bering. Perhaps
I'll tell you some day, but not now. Please don't think me hateful and
disobliging, but I don't wish to talk of myself."

Arline Thayer eyed Ruth with displeasure. "I don't see why you should
say that, Ruth. We have all talked of ourselves," she said coldly.

Ruth flushed deeply. She felt the note of censure in Arline's voice.

"I think we had better go," announced Grace, consulting her watch. "It
is now half-past seven. We ought to be at Wayne Hall by eight o'clock.
You know the Herculean labor I have before me."

"Herculean labor is a good name for our coming task," chuckled Anne.
"The Anarchist will make Wayne Hall resound with her vengeful cries when
she is thrust out of the room with all her possessions."

Jesting light-heartedly over the coming encounter, the diners strolled
out of Vinton's and down College Street in the direction of the campus.
Arline was the first to leave them. Her good night to the four girls
from Wayne Hall was cordial in the extreme, but to Ruth she was almost
distant. A little later on they said good night to Ruth, who looked
ready to cry.

"Cheer up," comforted Grace, who was walking with Ruth. "Arline will be
all right to-morrow."

"I hope so," responded Ruth mournfully. "I did not mean to make her
angry, only there are some things of which I cannot speak to any one."

"I understand," rejoined Grace, wondering what Ruth's secret cross was.
"Good night, Ruth."

Elfreda, Miriam and Anne bade Ruth goodnight in turn.

"Now, for the tug of war," declared Elfreda as they hurried up the steps
of Wayne Hall. "On to the battlefield and down with the Anarchist!"

CHAPTER III

MRS. ELWOOD TO THE RESCUE

As Grace approached the curtained archway that divided the living-room
from the hall she could not help wishing that she might have settled the
affair without Mrs. Elwood's assistance. She was not afraid to approach
Mrs. Elwood, who was the soul of good nature, but Grace disliked the
idea of the scene that she felt sure would follow. The young woman now
occupying the room that she and Anne had re-engaged for their sophomore
year would contest their right to occupy it. Mrs. Elwood would be
obliged to set her foot down firmly. It would all be extremely
disagreeable. Grace reflected. Then the memory of the Anarchist's
glaring incivility returned, and without further hesitation Grace walked
into the living-room, followed by her companions.

Mrs. Elwood, who was si