nd her roommate were
strained. No further words concerning the order of the room passed between
them, but each time they dressed, whether for breakfast or dinner, Miss
Wilson made a point of looking about both rooms to see that each article
was as it should be. The very calmness of her manner was exasperating.
Elizabeth was hurt more by it than by words. She paid no attention to
Mary's vain efforts, for they had grown to be vain, as Elizabeth was
keeping the tightest kind of a rein on herself.

Each article of dress was hung in its proper place as it left her hand.
Each pencil went back to the pencil-holder even when she intended using it
in a few minutes. She did not grant herself a second's grace. Her efforts
were untiring during the first and second week. Many times she went back
from the door of the class-room to be sure that every article in her room
was where it should be.

Gradually she formed the habit of being orderly. It was but a few weeks
until she discovered that she put her clothes away without thinking about
it. She discovered, too, that she was actually saving time in not having
to hunt for anything.

Mrs. Schuyler, the preceptress, generally looked in upon the rooms while
the girls were at class. She was a dainty little widow, with a manner
which she supposed to be pleasant and ingratiating but which the girls
termed monotonously servile. Her expression was so exceedingly pleasant
that the students named her Mrs. Smiles.

One Saturday morning as she made her daily rounds, she found both
Elizabeth and Mary in their rooms.

"Miss Hobart, I must speak with you," she said, sweeping in, the long
train of her black house gown trailing after her. "I wish to commend you
on the improvement you have made in keeping your apartments in order. It
has been weeks since I have found an article out of place on your dresser;
and your closet has been in excellent order."

"You are very kind to tell me so," was the response. "But I take little
credit to myself for the improvement. I've had such an example and mentor
always before me that I could scarce be anything else but improved."

Miss Wilson stood by but gave no indication of hearing the remark until
Mrs. Smiles, smiling and bowing, dragged her train from the room. Then she
turned to Elizabeth.

"I scarcely expect you'll forgive me for the way I spoke that evening. But
I was provoked and--and--humiliated. Miss Watson has always been my ideal
and I did wish he