ld," grumbled Laura, when they
were on their way back to the dormitories. "Goodness, I wonder who ever
let her in, anyway."

"Oh, you'll soon get used to her," Rose assured them. She seemed to have
attached herself definitely to the girls, who, although they found her
amusing and interesting, would rather have been left to themselves on
this first day. "Everybody dislikes her at first--and Miss Ada,
too--but they only laugh at them after awhile. You see," she finished as
if the girls must understand, "we have Miss Walters."

"Well, all I have to say," said Laura, whose temper had been
considerably ruffled by this second of the "Twin Dill Pickles," "is that
it's lucky Miss Walters and not Miss Cora is at the head of things."

When the girls reached the dormitory they looked for the rules, found
them, and sat down eagerly to read them over together. First of all they
found that the dormitories, eleven in all, were lettered. The letter of
their dormitory was "C."

There were the usual rules about late hours, going outside the grounds
without leave, neglecting to wear rubbers in the rain, all with the
usual penalties attached. But the one that most interested the girls was
the punishment given for keeping lights on after hours.

"Three days without recreation and isolation in the dormitory for the
duration of that period," read Billie indignantly. "Goodness! I wonder
if all that happens to you if you keep your light on five minutes after
hours."

"It does if Miss Cora or Miss Ada catches you," drawled Rose, from where
she was curled up again on the foot of the bed watching the girls with
lazy interest. "Some of the teachers are all right. There's Miss Harris,
and Miss Race the math teacher. If they catch you just a few minutes
over time they'll give you a lecture and let you off without reporting
it to Miss Walters. But if it's any of the others--look out, that's
all."

A few minutes later Nellie Bane came in, bringing her new friend with
her, and for a little while the girls forgot all about rules and "Twin
Dill Pickles" and everything else and just had a good time.

Nellie's new acquaintance was a small fluffy little blonde whom the
girls liked right away. Her name was Constance Danvers, called "Connie"
for short, and the name seemed to suit her exactly. Of course, she and
Rose Belser, having spent the preceding year together, knew each other
well, but Billie noticed that the two girls did not seem over friendly.