“Oh, I forgot to tell you, and I signed your name, too; but I knew you’d want to. You see, I thought ’twould be too bad to have her go away for Thanksgiving, thinking we didn’t like her and had been mean to her, because, you know, I don’t think Lucile is very quick about seeing through things, and I wanted her to know we liked her all the same. So I wrote a verse, and slipped it under her door. It said: Dear Lucile; It was a joke, and now it’s made We simply can’t unmake it; But we like you, and hope that you Will be a sport and take it. Happy Thanksgiving! P. and V. You don’t mind, do you?” Priscilla threw her arm over Virginia’s shoulder, and drew her toward the tennis court. “No, of course I don’t mind. I think ’twas mighty sweet of you to do it. You’re queer, Virginia, but I like you, and I’m glad you’re my roommate.” Virginia’s eyes glowed with happiness. “Glad!” she cried. “I’m gladder every day! And I just love you, Priscilla Winthrop!” That evening Virginia added Experience III to the Decorum Chapter of her ever growing “Thought Book ”: “In school it all depends upon how you feel inside when you do a thing as to whether it’s mean or not. Jokes are not mean, unless you feel malicious when you conceive them. Also, it doesn’t matter at all if a joke is played upon you. All it matters is whether you are a good sport and take it well.” CHAPTER X THANKSGIVING AND MISS WALLACE Going home for the Thanksgiving holidays, though not forbidden, was discouraged at St. Helen’s. The time was very short, there being less than a week’s vacation allowed; and it had long been the custom, unless urgent demands came from home, for the girls to remain at school. It was not at all a hardship, for every one had such a royal good time. Moreover, the fathers and mothers, sisters and brothers and friends of the girls were always welcome, as far as accommodations in the village and at the school allowed; and for years Thanksgiving at St. Helen’s had been a gala season. This year it seemed even especially lovely. Indian summer had waited to come with Thanksgiving, and every day of the vacation was a golden one. Mr. and Mrs. Winthrop came to spend the holidays with Priscilla; and Mrs. Williams, a sweet, motherly lady, whom Virginia loved at once, came with Jack to see Mary. Virginia liked Jack, too, and the four of them dreamed what Mary and Jack called “vain dreams” of a summer in Wyoming with Donald and Virginia. But the dreams were lovely anyway, and Mrs. Williams said with a mysterious smile that “perhaps they were not all in vain,” which remark straightway inspired the youthful dreamers to build more air-castles.