, Rhoda realised that there were
redeeming points in the situation. Small as it was, the cubicle was
decidedly pretty, and blue enough to satisfy the blondest of mistresses.
Blue was the paint on the walls, blue the mat on the floor, blue and
white the coverlet on the bed, blue the quaintly shaped china on the
wash-stand. She remembered with a thrill of satisfaction that her own
bags and cases were of the same hue, and took off her hat feeling that
she had found an oasis in the desert of life.

Half-an-hour seemed a long time to prepare for tea, when no change of
garment was possible, but it passed so quickly that the sound of the
gong came as a surprise, and she emerged from her retreat to find her
room-mates already filing towards the door. Thomasina led the way,
staring at Rhoda's locks with an amusement which the girl found it hard
to fathom. She had brushed out the curling mane with even greater care
than usual, and was conscious that it was as tidy as nature had intended
it should be. Then why stare and smile? She could not understand, but
Thomasina only said enigmatically--

"Gather ye rosebuds while ye may! Come on, Fuzzy!" and led the way out
into the corridor.

Lines of girls were appearing on every side--along this corridor, along
that, down narrow nights of stairs, around unexpected corners, all
converging steadily on the central staircase. It was like a game of
"Follow my leader," and Rhoda could not but admire the ease and skill
with which "Tom" avoided collision, and marshalled her party to its own
table in the great dining-hall. When every one was seated, and grace
said, the clatter of cups and saucers began, and Rhoda had her first
experience of a school meal.

Well! the tea was very welcome, and it certainly was hot, but somehow or
other it did not taste like the tea at home. There was so much "cup"
about it--perhaps that was the explanation. It was quite an effort to
get one's lips over the rim. Thickness seemed to be the order of the
day when one looked from the china to the slices of bread and butter
piled in the many plates. One such chunk would make a meal in itself,
thought Rhoda, nibbling fastidiously at the first slice, but whether
from the fatigue of the long journey or the stimulating effect of
companionship, her appetite seemed to be unusually keen, and when it was
finished she put out her hand to take a second slice.

Instantly Thomasina's voice rang out in warning. "Stop