the clock, and Betty blushed and twisted and wished she could
have seen Miss Mansfield before class. The delayed interview was
beginning to seem very formidable. But it wasn't, after the first
plunge.

"What an absurd story!" laughed Miss Mansfield. "Not a word of truth in
it, of course. Why I don't believe the girl who started it thought it
was true. How long has it been in circulation?"

Betty counted the days. "I didn't really believe it," she added shyly.

"But you worried," said Miss Mansfield, smiling down at her. "Next time
don't be taken in one little bit,--or else come to headquarters sooner."

Eleanor and Miss Madison were waiting outside the door when Betty dashed
at them with a little squeal of ecstasy. There was a moment of rapturous
congratulation; then Miss Madison picked up the note-book she had
dropped and held out her hand solemnly to Betty.

"You've--why I think you've saved my life," she said, "and now I must go
to my next class."

"You're a little hero," added Eleanor, catching Betty's arm and rushing
her off to a recitation in Science Hall.

Roberta received the joyful news more calmly. "We may any of us flunk
our mid-years yet," she said.

"But we can study for them in peace and comfort," said Adelaide Rich.

Mary Brooks asked endless questions at luncheon. Did the girls all
accept Miss Mansfield's denial as authoritative? Did it travel as fast
as the original story had done? How did people think the rumor had
started?

"Why, nobody mentioned that," said Rachel in surprise. "How odd that we
shouldn't have wondered!"

"Shows your sheep-like natures," said Mary, rising abruptly. "Well, now
I can finish my psychology paper."

"Haven't you worked on it any?" inquired Betty.

"Oh, yes, I made an outline and developed some topics last night. But I
couldn't finish until to-day. I was so worried about you children."

Toward the end of the next week Rachel came in to dinner late and in
high spirits. "I've had such a fine walk!" she exclaimed. "Hester Gulick
and I went to the bridge, and on the way back we overtook a senior named
Janet Andrews. She is such fun. She'd walked down-town with Professor
Hinsdale. He teaches psychology, doesn't he? They seem to be very good
friends, and he told her such a funny thing about the fifty-freshmen
story. How do you suppose it started?"

"Oh, please tell us," cried everybody at once.

"Why, an awfully clever girl in his sophomore class started it as a