"And you had conditions to make up if you did come," declared Helen.
"I made 'em up," said Jennie, laughing.
"And you're here ahead of us! Oh, Heavy, what sport!" cried Helen, undertaking to pinch the plump girl again.
"Now, that's enough of that," said Jennie Stone. "I have feelings, as well as other folk, Helen Cameron, despite my name. Have a heart!"
"We are so glad to see you, Heavy," said Ruth. "You mustn't mind Helen's exuberance."
"And you never said a word about coming here when you wrote to us down South," Helen said, eyeing the fleshy girl curiously.
"I didn't know what to do," confessed Jennie Stone. "I talked it over with Aunt Kate. She agreed with me that, if I had finished school, I'd put on about five pounds a month, and that's all I would do."
"Goodness!" gasped Ruth and Helen, together.
"Yes," said Heavy, nodding with emphasis. "That's what I did the first month. Nothing to do, you see, but eat and sleep. If I'd had to go to work——"
"But couldn't you find something to do?" demanded the energetic Ruth.