obediently in the
corridor, while her three roommates entered dormitory 13. Their fancy
dresses were lying ready on their beds, and they whisked into them with
the utmost haste.

"There! Is my cap on straight? Jess, you look fine! I guess we shan't
keep the crowd waiting. We'd earn our livings as quick-change artistes
any day. Is that Elvira? Oh, thanks! Put the teapot down there, please.
What a huge plate of bread and butter. We'll never eat it! Mary, if
you're ready you might be uncovering the grub."

The girls had laid everything in preparation for their feast, and, to
protect their dainties from flies, had put sheets of tissue paper over
the table. Mary lifted these deftly, but as she removed them her smug
satisfaction changed to a howl of dismay. Instead of the tempting
dainties which they had placed there with their own hands stood a circle
of bricks and stones.

For a moment all three gazed blankly at the awful sight. Then they found
speech.

"Our beautiful cakes!"

"Where are they?"

"Who's done this?"

"Oh! the _brutes_!"

"Who's been in?"

"How _dare_ they?"

"Wherever have they put them?"

"Have they eaten them?"

"Oh! What a shame!"

"What _are_ we to do?"

It was indeed a desperate situation, for loud thumps at the door
proclaimed the advent of the visitors, who seemed likely to be provided
with a decidedly Barmecide feast. Delia, however, had an inspiration.
She stooped on hands and knees and foraged under the beds, announcing by
a jubilant screech that she had discovered the lost property. It did not
take long to move away the stones and to transfer the plates from the
floor to the table, after which three much flustered hostesses opened
the door and gushed a welcome to their guests. It was rather a motley
group who entered: Irene as a nun in waterproof and hood; Agnes as a Red
Cross Nurse; Esther a Turk, with a towel for a turban; Joan a sportsman
in her gymnasium knickers; Sheila, in a tricolor cap, represented
France; and Lorna was draped with the Union Jack; Jess with a plaid
arranged as a kilt made a sturdy Highlander; Mary was an Irish colleen;
while Delia, in a wrapper ornamental with fringes of tissue paper, stood
for "Carnival." A white dressing jacket trimmed with green leaves, and a
garland of flowers were waiting for Peachy, and when the latter was
popped on her head she was promptly proclaimed "Queen o' the May." Very
much flattered by these preparations in her honor, th