rd distinctly. Mrs. Elwood rapped sharply on the door. The footsteps
halted; after a few seconds the sound began again.

"She thinks we have come back," whispered Elfreda.

"So we have," smiled Grace, "with reinforcements."

Her smile was reflected on the faces of her friends. Mrs. Elwood,
however, did not smile. Two red spots burned high on her cheeks, her
little blue eyes snapped. Again she knocked, this time accompanying the
action with: "Open this door, instantly. Mrs. Elwood wishes to speak
with you."

"Do not imagine that you can gain entrance to this room through any such
pretense," announced a contemptuous voice from the other side of the
door. "I believe I stated that I did not wish to be disturbed."

"And I state that you must open the door," commanded Mrs. Elwood. "You
are not addressing one of the students. This is Mrs. Elwood."

A grating of the key in the lock followed, then the door was cautiously
opened far enough to allow a scowling head to be thrust out. The instant
the Anarchist's narrowed eyes rested on Mrs. Elwood her belligerent
manner changed. She swung the door wide, remarking in cold apology;
"Pray, pardon me, Mrs. Elwood. I believed that a number of rude,
ill-bred young women whom I had the misfortune to encounter earlier in
the day were renewing their attempts to annoy me."

"There are no such young women at Wayne Hall," retorted Mrs. Elwood, who
was thoroughly angry. "The majority of the young women here were with me
last year, and not one of them answers your description. Really, Miss
Atkins, you must know that you are trespassing. This room belongs to
Miss Harlowe and Miss Pierson. It was theirs last year and they arranged
with me last June to occupy it again during their sophomore year. How
you happened to be here is more than I can say. I believe I gave you the
room at the end of the hall."

"The room to which you assigned me did not meet with my approval," was
the calm reply. "I prefer this room."

"You can't have it," returned Mrs. Elwood decisively.

"But I insist upon remaining where I am," persisted the intruder. "If
necessary, I will allow Miss Harlowe or her roommate to occupy the other
half of the room."

"I have told you that you can not have the room," exclaimed Mrs. Elwood,
eyeing her obstinate antagonist with growing disfavor. "If you do not
wish to take the room at the end of the hall, then I have nothing else
in the house to offer you. No doubt you can find board