steadily.

Grace looked at her friend in surprise. What had caused Miriam to answer
in such fashion? There was an almost imperceptible lull in the
conversation, then Mabel Ashe introduced the other girls. "Now we will
see about your trunks, and then perhaps you would like to walk up to the
college," she said briskly. "It isn't far from here. Some of the girls
prefer to ride in the bus, but I always walk. I can show you some of the
places of interest as we go."

"Come over here, Mabel, dear," commanded Beatrice Alden, who had moved a
little to one side of the group. Mabel excused herself to her charges,
and looking a little annoyed, obeyed the summons. Beatrice talked
rapidly for a moment in coaxing tones, but Mabel shook her head. Grace,
who stood nearest to them, heard her say, "I'd love to go, Bee, and its
awfully nice in you to think of me. I'll go to-morrow, but I can't leave
these poor stranded freshmen to their own homesick thoughts to-day. You
know just how we felt when we landed high and dry in this town without
any one to care whether we survived or perished."

"If you won't go to-day, then don't trouble about it at all," snapped
Beatrice. "I know plenty of girls who will be only too glad to accept my
invitation, but I asked you first, and I think you ought to remember it.
You know I like you better than any other girl in college."

"You know I appreciate your friendship, Bee," returned Mabel, "but truly
I wish you cared more for other girls, too. There are plenty of girls
here who need friends like you."

"Yes, but I don't like them," snapped Beatrice. "I'm not going to make a
martyr of myself to please any one. My mother is very particular about
my associates at Overton, and I don't intend to waste my time trying to
make things pleasant for the stupid, uninteresting girls of this
college. I did not come to Overton to take a course in doing settlement
work. I came here to have a good time, and incidentally to study a
little."

"Now, now, Bee, don't try to make me believe you haven't just as much
college spirit as the rest of us," admonished Mabel in a low tone.
"Don't be cross because I can't go to-day. Come with me, instead, and
help look after these verdant freshmen. There was a positive army of
them who got off the train."

Without replying Beatrice turned and walked sulkily away toward the
other end of the platform. Mabel looked after her with a half frown.

"I am afraid we are causing you consid