hese windows. They called back and forth to each other;
laughter rang happily from many of the dormitories; the waking life of
the great school seemed, to the lonely girl, very charming indeed.

Why, among all these girls there must be some who would be friendly!
This thought helped Nancy a great deal. She entered the building and
joined the beginning of the line at the breakfast-room door, much
encouraged.

"Look at these hungry young ones," exclaimed Corinne Pevay, coming down
the broad stair from the West Side, like a queen descending to give
audience to her subjects.

"Morning, Corinne! Morning, Miss Pevay!" were the cries of greeting.

"'Good morning, little myrtle-blossoms! Let me tell you mommer's plan!'"
sing-songed the older girl. "'Do some good to all the folkses'--Hullo,
Carrie!"

"'Good-morn-ing-Car-rie!'" sang the crowd of girls at the dining-room
door as the captain of the East Side of the Hall appeared--Carrie
Littlefield.

There was a burst of laughter, and Corinne held up her hand
admonishingly.

"Not so much racket, children!" she said. "There! the gate is opened,
and you can all go in to pasture. Little lambkins!"

Nancy was carried on by the line to the open door. The pleasant-faced
woman who had stood in the doorway of the lodge the evening before, was
here, and she tapped Nancy on the shoulder.

"Go to the lower tables, my dear. You are a new girl, and all your
class will be down there. What is your name?"

"Nancy Nelson."

"Yes, indeed. Your trunk and bag are here. Between eight and nine you
may come to the trunk room in the basement and show me which of your
possessions you wish carried to your room. Where is your room?"

"Number 30," replied Nancy.

"East or West?"

"West, ma'am."

"I am Jessie Pease," said the good woman, smiling kindly on the orphan.
"If you need anything, my dear, come to Jessie; she's the big sister of
all you girls," and she patted Nancy on the head as the girl, her heart
warmed suddenly, went to her place at the end of the room.

The girls of her class--the incoming class of new girls, or
freshmen--took places at the table as they chose. There were no more
than a score as yet. Some had already formed groups of acquaintanceship.
Some few, like Nancy, were alone; but Nancy did not feel that she could
force her company on any one of these other lonesome souls. She must
wait for them to speak first to her.

The sophomores filled their tables nearby, chat