Meade L. T. - The Girls of St. Wode's стр 25.

Pray come in, Miss Gilroy; you are heartily welcome, said Miss Colchester, jumping up, coming forward, and gazing hard at Leslie. She then extended an awkward hand.

I am glad to see you, she said. I hope you dont mind the room being in disorder. I have only just begun to unpack, and everything is helter-skelter. I was never tidy no, never! I begin to think I like things helter-skelter.

Oh, I dont mind, of course! answered Leslie; but her heart sank. In her mothers small house the motto impressed upon each child was the old-fashioned one: A place for everything, and everything in its place.

I suppose I shall have one side of the room to myself? she continued.

Marjorie and Eileen had been left on the landing. They overheard Leslies last somewhat despairing words, glanced at one another, and smiled. They were then conducted to their rooms at the farther end of the corridor.

This is your room, Miss Eileen, said Miss Payne. Miss Marjorie has an exact counterpart at the other side of the corridor. Behind this screen you will keep your washhand-stand. This sofa forms your bed at night. This chest of drawers is for your linen and the bodice of your dresses. Behind this curtain you will hang your skirts. Here is your writing-table. It remains with yourself to make your room pretty and neat, or the reverse. You may buy any ornaments in the way of pictures, or anything else you fancy. When you touch this handle you turn on the electric light. Would you care for a fire? Here are coal and wood for the purpose, and I will send in a servant to light it at once, if you wish.

No, thank you; it is quite a warm evening, replied Eileen. Is Marjories room just the same?

Precisely; but I think you have the prettier view.

Oh, how lovely! exclaimed Eileen. Do look, Marjorie; there is that great park in the distance, and the river down there. Oh, please She turned to speak to Miss Payne, but Miss Payne had already vanished.

Well, we are landed at last! she said, clasping her sisters hand. Does it not seem

almost too delightful?

Splendid! cried Marjorie. Do you know, Eileen, I have taken a fancy to that pretty Miss Gilroy?

So have I, answered Marjorie. But I expect she will have a bad time, poor dear, with Miss Colchester. Anyone can see Miss Gilroy is of the orderly sort. Now, I dont care a bit about having things in perfect order.

But, Marjorie, said Eileen, I have been reading up about that lately, and I think you and I ought to cultivate order very assiduously if we mean to be really useful women. Oh, by the way! our hair is beginning to grow; we must find a barber to-morrow in order to reduce our crops to the right length.

An inch and a half being the length permitted, said Marjorie, with a smile. I am curious to see poor old Belle. Lettie will have awful tales to tell of her. Well, this life is interesting, is it not, Eileen?

CHAPTER XII INKY ANNIE

I see by the build of your head and your figure that you are painfully tidy, she said. I had hoped that it might have been the will of Providence to allow a congenial spirit to share this room with me; but, evidently, that is not to be my lot. How much space do you require?

Half the room, I suppose, said Leslie.

Half! My dear, good creature, impossible! Dont you see that my things are everywhere? You will notice, too, that I am absorbed in study. I am working hard for mathematical honors, and I have only this term in which to prepare.

Surely a long time? said Leslie.

No time at all, I assure you. Come here; I will show you the list of books I have to get through. Oh, I declare, here comes your trunk two trunks. What do you want two trunks for? How perfectly fearful! Put them down, please, porter there, near the door. Now then, we had better settle this matter at once. You must promise that you will on no account encroach on my half of the room. I take this side with the bay window; you have the back, with the little side window. I require light for my work. I give you permission to keep your part, just there in the corner, as tidy as you please. Do you understand?

I shall certainly keep my part of the room tidy, said Leslie with some spirit. And may I ask what this screen is for?

Oh! you can use it or not as you please. It is supposed to hide the washhand-stand: most unnecessary in my opinion. Some of the students here even go the length of turning the chest of drawers, so that the drawers may face the wall; then they put an ornamental sort of piano-sheet over the back of the drawers, and make it look like a piece of ornamental furniture, ornamental instead of useful. Ridiculous! Does not one want to bang open a drawer, stuff in ones things, shut it again as quickly as possible, and then not give another thought to the matter? Surely there are untidy girls in the college: why was it my lot to have you sent to share my room you who are the very pink of neatness?

I see you are very sorry to have me, and, of course, I am sorry, too, that you should be put out, said Leslie, who thought it best to take the bull by the horns. But suppose, Miss Colchester suppose I, who may not have quite so much work to do at present as you have