the fence with us and admire the stars;
it's a lovely night."

The lecturer cast an alarmed glance toward the fence, which appeared to
have an unusually narrow top rail. "You are very kind," she stammered,
"but I really can't stop. The girl will be waiting."

"Who is the girl?" they inquired.

"I don't know that I remember her name."

"Mildred Connaught?" Bonnie suggested.

"No; I don't think that is it, but I really can't say. I have only just
met her."

Miss Henderson was growing more and more puzzled. In her day the
students had not been in the habit of way-laying strangers with
invitations to go walking and sit on fences.

"Ah, _do_ stay with us," Bonnie begged, laying a hand on her arm. "We're
lonely and want some one to talk to--we'll tell you a secret if you do."

"I am sorry," Miss Henderson murmured confusedly, "but--"

"We'll tell you the secret anyway," said Bonnie, generously, "and I'm
sure you'll be interested. The sophomores are going to have their tree
ceremonies to-night!"

"And you know," Priscilla broke in, "that the freshmen really ought to
attend them too--it doesn't matter if they aren't invited. But where do
you suppose the freshmen are to-night? They're attending a foolish
little lecture on the Roman Forum."

"And though we don't wish to seem insistent," Bonnie added, "we should
really like to have your company until the lecture is over."

"Until the lecture is over! But I am the lecturer," gasped Miss
Henderson.

Bonnie grinned delightedly. "I am happy to meet you," she said, with a
bow. "And perhaps you do not recognize us. I am Mr. Sherlock Holmes, and
this is my friend Dr. Watson."

Dr. Watson bowed, and remarked that it was an unexpected pleasure. He
had often heard of the famous lecturer, but had never hoped to meet her.

Miss Henderson, who was not very conversant with recent literature,
looked more dazed than ever. It flashed across her mind that there was
an insane asylum in the neighborhood, and the thought was not
reassuring.

"We'll not handcuff you," said Bonnie, magnanimously, "if you'll come
with us quietly."

The lecturer, in spite of fervid protestations that she was a lecturer,
presently found herself sitting on the fence, with a girl on either side
grasping an elbow. A light was beginning to break upon her, together
with a poignant realization of the fact that she was seeing more of the
real college life than she cared for.

"What time is it?" she asked