e same old hole-in-the-wall to
sleep in?"

"Go up and grab it, anyhow," advised her chum. "I'll bring the rest of
these things when I come. And don't fall down in one of the corridors
and go fast asleep, Belle, for I'll never be able to drag you off to
bed."

They trooped away, leaving Nancy and her bag practically alone on the
porch. Nancy had never realized that girls could be so hateful.

But she forgot that these were all sophomores, and the second-year girls
and freshmen at Pinewood Hall were as far apart as the poles.

The new girl went timidly into the hall. The chime of distant laughter
still came from the room where the new arrivals were eating their
evening meal, evidently under little discipline on this first night.

There seemed to be no real "greeny" but herself about. She saw several
girls pass and repass at the far end of the hall, and others mounted the
staircases; but at first nobody spoke to Nancy.

She was not naturally a timid girl; but all this was strange to her. She
faced a row of closed doors upon the side of the corridor opposite the
dining place. One of these might be the door of the principal's office;
but which one Nancy could not guess.

For five minutes she waited. Then suddenly she was aware of a tall and
very dark girl coming down one of the great staircases.

This newcomer must have been eighteen or nineteen--a "big girl" indeed
in Nancy's eyes. And such a pretty girl! The "greeny" had never in her
life seen so pretty a girl before.

She was dark, her eyes were black, her hair was banded about her head,
and her lips were so red that they might have been painted. But her
color was natural--cheeks as well as lips. A flashing, cheerful
countenance she turned on Nancy, and she said, before she reached the
foot of the stairs:

"You're a new girl, I am sure. Hasn't anybody spoken to you? Where do
you want to go?"

The mere tone of this girl's voice seemed to change the atmosphere that
had so depressed Nancy. That lump was in her throat again, but she
could smile at the serene beauty.

"I was told to see Madame Schakael--before having dinner. But I don't
know where to find her," confessed Nancy.

"Oh, that's easy," cried the other girl. "I'll show you. What is your
name, please?"

Nancy told her.

"I am Corinne Pevay," said the other, pronouncing her name in the French
manner. "I am a senior. I hope you will be happy here, Nancy Nelson."

"Thank you!" gasped the younger gir