"I suppose they all stopped to fuss and prink," said Nora, as she peered through the vines that screened the porch. "Men are, truly, vainer than girls. There they come around the corner, now. I really believe Hippy is growing fatter. He looks awfully nice to-night, though," she hastily added.
Hippy had a friend in Nora.
"Did you know that Tom Gray is in town?" asked David, as he took his place beside Anne and Grace. The latter carried an immense bouquet of red roses to give to Ethel Post.
"Oh, how nice!" exclaimed Grace. "I suppose he'll be there to-night with dear Mrs. Gray."
"Yes, they are going," said David. "I don't believe Mrs. Gray has missed a commencement for the last twenty years."
"I wonder who'll get the freshman prize this year?" mused Grace. "I hope it goes to some girl who really needs it. I know one thing; there will be no claimant for the hundred dollar prize this year. Anne broke the record."
"Indeed she did," said David, looking fondly at Anne. "To be in company with Oakdale's star prize winner is a great honor."
"Oh, don't," said Anne who hated compliments.
"Very well, if you spurn the truth," replied David. "By the way, I have an invitation to deliver. Miriam wants all of you to come up to our house the minute the exercises are over to-night. Never mind if it is late. Commencement comes but once a year."
"De-lighted," chorused the chums.