ay her and lest some of
her mates should find her out. She wanted to ask Lil Day or Annette
Gaynor what happened if you cut a special examination; but suppose they
should ask why she cared to know? That would put another knot into the
"tangled web" of her deception. It would have been some comfort to
discuss the possibilities of the situation with Betty, but Eleanor
denied herself even that outlet. No use reminding a girl that she
despises you! If only Betty would not look so sad and sympathetic and
inquiring when they met in the halls, in classes or at table. At other
times Eleanor barricaded herself behind a "Don't disturb" sign and
studied desperately and to much purpose. And every morning she hoped
against hope that Miss Mansfield would hear the geometry class.

The suspense lasted through the whole week. Then, just two days before
the vacation, Miss Mansfield reappeared and Eleanor asked timidly for an
appointment.

"Come to-day at two," began Miss Mansfield.

"Oh thank you! Thank you so much!" broke in Eleanor and stopped in
confusion.

But Miss Mansfield only smiled absently. "Most of my belated freshmen
don't express such fervent gratitude for my firmness in pushing them
through before the vacation. They try to put me off." She had evidently
quite forgotten the other appointment.

"I shall be so glad to have it over," Eleanor murmured.

Miss Mansfield looked after her thoughtfully as she went down the hall.
"Perhaps I've misjudged her," she told herself. "When a girl is so
pretty, it's hard to take her seriously."

She said as much to Ethel Hale when they walked home to lunch together,
but Ethel was not at all enthusiastic over Miss Watson's earnestness.

"She's very late in working off a condition, I should say," she observed
coldly.

"Yes, but I've been away, you know," explained Miss Mansfield. "Oh,
Ethel, I wish you could meet him. You don't half appreciate how happy I
am."

Ethel, who had decided after much consideration to let Eleanor's affairs
take their course, made a mental observation to the effect that an
engagement induces shortness of memory and tenderness of heart. Then she
said aloud that she also wished she might meet "him."

* * * * *

Time flies between Thanksgiving and Christmas, particularly for freshmen
who are looking forward to their first vacation at home. It flies faster
after they get there, and when they are back at college it r