The trees in the Oaklawn grounds were tossing wildly in the gusts of wind , and sodden brown leaves were blown up against the windows of the library , where a score of girls were waiting for the principal to bring the mail in . The big room echoed with the pleasant sound of girlish voices and low laughter , for in a fortnight school would close for the holidays , and they were all talking about their plans and anticipations . Only Ruth Mannering was , as usual , sitting by herself near one of the windows , looking out on the misty lawn . She was a pale , slender girl , with a sad face , and was dressed in rather shabby black . She had no special friend at Oaklawn , and the other girls did not know much about her . If they had thought about it at all , they would probably have decided that they did not like her ; but for the most part they simply overlooked her . This was not altogether their fault . Ruth was poor and apparently friendless , but it was not her poverty that was against her . Lou Scott , who was `` as poor as a church mouse , '' to quote her own frank admission , was the most popular girl in the seminary , the boon companion of the richest girls , and in demand with everybody . But Lou was jolly and frank and offhanded , while Ruth was painfully shy and reserved , and that was the secret of the whole matter . There was `` no fun in her , '' the girls said , and so it came about that she was left out of their social life , and was almost as solitary at Oaklawn as if she had been the only girl there . She was there for the special purpose of studying music , and expected to earn her own living by teaching it when she left . She believed that the girls looked down on her on this account ; this was unjust , of course , but Ruth had no idea how much her own coldness and reserve had worked against her . Across the room Carol Golden was , as usual , the centre of an animated group ; Golden Carol as her particular friends sometimes called her , partly because of her beautiful voice , and partly because of her wonderful fleece of golden hair . Carol was one of the seminary pets , and seemed to Ruth Mannering to have everything that she had not . Presently the mail was brought in , and there was a rush to the table , followed by exclamations of satisfaction or disappointment . In a few minutes the room was almost deserted . Only two girls remained : Carol Golden , who had dropped into a big chair to read her many letters ; and Ruth Mannering , who had not received any and had gone silently back to her part of the window . Presently Carol gave a little cry of delight . Her mother had written that she might invite any friend she wished home with her to spend the holidays .
Carol had asked XXXXX this permission , and now that it had come was ready to dance for joy .
Across In as at for into near so while with