CHAPTER II

INTRODUCTIONS


"Oh, my auntie!" murmured Amelia Boggs, using most uncommendable
slang. "Stung!"

But Laura Polk, if inclined to be boisterous and rather rude in her
jokes, was by no means petty. She burst into such a good-natured
and disarming laugh that the girl in brown was forced to join her.

"There, Laura," said Bess Harley, "the biter for once is the
bitten. I hope you are properly overcome."

Nan Sherwood likewise hastened to offer the new girl her hand.

"I am glad to greet you, Rhoda Hammond," she said sympathetically.
"You must not mind our animal spirits. We just do slop over at this
time, my dear. Wait till you see how gentle and decorous we have to
be after the semester really begins. This is only letting off
steam, you know."

"Do you meet all newcomers with the same grade of hospitality?"
asked Rhoda Hammond, with more than a little sarcasm in both her
words and tone.