greed Eleanor, getting up stiffly. "Oh, Betty, I am glad
I'm not out there hanging on to that branch and shivering and wondering
how soon I should have to let go and end it all. Oh, I shall never
forget the feel of that stifling mist."

They walked home almost in silence. Katherine, missing the murmur of
conversation, wondered if this last effort at reconciliation had failed
after all; but near Mrs. Chapin's the talk began again.

"I'm only sorry there isn't more of spring term left to have a good time
in. Why, Eleanor, there's only two weeks."

"But there's all next year," answered Eleanor.

"I thought you weren't coming back."

"I wasn't, but I am now. I've got to--I can't go off letting people
think that I'm only a miserable failure. The Watson pride won't let me,
Betty."

"Oh, people don't think anything of that kind," objected Betty
consolingly.

"I know one person who does," said Eleanor with decision, "and her name
is Eleanor Watson. I decided while I was out there waiting for you that
one's honest opinion of herself is about as important as any outsider's.
Don't you think so?"

"Perhaps," said Betty gaily. "But the thing that interests me is that
you're coming back next year. Why, it's just grand! Shall you go on the
campus?"

CHAPTER XX

LOOSE THREADS

Betty Wales had to leave her trunk half packed and her room in
indescribable confusion in order to obey a sudden summons from the
registrar. She had secured a room on the campus at last, so the brief
note said; but the registrar wished her to report at the office and
decide which of two possible assignments she preferred.

"It's funny," said Betty to Helen, as she extracted her hat from behind
the bookcase, where she had stored it for safe keeping, "because I put
in my application for the Hilton house way back last fall."

"Perhaps she means two different rooms."

"No, Mary says they never give you a choice about rooms, unless you're
an invalid and can't be on the fourth floor or something of that kind."

"Well, it's nice that you're on," said Helen wistfully. "I don't suppose
I have the least chance for next year."

"Oh, there's all summer," said Betty hopefully. "Lots of people drop out
at the last minute. Which house did you choose?"

"I didn't choose any because Miss Stuart told me I would probably have
to wait till junior year, and I thought I might change my mind before
then."

"It's too bad," said Betty, picking her way betw