"Then every one was wrong. I never was lonely for a minute. I had too many things to think about. Of course it is nice having a sister that understands you, but even without her I would not be lonely." The white dress drifted away at a sign from the hostess, and Alice and Mildred were left looking at each other in pained surprise. They were wearing their hair rolled up and tied at the back of their necks for the first time, and they couldn't imagine why Janet had said nothing about it. "How queer she is to-day," Mildred said. "And to think we always thought of her as lonely! I guess she didn't come to see us any oftener because she didn't want to," Alice replied. Across the room, Miss Clark was talking to the wearer of the blue dress. "Isn't it beautiful to think of your being here with Janet?" she exclaimed. "Yes, it is splendid." "I suppose you will be carrying her back to the dreadful city with you before long?" "Yes, I think we will go in a few weeks. School begins, you see, and we mustn't be too late getting back." "What a change it will be for dear Janet!" Miss Clark continued. "I can't say I altogether approve." "But why?" "Well, it will change her, and I hate to think of her getting cityfied and filling her head with notions." Miss Clark did not specify just exactly what notions were. "Of course you are very dear and sweet," she continued, "but you are not at all like our Janet; though you look very much alike, I would never confuse you for an instant." "Are you quite sure!" "Indeed I am, and I don't want to hurt your feelings when I say that I hope you will not let Janet change too much." "Why, I think it will do her good to go to the city. She will meet lots of nice girls and go to school, and certainly anything would be better than being alone so much of the time as she is here. I hope she learns to be like other girls when she gets to town." "Ah, well, I am afraid I can't agree with you," Miss Clark said sadly. The blue dress hurried off to pass the cake to Mrs. Todd, who was sitting alone in a corner. "Stay with me, child," Mrs. Todd said when she had helped herself. "I want to look at you. I thought this afternoon that you were like your father in manner,"--her blue eyes searched the brown ones. Suddenly she frowned. "Hello, that's odd. No, I can't be wrong. You little imps you, you've--" "Oh, do hush, please; some one might hear you, and not a soul has even suspected, not even Auntie Mogs. How did you guess?" Janet demanded. "Eyes," Mrs. Todd said shortly. "Yours have little tiny flecks of gold in them, like your mother's. Phyllis's are clearer, less dreamy, like her father's. I won't give you away." "Oh, thanks; you can't imagine what fun it is. I am hearing all sorts of things about myself, and I can't wait to compare notes with Phyllis."