"And I have never studied Latin or French."
"Everyone has to begin, though the babies in France talk French, which I believe once surprised a woman who was traveling in France."
"Oh!" Then Helen laughed gayly.
"And this is our drawing room. Once a month we have sociables, given by one of the seniors who has to arrange everything just as she would if she were in society. And the other girls are the guests."
It was a beautiful long room, with a bay window at the side which made a very pretty break in it. At both ends were double windows. The floor was matted, with rugs here and there. The furniture was simple and tasteful; two cabinets were filled with handsome china and bric-a-brac, and there was one case of elegant books. The real reading and study books, histories, and so on, were in the reception room and the study room.
Then they walked out on the porch where a bevy of girls had congregated.
"I have been introducing Miss Grant to the house," Miss Aldred said in her soft, pleasant tone, "and now you girls may tell her what we do and how we do it, and anything else that will not make her feel homesick."
Helen was sure she should never have one yearning for Hope Center.
"Oh, Miss Aldred, don't you think we might go down town this afternoon and introduce her to the town where she will have to find her social nutriment for the next ten months?"
"Social, indeed," laughed Miss Mays.