think Dorothea-- I mean Miss Heath-- plain. No, I won't say any more.
You must find out for yourself. But now, about the rules. I don't mean
the printed rules. We have, I assure you, at St. Benet's all kinds of
little etiquettes which we expect each other to observe. We are
supposed to be democratic and inclined to go in for all that is
advanced in womanhood. But, oh dear, oh dear! let any student dare to
break one of our own little pet proprieties, and you will see how
conservative we can be."

"Have I broken any of them?" asked Priscilla in alarm. "I did notice
that every one stared at me when I came into the hall, but I thought
it was because my face was fresh, and I hoped people would get
accustomed to me by and by."

"You poor, dear child, there are lots of fresh faces here besides
yours. You should have come down under the shelter of my wing, then it
would have been all right."

"But what have I done? Do tell me. I'd much rather know."

"Well, dear, you have only come into the hall by the dons' entrance,
and you have only seated yourself at the top of the table, where the
learned students who are going in for a tripos take their august
meals. That is pretty good for a fresher. Forgive me, we call the new
girls freshers for a week or two. Oh, you have done nothing wrong. Of
course not, how could you know any better? Only I think it would be
nice to put you up to our little rules, would it not?"

"I should be very much obliged," said Priscilla. "And please tell me
now where I ought to sit at dinner."