At this moment a soft, plump little hand was slipped into hers and the sweetest of voices said: 

“I am so sorry anything has seemed unkind to you.  Believe me, we are not what you imagine.  We have our fun and our prejudices, of course, but we are not what you think we are.”

Priscilla could not help smiling, nor could she resist slightly squeezing the fingers which touched hers.

“You are not unkind, I know,” she answered; and she ate the rest of her dinner in a comforted frame of mind.

After dinner one of the lecturers who resided at Heath Hall, a pleasant, bright girl of two- or three-and-twenty, came and introduced herself, and presently took Priscilla with her to her own room, to talk over the line of study which the young girl proposed to take up.  This conference lasted some little time, and then Priscilla, in the lecturer’s company, returned to the hall for tea.

A great many girls kept coming in and out.  Some stayed to have tea, but most helped themselves to tea and bread and butter and took them away to partake of in their own private rooms.

Maggie Oliphant and Nancy Banister presently rushed in for this purpose.  Maggie, seeing Priscilla, ran up to her.

“How are you getting on?” she asked brightly.  “Oh, by-the-by, will you cocoa with me to-night at half-past ten?”

“I don’t know what you mean,” answered Priscilla.  “But I’ll do it,” she added, her eyes brightening.

“All right, I’ll explain the simple ceremony when you come.  My room is next to yours, so you’ll have no difficulty in finding me out.  I don’t expect to have any one present except Miss Banister,” nodding her head in Nancy’s direction, “and perhaps one other girl.  By-by, I’ll see you at half-past ten.”

Maggie turned to leave the hall, but Nancy lingered for a moment by Priscilla’s side.

“Wouldn’t you like to take your tea up to your room?” she asked.  “We most of us do it.  You may, you know.”

“I don’t think I wish to,” answered Priscilla in an uncertain voice.

Nancy half turned to go, then came back.

“You are going to unpack by and by, aren’t you?” she asked.

“Oh, yes, when I get back to my room.”

“Perhaps you ought to know beforehand; the girls will be coming to call.”

Priscilla raised her eyes.

“What girls?” she asked, alarm in her tone.

“Oh, most of the students in your corridor.  They always call on a fresher the first night in her room.  You need not bother yourself about them; they’ll just talk for a little while and then go away.  What is the matter, Miss Peel?  Maggie has told me your name, you see.”

“What you tell me sounds so very—­ very formal.”

“But it isn’t—­ not really.  Shall I come and help you to entertain them?”

“I wish——­” began Priscilla.  She hesitated; the words seemed to stick in her throat.