anxiously.

"Ten minutes past eight by my watch, but I think it's a little slow,"
said Bonnie.

"I am afraid you're going to be late for your lecture," said Priscilla.
"It seems a pity to waste it. Suppose you tell it to us instead."

"Yes, do," urged Bonnie. "I just dote on the Roman Forum."

The lecturer preserved a dignified silence, which was broken only by the
croaking of the frogs and the occasional remarks of the two detectives.
She had relinquished all hope of ever seeing the Archaeological Society,
and had philosophically resigned herself to the prospect of sitting on
the fence all night, when suddenly there burst out from across the
campus a song of victory, mingled with cheers and inarticulate yells.

At the first sound, Bonnie and Priscilla tumbled down from the fence,
bringing the lecturer with them, and, each grasping her by a hand, they
started to run. "Come on and see the fun," they laughed. "You're
perfectly welcome; it's no secret any more." And, in spite of breathless
protestations that she much preferred to walk, Miss Henderson found
herself dashing across the campus in the direction of the sounds.

Heads suddenly appeared in the dormitory windows, doors banged, and
girls came running from every quarter with excited exclamations: "The
sophomores are having their tree ceremonies!" "Where are the freshmen?"
"Why didn't they get there?"

A crowd quickly gathered in the shadow of the trees and watched the
scene with laughing interest. A wide circle of colored lanterns swayed
in the breeze, and, within, a line of white-robed figures wound and
unwound about a tiny tree to the music of a solemn chant.

"Isn't it pretty? Aren't you glad we brought you?" Bonnie demanded as
they pushed through the crowd.

The lecturer did not answer, for she caught sight of the Latin professor
hurrying toward them.

"Miss Henderson! I was afraid you were lost. It is nearly half-past
eight. The audience has been waiting, and we have been filling in the
time with reports."

For a moment the lecturer was silent, being occupied with an amused
scrutiny of the faces of her captors; and then she rose to the occasion
like a lady and a scholar, and delivered a masterly apology, with never
a reference to her sojourn on the fence.

Bonnie and Priscilla stared at each other without a word, and as Miss
Henderson was led away to the remnants of her audience Patty suddenly
appeared.

"Good evening, Mr. Sherlock Holmes and Dr.