r swate life," said Mrs. Foyle. "Come
back, now, darlin'. 'Tis a happy chance that none o' the young leddies bes
up there in thim burnin' rooms, so ut is."

"Oh, dear me! oh, dear me!" gasped Miss Picolet. "I presume it is
_posi-tive_ that there is nobody up there? Were all the mesdemoiselles at
supper this evening?"

"Yes, yes," said Mrs. Tellingham's own voice. "Miss Brokaw has called the
roll and there is none missing but our Ruthie. And now _you_ would better
run back, my dear," she added to Ruth. "You have no wrap or hat. I fear
you will take cold."

"I never noticed it," confessed Ruth. "I guess the excitement kept me
warm. But oh! how awful It is to see the old dormitory burn--and all our
things in it."

"We cannot help it," sighed the principal. "Go up to the hall with the
other girls, my dear. Here come the firemen. You may be hurt here."

The galloping of horses, blowing of horns, and shouting of excited men,
now became audible. The glare of the fire could probably be seen by this
time clear to Lumberton, and half the population of the suburbs on this
side of the town would soon be on the scene.

Not until the firemen actually arrived did the girls in the big hall know
what had happened. There had been singing and music and a funny recitation
by one girl, to while away the time until Mrs. Tellingham appeared. Just
as Ruth came in, her chum had her violin under her chin and was drawing
sweet sounds from the strings, holding the other girls breathless.

But the violin music broke off suddenly and several girls uttered startled
cries as the first of the fire trucks thundered past the windows.

"Oh!" shrieked somebody, "there is a fire!"

"Quite true, young ladies!" exclaimed Miss Brokaw, tartly. "And it is not
the first fire since the world began. Ruth has just come from it. She will
tell you what it is all about."

"Oh, Ruth!" cried Helen. "Is it the dormitory?"

"Give her time to speak," commanded the teacher.

"Which dormitory?" cried Heavy Stone.

"Now, be quiet--do," begged Ruth, stepping upon the platform, and
controlling herself admirably. "Don't scream. None of us can do a thing.
The firemen will do all that can be done"

"They'll about save the cellar. They always do," groaned the irrepressible
Heavy.

"It is our own old West Dormitory," said Ruth, her voice shaking. "Nothing
can be taken from the rooms upstairs. Only some of Miss Scrimp's and Miss
Picolet's things were saved."

"Oh,