think they were
talking of you. I said to myself then that they had misjudged you. So I
went home and wrote my letter to Mary. I told mother all about you, too,
and that I was going to be your friend, if you would let me. I want you
to come and see me and meet mother and father. As for the girls in the
freshman class, I'd like to be friends with them, too, but I couldn't do
anything so contemptible and unfair as to dislike a girl just because
they thought they did. Now, you know what I think about it. Are we
going to share our locker and our troubles and our pleasures?"

The tears flashed across Constance Stevens' eyes. Her hand slid into
Marjorie's, and thus began a friendship between the two freshmen that
was to defy time and change.

They separated on the next corner and, throwing dignity to the winds,
Marjorie raced up the long walk and into the house to see if her captain
was better.

"I came to report, Captain," she said gently as she tiptoed up to her
mother's bed. "How are you, dear?"

"Better, Lieutenant," returned her mother, kissing the pretty, flushed
face. "Now for the report."

"You are sure I won't make your head ache with my chatter?"

"No, dear; it is ever so much better now."

Marjorie went faithfully through with the events of the morning. "I had
to stand by my colors, Captain. I wouldn't be fit to be a soldier if I
didn't know how to stand fast. Just as though it makes any difference
whether a girl is rich or poor if she's a dear and one likes her. How
can some girls be so silly? They wouldn't be if they had Mary's and my
military training. When in doubt ask your captain."

She laughed gaily, then her merry glance changed to one of dismay. "Good
gracious! It's fifteen minutes to one. I'll have to eat my luncheon in
a hurry." With a hasty kiss Marjorie flitted from the room and down the
stairs to the dining-room.

After luncheon she lingered for a brief moment with her mother, then set
off for the afternoon session of school. But she could not help
wondering as she walked just how it would seem to be in the freshman
class but not of it.

CHAPTER VII

THE WARNING

The afternoon session of school passed uneventfully for Marjorie. She
had returned too late from luncheon to hold more than a few words of
conversation with the Picture Girl. In spite of the watchful espionage
of Miss Merton, whose eyes seemed riveted to her side of the room,
Muriel managed to convey to Marjorie the ne