s!' said Margie. 'Soap, Miss Russell.'

"The Principal looked at her a minute, and then I suppose she smelt the
chocolate. She told her to wait, and then she went into her own room and
came out with a little cake of tar soap--sample cake--that looked for
all the world like chocolate soap.

"'Pray try this!' she said, as grave as a judge. 'I am sure you will
find it excellent. I must insist upon your trying it, since you have a
taste for soap.'

"Poor Margie! she had a good deal of pluck, and when she saw there was
no help for it, she took a bite of the soap. But it was too horrid; she
couldn't swallow it. She choked, and ran to her own room; the Principal
followed her, and then the whole story came out. Margie never told us
just what Miss Russell said. The chocolate was sent to the Orphans' Home
next day, and she was a pretty serious girl for some time after. So now
you know why that room is called the Soap Factory."

"That's a splendid story!" cried Peggy. "Why, I think this is great. Did
this room have a name, too? I'm sure it must have! Do tell me what it
is!"

A queer look crossed the dark girl's face.

"It has been called Broadway!" she said. "I hope it may be changed now."
She hesitated, and was about to speak again, when two girls came along
arm in arm.

"Look!" said Bertha Haughton. "There are your opposite neighbours,
Vanity and Vexation of Spirit. I'll call them over and introduce them."

"Oh, please don't!" cried Peggy, under her breath, catching her
companion's arm. But it was too late.

"V. V.," called Bertha, in her clear, hearty voice, "come and be
introduced to Miss Montfort."

The girls turned and came forward, one eagerly, the other rather
unwillingly.

"Miss Viola Vincent, Miss Vivia Varnham," said Bertha Haughton, "this is
Miss--Peggy, did you say?--Miss Peggy Montfort."

Miss Varnham simply bowed, but Viola Vincent advanced with outstretched
hand.

"How do you _do_?" she cried; and she lifted Peggy's hand to the level
of her chin, and shook it gently from side to side. "Awfully glad to see
you! It's been too perfectly horrid to have this room empty; hasn't it,
V?"

"A great bore!" assented Miss Varnham, who looked thoroughly bored
herself.

Both girls had entered the room, and were standing, looking about them.
Peggy stood, too, feeling unspeakably shy and awkward, and not knowing
what to say. Bertha Haughton gave her a quick, friendly glance, and made
a slight motion with her h