gs--Mary Cox declared
Heavy fairly "drooled at the mouth!"

The arrival of the hamper was not unnoticed by the sharp eyes of Miss
Picolet; but advised by the wily Miss Cox, Helen unpacked a certain
portion of the good things and, during the afternoon, asked permission
of Miss Scrimp to make tea and invite some of the girls to the duet to
sample her goodies. The French teacher was propitiated by the gift of
a particular almond cake, frosted, which Helen carried down to her room
and begged her to accept. Helen could be very nice indeed, if she
wished to be; indeed, she had no reason to be otherwise to Miss
Picolet. And the teacher had reason for liking Helen, as she had shown
much aptitude for the particular branch of study which Miss Picolet
taught.

But although most of the girls In the West Dormitory, and some others,
were asked to Helen's tea (at which Ruth likewise did the honors, and
"helped pour") there was an undercurrent of joking and innuendo among
certain of the visitors that showed they had knowledge of further
hidden goodies which would, at fit and proper season, be divulged.
Jennie Stone, gobbling almond cakes and chocolate, said to Ruth:

"If this is a fair sample of what is to be divulged upon the Night of
Harpocrates, I shall fast on that day--now mind!"

When the girls had gone Ruth asked her chum, point-blank, if she
proposed to have a midnight supper.

"A regular debauch!" declared Helen, laughing. "Now, don't be prim and
prudish about it, Ruthie. I won't have it in here if you don't
want----"

"Why not?" demanded Ruth, quickly. "Don't think of going to any other
room."

"Well--I didn't know," stammered her chum. "You being such a stickler
for the rules, Ruth. You know, if we _should_ get into trouble----"

"Do you think that _I_ would complain?" asked Ruth, proudly. "Don't
you trust me any more, Helen?"

"Oh, Ruthie! what nonsense!" cried her chum, throwing her arms about
Ruth Fielding's neck. "I know you'd be as true as steel."

"I did not think the suggestion could have come from your own heart,
Helen," declared Ruth.

So the second night thereafter was set for the "sub-rosa supper."
Slily the chums borrowed such plates and cups as the other girls had
hidden away. Not a few quartette rooms possessed tea-sets, they being
the joint possession of the occupants of that particular study. At
retiring bell on this eventful night all things were ready, including a
spirit lamp on w