fessor Van Buren gave me the sweetest thing to-day--a little
German composition. I want to work on it. It isn't hard, but the runs need
practice." She turned back to her music.

Elizabeth went on to find Miss O'Day. Their acquaintance had not gone
beyond that of class-room meetings and hall chats. She had never visited
the girl's rooms. She was surprised at their beauty and elegance. All the
Exeter girls had comfortable apartments, but this surpassed anything else
at the Hall. The draperies between the doors were of imported India
material; her tea-table showed many pieces of Royal Worcester; her extra
chairs were of fine cabinet woods. The occupant of the room was seated in
a low chair by the fire. She was already dressed for dinner. Since the
evening Dr. Morgan had sent her to her room because she had appeared in a
low-necked gown, her dressing had been less elaborate, yet by no means
could it be called simple.

Her hands were covered with rings. Her hair was piled high in quite the
fashion of a grown-up woman. It was more noticeable, perhaps, because the
younger students at Exeter wore their hair in girlish fashion.

She arose to greet Elizabeth, shaking her by the hand and leading her to a
chair. She was pleased that Elizabeth had called, yet her manner had a
certain icy courtesy about it which made her guest ill at ease.

"This is the first time you have come to see me," she said. "But I am glad
you have come at last. Sit here. This low chair is the most comfortable."

"I haven't time," said Elizabeth. Nevertheless she took the proffered
chair. "Your rooms are beautiful, Miss O'Day," she said. "As you say, this
is the first time I have been in them, but I had caught glimpses from the
hall of your pretty draperies and chairs. Your tea-table is a dream."

"Why haven't you come in before and seen it close at hand?" she asked.

Elizabeth knew no polite way of evading the question. She was not skilled
in the little methods of saying much and meaning little.

"You never came to see me," she replied, "and I fancied you did not care
to have me come, though you have always been very pleasant when I have met
you in the hall. But I supposed if you wanted to know me better, you would
have come to see me."

A peculiar expression passed over the hearer's face. She gave Elizabeth a
quick, questioning glance, as though she doubted the good faith of this
statement. But the glance satisfied her that her visitor was not acting