“You are just as fine as you can be,” Star said, delightedly, as she went round and round him to examine the material and fashion of his new garments, “and I do not believe any one will be more proud of her escort to-night than I shall be; and yet,” she thought, “Uncle Jacob must have been _very saving_ indeed to have been able to buy such an expensive suit.” His eyes glowed with pleasure at her words; but when they entered the brilliantly lighted hall, and he saw the elegant toilets of some of the young ladies, he could not help regarding her with something of regret, although very many admiring eyes were fixed upon the arm of the stately, gray-haired gentleman, as they went forward to pay their respects to President Hunter and his corps of assistants. “Miss Gladstone, I have a friend who desires to be presented to you,” said one of Star’s teachers, seeking her out later in the evening. She led her toward a lady who was standing a little apart from them, and who appeared to be three or four years Star’s senior, and introduced her as Miss Meredith. It was the visitor who had inquired so particularly regarding our heroine during the graduating exercises. She was drawn toward her at once, and they were soon chatting as sociably as if they had been acquaintances of long standing. While thus engaged, a gentleman approached them, greeting both young ladies in the most cordial manner. “I was hoping that you two would meet to-night,” he said, bestowing a smiling face upon them both. “Miss Meredith is a graduate of two years ago, Miss Gladstone, and I am sure you will find her a congenial spirit.” “Thank you, Mr. Appleton,” Miss Meredith responded, brightly; “but you should have put it the other way, for I have been very impatient to meet Miss Gladstone. I singled her out from her class to-day, and felt sure that we should be _en rapport_, as the spiritualists say, if we could only become acquainted.” “Well, I think it does not matter much which way you put it, now that you know each other,” the gentleman returned, smiling; then turning to Star, he added: “So, my young friend, you have really ‘run the race, and finished the course;’ and now do you remember the promise which you made me several months ago?” Star flushed vividly at this question. “Did I make you a promise, Mr. Appleton?” she asked, evasively, adding, with an arch glance: “I thought it was _you_ who made _me_ a promise.” He laughed and shook his finger at her. “You said that on your eighteenth birthday I might reveal a secret.” “And you _promised_ you would _not_ reveal it until I was eighteen,” she retorted, brightly, although the color deepened in her cheeks as she continued: “I am not eighteen yet, Mr. Appleton.”