray felt hat trimmed with scarlet and a bright wing. So she put it on and was ready. "You can learn a good deal by watching other people," Mrs. Van Dorn had said. "And it is bad taste to make yourself conspicuous." As they stepped out in the hall several others joined them. Mrs. Aldred nodded to them as they passed out. "Did you see those two girls on the veranda? They look like twins and might almost as well be. They are fifteen, birthdays only a week apart. Mothers are sisters, and the fathers cousins. Alice and Annie Otis. They both have light hair, but one has darker eyes than the other. And the blue-eyed one is a little stouter. They are to room together." "Roxy Mays, I don't see how you find out so much about everybody," said one of the group. "By using my eyes and ears. One of them told part of this to Miss Grace, and the mother of Annie explained the rest to Mrs. Aldred, but I don't know which Annie is. I'll guess it is the plump one with a dimple in her chin. They have never been away at school before. You can tell that by their half-frightened look." "Did I look half frightened?" inquired Helen, mirthfully, glancing around. "I must say you did not. And we descended upon you so unceremoniously. It might be admissible to ask what you thought of us." "That it was very kind of you to call on me. I should have felt much more strange if I had speculated all the evening and seen you first this morning." "Now you see the benefit of rushing in where angels fear to tread. You were placed in our neighborhood, and we have been neighborly." "I thank you very much," Helen returned gravely.