ere two nights."

"Why did you come so early?"

"So as to try to get used to the food and the beds," groaned Heavy. "But
I never will. One teacher already has advised me about my diet. She says
vegetables are best for me. I ate a peck of string beans this noon for
lunch--strings and all--and I expect you can pick basting threads out of
me almost anywhere!"

"The teacher didn't advise you to eat _all_ the vegetables there were,
did she?" asked Ruth, as they climbed the stairs.

"She did not signify the amount. I just ate till I couldn't get down
another one. I sha'n't want to see another string bean for some time."

Ruth and Helen easily found the rooms that had been drawn for them the
June previous. Of course, they were not the best rooms in the hall, for
the seniors had first choice, and then the juniors and sophomores had
their innings before the freshmen had a chance.

But there was a door between Ruth's and Helen's rooms, as they had
hoped, and Jennie's room was just across the corridor.

"We Sweetbriars will stick together, all right," said the fleshy girl.
"For defence and offence, if necessary."

"You evidently expect to have a strenuous time here, Heavy," laughed
Ruth.

"No telling," returned Jennie Stone, wagging her head. "I fancy there
are some 'cut-ups' among the sophs who will try to make our sweet young
lives miserable. That Edie Phelps, for instance." She told them how the
sophomores had met the new girl, Rebecca Frayne, and why.

"Oh, dear!" said Ruth. "But that was all on _my_ account. We shall have
to be particularly nice to Miss Frayne. I hope she's on our corridor."

"Do you suppose they will haze you, Ruth, just because you wrote that
scenario?" asked Helen, somewhat troubled.

"There's no hazing at Ardmore," laughed Ruth. "They can't bother me.
'Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me!'"
she singsonged.

"Just the same," Jennie said, morosely, "that Edie Phelps has a sharp
tongue."

"We, too, have tongues," proclaimed Helen, who had no intention of being
put upon.

"Now, girls, we want to take just what is handed us good-naturedly,"
Ruth advised. "We are freshmen. Next year we will be sophomores, and can
take it out on the new girls then," and she laughed. "You know, we've
all been through it at Briarwood."

"Goodness, yes!" agreed Helen. "It can't be as bad at college as it was
during our first term at Briarwood Hall."

"This Edie Phelps can't be as