CHAPTER XIII.
TOM AND GRACE SCENT TROUBLE The time passed all too rapidly, and with many expressions of regret on both sides the judge and his youthful guests parted, two days before the New Year.
On account of the house party the Phi Sigma Tau had been obliged to postpone until New Year's Day entertaining as they had done the previous year the stray High School girls who were far from home.

Therefore, the moment they arrived in Oakdale they found their hands full.
Mrs.Gray had been in California with her brother since September, and the girls greatly missed the sprightly old lady.

It was the first Christmas since they had entered High School that she had not been with them, and they were looking forward with great eagerness to her return in February.
Julia Crosby, who was at Smith College, had accepted an invitation from her roommate to spend the holidays in Boston, much to Grace's disappointment, who had reckoned on Julia as one of the judge's house party.
New Year's Day the Phi Sigma Tau nobly lived up to their reputation as entertainers of those girls who they had originally pledged themselves to look out for, but New Year's Night the four girl chums had reserved for a special gathering which included the "eight originals" only.

It was Miriam who had made this possible by inviting Eva Allen, James Gardiner, Arnold Evans, Marian Barber, and much against her will, Henry Hammond, to a dinner.
"Don't feel slighted at being left off my dinner list," she said to Grace, then added slyly, "Why don't the eight originals hold forth at Nora's ?" "You're a positive dear, Miriam," Grace replied.

"We have been wanting to have an old-time frolic, but didn't wish to seem selfish and clannish." "Opportunity is knocking at your gate, get busy," was Miriam's advice, which Grace was not slow to follow.
"At last there are signs of that spread that I was promised at the bazaar," proclaimed Hippy Wingate cheerfully, as attired in a long gingham apron belonging to Nora's elder sister, he energetically stirred fudge in a chafing dish and insisted every other minute that Nora should try it to see if it were done.
"You'll have to stir it a lot, yet," Nora informed him.
"But I'm so tired," protested Hippy.