ntgomery girl and Cora Rathmore.

"I--I've _got_ to face 'em, I suppose," murmured Nancy. "I just thought
that I couldn't run away."

"Huh! why not?" asked her friend, curiously.

"Because Madame Schakael put me on my honor not to leave the Hall in
recreation hours without permission."

"Oh! goodness!" gasped Jennie. Then she burst out laughing, rocking
herself to and fro, doubled up in the darkness of the hallway.

"What a delightful kid you are, Nance!" she cried, at last. "And you
threw your handbag, all packed, out of the window?"

"Yes."

"Well, I'll go get it. But you certainly _will_ be the death of me!"
cried Jennie, and opened the door again.

"Oh! I'll thank you so much," whispered Nancy.

"Go on upstairs and put that coat and hat away," ordered Jennie, with
sudden gruffness. "You're no more fit to roam this wild desert of
boarding-school life alone than a baby in long clothes! Run, now!" and
Jennie darted out of the door.

But it was easier to say than to do! When Nancy stole back into the main
hall there were a dozen girls, at least, gathered there waiting for the
supper gong. And among them were some of those who had, all the time,
treated Nancy with the least consideration.

Nancy dropped her gaze, so as not to see their unpleasant looks, and
stole toward the stairway with her bundle. But suddenly Cora's sharp
voice halted her. She had not seen Cora at first.

"Yes! there she goes up to our room. _That's_ the girl _I_ have to room
with. But I'm going to tell Madame Schakael right now that I sha'n't do
so any longer."

Nancy's head came up and she flushed and paled. The lash of Cora's words
roused her temper as it had been roused once before. Yet all she said in
reply to the cruel speech was:

"Why can't you let me alone, Cora Rathmore?"

"I'll let you alone!" repeated Cora, with a shrill laugh. "I guess I
will. And every other _nice_ girl will let you alone, Miss Nelson. Don't
be afraid that you'll be worried by friends here. We all know what you
are now."

Nancy had reached the foot of the stairs and was starting up. She
whirled suddenly to face her tormentor. The coat and cap fell from her
grasp. She clenched her hands tightly and cried:

"Then what _am_ I, Cora? What have I done that makes me so bad in your
eyes? What have you got against me?"

"You're a nobody. You came from a charity school. The woman who is
principal doesn't know where you came from. Your parents may be in jail