| CHAPTER | PAGE | |
| I. | Mr. Bellamy’s Offer | [7] |
| II. | Next Term | [16] |
| III. | In Katie’s Room | [25] |
| IV. | Mrs. Abbott’s Explanation | [31] |
| V. | Mary Ann Stubbs | [41] |
| VI. | Mary Ann’s Charge | [48] |
| VII. | Elfie Tells a Story | [55] |
| VIII. | A Rainy Day | [62] |
| IX. | Some Leaves from a Diary | [70] |
| X. | A Mean Act | [79] |
| XI. | The S. C.’s | [88] |
| XII. | Dressing Dolls | [96] |
| XIII. | The Committee Buy Ribbons and Make an Acquaintance | [102] |
| XIV. | The Adventure Discussed | [110] |
| XV. | The White Queen | [117] |
| XVI. | In Mrs. Abbott’s Room | [126] |
| XVII. | Lily’s Preachment | [132] |
| XVIII. | In Vacation | [141] |
| XIX. | A Happy Day | [148] |
| XX. | Letters | [153] |
| XXI. | In Katie’s Home | [162] |
| XXII. | The Christmas-tree’s Second Crop | [172] |
| XXIII. | The Letter in Cipher | [181] |
| XXIV. | Catching a Train | [190] |
| XXV. | The Sphinx | [198] |
| XXVI. | Elfie Gone! | [209] |
| XXVII. | On the Road | [213] |
| XXVIII. | A Traveling Acquaintance | [221] |
| XXIX. | Watching and Waiting | [230] |
| XXX. | In Troy | [239] |
| XXXI. | An Exciting Night | [246] |
| XXXII. | A Deep Sleep | [252] |
| XXXIII. | Marion is Happy | [259] |
| XXXIV. | The Prize Awarded | [272] |
THE FRIENDLY FIVE.
CHAPTER I.
MR. BELLAMY’S OFFER.
There were neither examinations nor graduation exercises at the Coventry Institute. The only ceremony peculiar to the last day of school, except the farewells, was a little sermon from Mrs. Abbott, the principal, preceded by reading the average of reports for the year.
The day had come. All the smaller recitation-rooms were empty and the girls were gathered into the large school-room occupying their own seats, but each whispering softly to her neighbor, for rules were not strictly enforced on either the opening or closing days of school.
Upon the platform at one end of the room stood a green-covered library-desk with the large arm-chair by it which was always reserved for Mrs. Abbott. As they waited a servant came in and removed the chair, bringing into view a small old-fashioned hair-cloth sofa large enough to hold two persons comfortably.
“That means company,” was the universal whisper that went around among the girls, and almost before there could be any speculation upon who the guest might be the visitor himself followed the principal into the room. He was a tall, stout, middle-aged man with a splendid head that reminded the girls at once of the pictures of Agassiz.
As Mrs. Abbott took her seat on one end of the little sofa, with her usual pleasant bow to the scholars, she simply said, “My friend, Mr. Bellamy, will say a few words to you;” and the gentleman, with the ease of a long-practiced speaker, stepped to the little table and looked down with kindly inquiring eyes upon the young faces upturned to his.