"Why, Helen; without asking Mrs. Tellingham?" cried Ruth.

"I suppose Tom and some of his chums could _happen_ to go to Triton
Lake the same day we went; couldn't they?" Helen asked, laughing.
"Dear me, Ruthie! Don't you begin to act the Miss Prim--please! We'll
have no fun at all if you do."

"But we don't want to make the bad beginning of getting Mrs. Tellingham
and the teachers down on us right at the start," said Ruth, in a
worried manner.

"I don't know but that you _are_ a Miss Prim!" ejaculated Helen.

Ruth thought, probably, from her tone of voice, that Helen had heard
some of her friends among the Upedes already apply that term to her,
Ruth. But she said nothing--only shook her head. However, the girl
from the Red Mill did her best to dodge any subject in the future that
she thought might cause Helen to compare her unfavorably with the girls
next door.

For Ruth loved her chum dearly--and loved her unselfishly, too. Helen
and Tom had been so kind to her in the past--all through those
miserable first weeks of her life at the Red Mill--that Ruth felt she
could never be really angry with Helen. It only made her sorrowful to
think that perhaps Helen, in this new and wider school life, might
drift away from her.

The regular program of the working days of the school included prayers
in the chapel before the girls separated for their various classes.
These were held at nine o'clock. But on Sunday Ruth found that
breakfast was an hour later than usual and that at ten o'clock several
wagonettes, besides Old Dolliver's Ark, were in waiting to take those
girls who wished to ride to the churches of the several denominations
located in Lumberton. A teacher, or a matron, went in each vehicle,
and if any of the girls preferred to walk in pleasant weather there was
always a teacher to walk with them--for the distance was only a mile.

Dinner was at half-past one, and at three there was a Sabbath School,
conducted by Mrs. Tellingham herself, assisted by most of the teachers,
in the large assembly hall. At night there was a service of music and
a lecture in the chapel, too. The teacher of music played the organ,
and there was a small string orchestra made up of the girls themselves,
and a chorus to lead the singing.

This service Ruth found delightful, for she had always loved music and
never before had she had the opportunity of studying it under any
teacher. Her voice was sweet and strong, however; and s