d the 'Marseillaise,' you know, is a thing that you
simply _can't_ make up on the spur of the moment. As for Greek, I told
you my own experience; I am sure nothing could be worse than that."

The freshmen looked at one another hopelessly. "There's only English
and hygiene and Bible history left."

"English is something you can't tell anything about," said Patty.
"They're as likely as not to ask you to write a heroic poem in iambic
pentameters, if you know what they are. You have to depend on
inspiration; you can't study for it."

"I hope," sighed Lady Clara, "to get through hygiene and Bible history,
though, as they only count one hour apiece, I suppose it isn't much."

"You mustn't be too sanguine," said Patty. "It all depends on chance.
The class in hygiene is so big that the professor hasn't time to read
the papers; he just goes down the list and flunks every thirteenth girl.
I'm not sure about Bible history, but I think he does the same, because
I know, freshman year, that I made a mistake and handed in my map of the
Holy Lands done in colored chalk to the hygiene professor, and my chart
of the digestive system to the Bible professor, and neither of them
noticed it. They did look a good deal alike, but not so much but what
you could tell them apart. All I have to say is that I hope none of you
will be number thirteen."

The freshmen stared at one another in speechless horror, and Patty rose.
"Well, good-by, my children, and, above all things, don't worry. I'm
glad if I've been able to cheer you up a little, for so much depends on
not being nervous. Don't believe any of the silly stories the sophomores
tell," she called back over her shoulder; "they're just trying to
frighten you."

X

"Per l'Italia"

College is a more or less selfish place. Everybody is so busy with her
own affairs that she has no time to give to her neighbor, unless her
neighbor has something to give in return. Olivia Copeland apparently had
nothing to give in return. She was quiet and inconspicuous, and it took
a second glance to realize that her face was striking and that there was
a look in her eyes that other freshmen did not have. By an unfelicitous
chance she was placed in the same study with Lady Clara Vere de Vere and
Emily Washburn. They thought her foreign and queer, and she thought them
crude and boisterous, and after the first week or two of politely trying
to get acquainted the effort was dropped on both sides.

The