When school was over a maid was awaiting Elizabeth to accompany her home. Her new friend walked with her part of the way, but her destination was much nearer the school than was Elizabeth's, and she soon bade her good-by.
"I like you ever so much," were her parting words, "and I am sure we are going to be intimate friends. Come early to-morrow, and we shall have time to talk a little before school begins. Good-by!"
Elizabeth went home feeling that at last she was like other girls. She had a friend of her own. She could scarcely eat her luncheon she was so excited, and she longed for dinner-time, that she might recount her experiences to her aunts. They were not at home this afternoon.
She looked at her new books, and in a short time had studied her lessons for the next day. "It is too good to be true, Julius," she whispered to the cat, who sat purring in the window; "I have an intimate friend at last."
Fortunately no one dined there that night, so Elizabeth was to come to the table, and there were actually a few minutes in the library before dinner was announced in which she could be with her aunts.
"School is lovely, Aunt Caroline," said she, "and I have a friend already."
"Indeed! What is her name?"
"Patsy Loring."
"Loring? That is not a Philadelphia name; but of course she must be quite desirable, or she would not be at Mrs. Arnold's school."
"Her real name is Martha Wayne Loring, but she is always called— Why, what is the matter, Aunt Caroline?"