"You're just in time, Beatrice," returned Mabel Ashe. "I wish you to
meet Miss Harlowe, Miss Nesbit, and Miss Pierson, all of Oakdale. Girls,
this is Miss Alden, also of the junior class."

Beatrice Alden smiled condescendingly, and shook hands in a somewhat
bored fashion with the three girls. "Pleased to meet you," she drawled.
"Hope you'll be good little freshmen this year and make no trouble for
your elders."

"We shall try to mind our own affairs, and trust to other people to do
the same," flashed Miriam, eyeing the other girl steadily.

Grace looked at her friend in surprise. What had caused Miriam to answer
in such fashion? There was an almost imperceptible lull in the
conversation, then Mabel Ashe introduced the other girls. "Now we will
see about your trunks, and then perhaps you would like to walk up to the
college," she said briskly. "It isn't far from here. Some of the girls
prefer to ride in the bus, but I always walk. I can show you some of the
places of interest as we go."

"Come over here, Mabel, dear," commanded Beatrice Alden, who had moved a
little to one side of the group. Mabel excused herself to her charges,
and looking a little annoyed, obeyed the summons. Beatrice talked
rapidly for a moment in coaxing tones, but Mabel shook her head. Grace,
who stood nearest to them, heard her say, "I'd love to go, Bee, and its
awfully nice in you to think of me. I'll go to-morrow, but I can't leave
these poor stranded freshmen to their own homesick thoughts to-day. You
know just how we felt when we landed high and dry in this town without
any one to care whether we survived or perished."