out into the hall to greet Eleanor, who met them all
with the carefully restrained cordiality that she had used toward them
ever since the break with Betty. Yes, Bermuda had been charming, such
skies and seas. Yes, she was just a week late--exactly. No, she had not
seen the registrar yet, but she had heard last term that excuses weren't
being given away by the dozen.

"I met a friend of yours during vacation," began Betty timidly in the
first pause.

Eleanor turned to her unsmilingly. "Oh yes, Mrs. Payne," she said. "I
believe she mentioned it. I saw her last night in New York." Then she
picked up her bag and walked toward her room with the remark that late
comers mustn't waste time.

The next day at luncheon some one inquired again about her excuse.
Eleanor shrugged her shoulders. "Oh, that's all right; you needn't be at
all anxious. The interview wasn't even amusing. The week is to be
counted as unexcused absence--which as far as I can see means nothing
whatever."

"You may find out differently in June," suggested Mary, nettled by
Eleanor's superior air.

"Oh, June!" said Eleanor with another shrug. "I'm leaving in June, thank
the fates!"

"Perhaps you'll change your mind after spring term. Everybody says it's
so much nicer," chirped Helen.

"Possibly," said Eleanor curtly, "but I really can't give you much
encouragement, Miss Adams." Whereat poor Helen subsided meekly, scarcely
raising her eyes from her plate through the rest of the meal.

"Better caution your friend Eleanor not to air those sentiments of hers
about unexcused absences too widely, or she'll get into trouble," said
Mary Brooks to Betty on the way up-stairs; but Betty, intent on
persuading Roberta to come down-town for an ice, paid no particular
attention to the remark, and it was three weeks before she thought of it
again.

She found Eleanor more unapproachable than ever this term, but
remembering Nan's suggestion she resolved to bide her time. Meanwhile
there was no reason for not enjoying life to the utmost. Golf, boating,
walking, tennis--there were ten ways to spend every spare minute. But
golf usually triumphed. Betty played very well, and having made an
excellent record in her first game with Christy, she immediately found
herself reckoned among the enthusiasts and expected to get into trim for
the June tournament. Some three weeks after the beginning of the term
she went up to the club house in the late afternoon, intending to
pract