mber, Corinne, I mentioned to you when Nancy Nelson came that she
was one of the sensitive kind."

"And for that very reason the sensitive girls are hard to shake into
their places," declared the captain of the West Side. "And then, she
roomed with Cora, here, and I thought she was one of that crowd."

"I guess my crowd is just as good as yours!" ejaculated Cora, plucking
up the remnants of her courage.

"In my opinion, Madame Schakael," continued Corinne, ignoring Cora, "I'd
give this Rathmore girl another roommate. It would be a kindness to
Nancy."

At the moment Jennie Bruce entered with more abruptness than good
manners. But Jennie was excited.

"Oh, Madame Schakael! don't punish her any more!" she cried, running to
Nancy and throwing her arms about her.

Necessarily she dropped the bag. The Madame pointed to it.

"What is this, Miss Bruce?" she demanded.

"Let me tell you!" cried Jennie. "That's what I came in for, Madame.
These horrid girls--Rathmore and her tribe--have just hounded Nancy so
that she wanted to run away."

"Run away?" gasped the principal. "From Pinewood?"

"Yes, Madame! But then she remembered she was on honor to stay indoors;
so even after throwing her bag out of the window, she gave up the
intention. And let me tell you," added Jennie, storming with anger, "if
this stuck-up, silly Cora Rathmore doesn't want to room with Nancy, I
do!"

The excited girl turned to the sobbing Nancy and took her in her arms
again.

"Don't you mind what the others say to you, Nance!" she cried. "I'll
stick to you, you bet! And maybe some time we can solve the mystery,"
she added, in a whisper, "and find out who you are. _Then_ we'll make
'em all sorry they treated you so," for it seemed to be a foregone
conclusion with Jennie that Nancy would prove to be a very great person
indeed if her identity were once discovered.

"Dear, dear me!" exclaimed Madame Schakael, softly. But she really
smiled upon the excited Jennie. "I shall have to write to your mother,
Miss Bruce, after all, that you seem hopeless. You never _will_ be able
to restrain those over-abundant spirits of yours.

"But, my dear, I shall never have to tell that you are unkind. You have
solved this little problem, I believe. It would be undeserved punishment
to keep Miss Nelson in the room with Miss Rathmore any longer. In fact,
I believe that the punishment meted out to Miss Nelson already, and by
myself, has been too heavy.

"Two things