But of late she and Helen had had little in common outside of study
hours and the classes which they both attended. Since the launching of
the Sweetbriars Helen had deliberately sought society among the Upedes,
and especially among the quartette who dwelt next door to the chums.

"And she is going to have almond cakes. She says she has an old nurse
named Babette who makes the most de-lic-i-ous almond cakes--Is that so,
Ruth Fielding?"

Heavy had been enthusiastically discussing this subject with her
nearest neighbor on the other side from Ruth, at the dining table. But
Ruth had caught the name of "Babette" and knew that Heavy spoke of
Helen Cameron.

"Is what so?" she asked the plump girl.

"Why, it's about your spoon's box from home. I told _you_, you know,
to be sure and have the folks send you one; but Helen Cameron's got
ahead of you. And whisper!" pursued Jennie Stone, in a lowered tone,
"tell her not to invite too many girls to the Night of Harpocrates.
Remember!"

Ruth was a bit puzzled at first. Then she remembered that Harpocrates
was the Egyptian god of silence, and that his sign was a rose. The
expression "sub-rosa" comes from that root, or "under the rose." It
was evident that there were to be "midnight orgies" when Helen's
goodies came from home.

One of the quartettes on their corridor had indulged in a fudge party
after hours already, and Ruth had been invited to be present. But she
found that Helen was not going, so she refused. Besides, she was very
doubtful about the propriety of joining in these forbidden pleasures.
All the girls broke that retiring rule more or less--or so it seemed.
But Miss Picolet could give such offenders black marks if she wished,
and Ruth craved a clean sheet in deportment at the end of the half.

She wondered how and when Helen proposed to hold the "supper sub-rosa";
but she would not ask. Not even when the great hamper arrived (being
brought up from Lumberton by Old Dolliver, who only drove his stage
every other day to Seven Oaks at this time of year) did she ask Helen a
single question. Tony Foyle brought the hamper up to Duet Two in the
West Dormitory and it just fitted into the bottom of Helen's closet.
Heavy could not keep away from the door of the room; whenever the door
was opened and Ruth raised her eyes from the table where she was at
work, there was the broad, pink and white face of the fat girl, her
eyes rolling in anticipation of the good thin