ce. Ruth explained their identity as she
shook hands. Helen was quite as warmly greeted.

"You will like Briarwood," said Madge Steele. "I know you will. I
understand you will enter the Junior classes. I have just entered the
Senior grade this year. There are lots of nice girls on this corridor.
I'll be glad to introduce you after supper."

"We have not been to the office yet," said Ruth. "I believe that is
customary?"

"Oh, you must see the Preceptress. She's just as nice as she can be,
is Mrs. Tellingham. You'll see her right after supper?"

"I presume so," Ruth said.

"Then, I tell you what," said Madge. "I'll wait for you and take you
to the Forward Club afterwards. We have an open meeting this evening.
Mrs. Tellingham will be there--she is a member, you know--so are the
other teachers. We try to make all the new girls feel at home."

She nodded to them both brightly and went out. Ruth turned to her chum
with a smile.

"Isn't that nice of her, Helen?" she said. "We are getting on
famously---- Why, Helen! what's the matter?" she cried.

Helen's countenance was clouded indeed. She shook her head obstinately.

"We can't go with her, Ruth," she declared.

"Can't go with her?"

"No."

"Why not, pray?" asked Ruth, much puzzled.

"We can't go to that Forward Club," said Helen, more emphatically.

"Why, my dear!" exclaimed Ruth. "Of course we must. We haven't got to
join it. Maybe they wouldn't ask us to join it, anyway. You see, it's
patronized by the teachers and the Preceptress herself. We'll be sure
to meet the very nicest girls."

"That doesn't follow," said Helen, somewhat stubbornly. "Anyway, we
can't go, Ruth."

"But I don't understand, dear," said the puzzled Ruth.

"Why, don't you see?" exclaimed Helen, with some exasperation. "I told
Miss Cox we'd go with her."

"Go where?"

"To _her_ club. _They_ hold a meeting this evening, too. You know,
she said there was rivalry between the two big school clubs. Hers is
the Upedes."

"Oh! the Up and Doings," laughed Ruth. "I remember."

"She said she would wait for us after we get through with Mrs.
Tellingham and introduce us to _her_ friends."

"Well!" gasped Ruth, with a sigh. "We most certainly cannot go to
both. What shall we do?"

CHAPTER VI

THE ENTERING WEDGE

Since Ruth Fielding had first met Helen Cameron--and that was on the
very day the former had come to the Red Mill--the two girls had never
ha