er grip on the leather bag and it rolled onto the
platform. Instantly Marjorie hurried to her, followed by Jerry. Leila
and Vera were genially shaking hands with two seniors who were also
behind the main body of the crowd in leaving the train.

"Oh!" exclaimed a dismayed voice, as the traveler's feet found the solid
platform.

Marjorie had already recovered the leather bag. Nor was she a second too
soon. Joan Myers had lagged behind her companions to talk to a senior
who had just come off the train. She had also seen the solitary arrival.
She had not failed to note the girl's ultra smart appearance and
consequently decided to take charge of her. Utterly ignoring the fact
that Marjorie had retrieved the rolling grip, Joan grandly held out her
hand to the newcomer.

"Freshman?" she inquired, in sweet tones. "So glad to welcome you to
Hamilton. Do let me help you. A number of my friends and myself are
making a point of welcoming freshman arrivals. Just come with me and I
will see that you are taken care of."

Forgetful for the fraction of an instant of the gracious role she was
essaying, Joan flashed Marjorie a contemptuous glance. It said more
plainly than words: "You are not wanted here."

Well aware of it, Marjorie stood her ground. She was still in possession
of the bag. Joan's interruption had given her no time either to greet
the traveler or return her property.

"Thank you. I am expecting a cousin of mine to meet me." The girl
responded courteously, but with a trace of reserve. "Perhaps you know
her. She is Miss Page of Silverton Hall."

"I know who she is. I believe I have met her." A dull tide of red
mounted to Joan's cheeks. "So long as you are to be met by _her_ I won't
intrude. So pleased to have met you, I'm sure." With this hasty and
insincere assurance, Joan beat a rapid retreat, leaving Marjorie, Jerry
and the freshman to their own devices.

"I don't believe she can be a very intimate friend of Robin's," calmly
commented the girl, a slightly mocking light in her pretty blue eyes.

"She isn't," was Jerry's blunt answer, "but we are. If you are willing
to take our word for it, we shall be glad to see you to Hamilton
College. I heard yesterday that Robin was back, but we haven't seen her
yet. I am Geraldine Macy and this is my friend Marjorie Dean."

"I have heard of both of you from Robin. I spent two weeks with her at
Cape May this summer. Now I know I am in the hands of friends. Tell you
the tru