had played fairy godmother to her, she had worn the exquisite frock only once. Now it looked as fresh and dainty as it had on that immemorial night. Trimmed as it was with clusters of velvet forget-me-nots, Norma wore no natural flowers. Though she had by her summer's work in the stock company earned immunity from drudgery, she had earned no more than that. With the exception of this one gown, she dressed almost as simply as in the old days. She confined her wardrobe to one or two serviceable one-piece dresses, a coat suit and a quantity of dainty white silk blouses and lingerie. These last were fashioned and laundered by her own clever fingers. "I hope we're not too fine for our girls," Norma remarked anxiously as the four skipped, one after the other, from the taxicab at the Bridge Street address. "I thought of that, too, but I decided that they'd like it if we looked our very smartest. They are too independent to feel crushed by a mere matter of fine clothes," was Jane's opinion. The frank admiration with which the four freshmen exclaimed over their gorgeous escorts served to point to the accuracy of her opinion. "You're regular birds of Paradise!" laughed Freda. "We are certainly lucky to capture such prizes. We're not a bit splendiferous, ourselves. But then, why should we be? It wouldn't match with our humble status." "You look sweet, every one of you," praised Judith. "Your gowns are dear. They are wonderfully becoming." "We made them ourselves last summer," explained Kathie with a little air of pride. "We clubbed together and bought a bolt of this white Persian lawn. Ida crocheted these butterfly medallions set in Freda's gown and mine. Then Marie embroidered the designs on hers and Ida's gowns. Each dress is a little different from the other, yet they all look pretty much alike." "They are all beautiful," Jane warmly assured. She could say so in absolute truth. Simple, graceful lines, combined with dainty hand-wrought trimmings had produced four frocks which would have sold at a high price in an exclusive city dress shop. "Ah, but you are the clever ones!" bubbled Adrienne. "It is we who must be proud of you. I would that _ma mere_ could see these frocks. She would, of a certainty, rave with the delight. _Ma mere_, you must know, is the true Frenchwoman who appreciates highly the beautiful handwork such as this." "You rather take us off our feet," smiled Marie. "We were not expecting it, you know."