and the 'bus rumbled on. The drive was
winding and the trees soon hid the lighted lodge.

But other bright lamps began to appear ahead. By stooping, as she clung
to one of the hand-straps, Nancy was able to descry the outlines of
several big buildings--or a huge building with several wings; she did
not know which it was, and did not feel like inquiring.

Indeed, after entering the 'bus she had not spoken to the girls at all.
Some of them had thrown a question at her now and then, but it had been
either an impudent or an unkind one, and she had grimly held her tongue.

At last the 'bus stopped at the foot of a wide flight of steps. A great
awning of glass and iron sheltered the porch and steps. Under this
burned a bright light, and within the building Nancy could see a great
hall with two staircases rising out of it.

This was indeed a very different place from Higbee School, with its
cottages and one small recitation hall.

"Come on! You get out first, Greeny," commanded one girl. "You were the
last sardine shoved into this awful box. Move; can't you?"

Nancy rescued her bag from under their feet and staggered out of the
door of the 'bus. The other girls piled after her.

There were very few on the porch to receive them; boisterousness would
not have been allowed here. But there were lights in a long room at one
side--Nancy could see them shining through the windows--and a rattle of
china and glass, and loud talking and laughter, pointed the way to the
dining room.

"But you're on starvation diet, Greeny," said one of the girls, with a
malicious laugh. "No dinner for you till you've seen the Madame."

At that moment considerable disturbance was raised over the fact that
the 'bus was driving off with one of the girls still in it.

"Let Belle Macdonald out! I told you she was asleep in there," cried one
of the sophs, running after the driver through the puddles.

He pulled up and they managed to rouse Miss Macdonald, who was a fat
girl with innumerable bags and parcels. She staggered out of the 'bus,
dropping sundry of her impedimenta, sleepy and yawning.

"I don't care, girls. I was up all last night at a party at home, and I
haven't slept much for a week," she said, heavily. "Come on, Judy. You
bring part of my things; will you?"

"Come on in to dinner," said the girl who helped the sleepy one.

"Believe _me_! I'd be asleep in a minute. I'm going to tumble into bed.
Anybody know if Judy and I have got th