Zay was thinking how solitary the girl must be. Oh, if her mother were not the general mender! Even if she were a sort of charity scholar! And she was going to have such a splendid Christmas. Her dear, beloved mother able to get about by herself, and all the rest of their lives to be such friends, to go abroad together, to visit picture galleries, points of interest and compare notes. For Mrs. Crawford had been finely educated and even the prospect of being an invalid for life had not made her relax her hold on intellectuality. She had been a delightful friend to her boys and they were proud enough of her, but Zay would always be her supreme darling. * * * * * Some of the last exercises and conditions were marked off the next day. Madame Eustice and two of the girls went home. A box came for Miss Nevins and the girls thronged around at her invitation while Nat drew out the nails that had fastened it securely, and lifted out a lighter box. "That's from Madame I know, and I have frocks enough here for winter. Oh, that's a splendid fruit cake, and nuts and that's candied orange and a box of fruit, and this is some sort of jewelry." She tore off the wrapping eagerly. A long _lapis lazuli_ chain with a beautiful pendant and links of exquisite color, and a pair of bracelets to match. "It's elegant," pronounced Phillipa. "I never go crazy over it myself and it seems too old for a girl; the sort of thing for a dowager to wear on state occasions. Now, let us see the frock." A beautiful, fine albatross cloth in itself appropriate, but betrimmed with pipings of satin and lace. "Why it looks like a wedding gown. You'll have to save it for there will be no occasion to wear it here. Not even graduation and the lawn fete, for then we all wear simple white muslin. That is Mrs. Barrington's law." "Oh, dear, and it is so beautiful!" on a half cry. "You see, mamma thought being a high-up school there would be parties and all that. Last winter in New York I went to three and oh, you should have seen the dresses! I had one of blue gauze over thin satin and it was just lovely, and the dancing was simply great, and here you never go any where." "We come here to improve our minds," said some one sententiously "I'd like some real fun and gayety, and think that I must stay all alone here." "There will be five girls to keep you company." "But there's no fun or parties or anything. Oh, let's cut the cake. I shan't enjoy it when I am alone." It was a real treat, and the nuts and sweets were a feast. They had not much appetite for luncheon. "But did you ever see anything so idiotic as that lovely frock for such a girl and a place like this where you do not go to high-up parties," said one of the girls in a group, afterward. "And what it must have cost! It really ought to be returned as very unsuitable." "What can the mother be like, and isn't the father a politician or a contractor?" with a laugh.