ave me my supper even though it was
late, and the next day I saw the registrar in earnest. I told her the
whole story and described the girls. I didn't know their names, but she
said she thought she knew who they were from the description. So I
suppose she'll send for me before long to identify them."

"But you're not going to?" questioned Grace in astonishment.

"Why not?" returned the stout girl calmly. "Do you think I'll let slip a
chance to get even with them? I guess not."

"But this will be carried to the dean and they will be severely
reprimanded and the whole college will know it," expostulated Grace.

"Well, the whole college should know it," stoutly contended Elfreda.
"I'll show those two smart young women that I'm not as green as I appear
to be."

Grace was on the verge of saying that J. Elfreda would have shown more
wisdom by keeping silent, but suddenly checked herself. She had no right
to criticize J. Elfreda's motives. To her the bare idea of telling tales
was abhorrent, while this girl gloried in the fact that she had exposed
those who annoyed her.

"I'm sorry you told the registrar," she said slowly. "Perhaps in the
rush of business she'll forget about it."

"She'd better not," threatened Elfreda, "or she'll hear it from me. When
it comes to getting even, I never relent. I'm just like Pa in that
respect. However, let's change the subject. Now that I'm here, show me
where I can put my clothes," she added, addressing Miriam. "Do you keep
your things in order? I never do. The morning I left home Ma said she
felt sorry for my future roommate."

Elfreda kept up a brisk monologue as she opened one of her suit cases
and began hauling out its contents. Miriam made a gesture of hopeless
resignation behind the stout girl's back.

"I must go to my room and get ready for dinner," said Grace, her eyes
dancing. "Coming, Anne?"

Anne nodded and the two girls beat a hasty retreat. Elfreda's calm
manner of appropriating things and Miriam's resigned air were too much
for them. Once inside their room they gave way to uncontrolled
merriment.

"I knew I'd laugh if I stayed there another second," confessed Anne.
"Poor Miriam. I heartily agree with Ma, don't you?"

"Yes," smiled Grace. Then, her face sobering, she added, "I am afraid
she is laying up trouble for herself. I wish she hadn't told."

CHAPTER V

AN INTERRUPTED STUDY HOUR

The first two weeks at Overton glided by with amazing swiftness. T