Phyllis jumped up from the table and hurried to the hall.
"Suppose it's Tommy saying they're coming to-day!" she exclaimed. But a minute later her aunt heard her voice drop to its natural tone as she said:
"Oh, hello, Muriel; this is Phyllis—
"Why, how nice of you; of course I'll be in.
"Yes, isn't it too exciting for words!
"Oh, I think we'll both be there on Monday.
"Oh, wonderful; then I'll see you this afternoon, 'by 'till then."
"It was Muriel," she explained as she returned to the dining-room. "She and some of the girls from school are coming over this afternoon. They want to talk over some class plans and they want my advice. We have class officers this year, you know. Muriel says I've missed an awful lot. It's almost a month now since school started but it can't be helped.
"Oh, dear, I wonder what class Janet will be in. I hope it won't be too awfully low." She paused, and her pretty brows puckered into a tiny frown.
"I don't think I'd worry if I were you," her aunt said softly. "Janet may never have been to a school but she is very bright, and I don't think it will be very long before she will be even with you."