e. They waited, and they waited, and then they waited some more,"
chuckled Jennie. "The doctor did not reappear. So Mrs. Tellingham finally
went to his bedroom and opened the door. She saw that the old doctor,
having removed the tie she didn't like, had continued the process of
undressing, and just as Mrs. Tellingham looked in, he climbed placidly
into bed."

"I can believe that," said Ann Hicks, when the laughter had subsided.

"And I can believe that both he and Mrs. Tellingham are just as worried
about the destruction of the dormitory as they can be," Nettie added. "All
their money is invested in the school, is it not?"

"Except that invested in the doctor's useless histories," said Mercy, who
was inclined to be most unmerciful of speech on occasion.

"Is there nobody to help them rebuild?" asked Ann, tentatively.

"Not a soul," declared Ruth.

"I believe I'll write to Uncle Bill Hicks. He'll help, I know," said Ann.
"Next to Heavy's Aunt Kate, Uncle Bill thinks that the finest woman on
this footstool is Mrs. Tellingham."

"And I'll ask papa for some money," Nettie said quickly. "I had that in
mind from the first."

"My father will give some," Helen said.

"We'll write to Madge Steele," said Belle. "Her father might help, too."

"I guess all our folks will be willing to help," Lluella Fairfax added.

"And," said Jennie, "here's Ruth, with a fortune in her own right."

But Ruth did not make any rejoinder to Jennie's remark and that surprised
them all; for they knew Ruth Fielding was not stingy.

"We are going about this thing in the wrong way, girls," she said quietly.
"At least, I think we are."

"How are we?" demanded Helen. "Surely, we all want to help Mrs.
Tellingham."

"And Old Briarwood," cried Belle Tingley.

"And all the students of our Alma Mater will want to join in," maintained
Lluella.

"Now you've said it!" cried Ruth, with a sudden smile. "Every girl who is
now attending the dear old Hall will want to help rebuild the West
Dormitory."

"All can give their mites, can't they?" demanded Jennie. "And the rich can
give of their plenty."

"That is just it," Ruth went on, still seriously. "Nettie's father will
give a good sum; so will Helen's; so will Mr. William Hicks, who is one of
the most liberal men in the world. Therefore, the little gifts of the
other girls' parents will look terribly small."

"Oh, Ruth! don't say that our folks can't give," cried Jennie, whose
father likewise wa