osed, of course, that I would have to room with another
girl, but I didn't think--" she paused.

"I know," sympathized Grace. "I heard what was said to you; at least a
part of it. Won't you come upstairs to our room and meet my roommate,
Miss Pierson?"

"It is very thoughtful in you to take so much trouble for me," replied
the freshman gratefully.

"That is part of our plan here at Overton," laughed Grace. "When I was a
lonely, bewildered freshman, several of the upper class girls made it
their business to look out for my comfort. Now it is my turn to pass
that kindness along."

"What a nice way to look at things!" exclaimed Mildred Taylor. "If I
thought the rest of the girls in the college were going to be like you,
I'd be ready to love Overton."

"Oh, you will love Overton," was Grace's quick reply. "You can't help
yourself."

Anne received the forlorn newcomer with a sweet courtesy that quite
charmed her. "We are in the midst of our unpacking," she explained. "Our
trunks came only a little while ago. Won't you take off your hat and
coat?"

"Anne, I will leave Miss Taylor in your care," declared Grace. "Please
excuse me, I'll be back directly," she nodded encouragingly to their
guest.

At the door of Miriam's room Grace knocked softly, then in answer to the
impatient, "Come in," entered to find Elfreda standing in the midst of
an extended circle formed by her possessions.

"Isn't this enough to discourage the most valiant heart?" she declared,
with a comprehensive sweep of her arm over the scattered contents of her
trunk. "But I am going to clear everything away. I promised Miriam that
my half of the room should be kept 'decently and in order' all year. It
is one of my sophomore obligations."

Grace listened in amusement to the stout girl's earnest assertion. "I
haven't finished unpacking either," she said. "I came for advice. The
freshman who was to occupy the other half of Miss Atkins's room has
arrived, and Miss Atkins won't let her into the room. I just brought her
upstairs to my room.

"Last night I talked with Mrs. Elwood. She isn't particularly anxious to
have Miss Atkins in the house. When Miss Taylor, that is the name of the
freshman who just came, tells her about what happened she will ask Miss
Atkins to leave Wayne Hall. This girl has brought with her to Overton
the worst possible spirit in which to begin her freshman year. Of
course, we don't know whether she is rich or poor, or whether her