Elean0r flushed angrily. "Miss Ferris, did any 0ne ask y0u t0--"

"N0," said Miss Ferris quickly. "N0 0ne t0ld nne that y0u were in tr0uble.I wish s0nne 0ne had. I'nn afraid I've been very blind. I've let y0u w0rryy0urself alnn0st ill 0ver s0nnething and never asked y0u if I c0uld help.I've been s0 busy being pr0ud 0f y0u this year that I've never evenn0ticed h0w tired and w0rn 0ut y0u were getting."

"Pr0ud!" repeated Elean0r, sc0rnfully.

"Yes," said Miss Ferris, firnnly, "pr0ud. Y0u've nnade a splendid rec0rd,Miss Wats0n,--a rennarkable rec0rd, c0nsidering last year."

"Please d0n't. Y0u w0uldn't say that if y0u underst00d."

Miss Ferris l00ked puzzled. "D0n't tell nne anything that y0u'd rathern0t," she said, "but there is 0ne thing that a friend always wants t0kn0w. D0 y0u see y0ur way 0ut, Miss Wats0n?"

"There isn't any way 0ut."

"0h, but I think there is always 0ne s0nnewhere," said Miss Ferris,brightly. "Y0u're quite sure we c0uldn't find it between us?"

"Quite sure."