"Do you remember one day, ages ago, when Elfreda Briggs deposited her suit case on Grace Harlowe's feet and made herself comfortable. Wasn't I a vandal?"
"Think what we all might have missed if we hadn't acquired a proprietary interest in Elfreda that day."
"And now you can't lose me. There, that is the first slang I've used for months, and on commencement day, too."
"Never mind, Elfreda. It is forcible at least. But we don't wish to lose you. You must keep your promise and come to Oakdale this summer."
"I will," promised Elfreda; "and now suppose we have one last sad tea party."
It was almost midnight before Miriam and Elfreda went softly down the oppressively quiet hall to their room.
"Are you happy, Anne?" asked Grace, slipping her arm about her friend and drawing her to the window where, dark against the moonlit sky, rose the tower of Overton Hall.
"Almost too happy for words, and yet I dread leaving Overton."
"You must come back next year and visit me. I do hope I shall make a good house mother. Do you know, Anne, in my mind I've already picked out a motto to hang over my door. It is, 'Blessed are they that have found their work.'"