"First," Blue Bonnet said. "I have answered that question fifty times to-day. I believe I'll have a placard printed and hang it round my neck." "It might save breath during the next few days," Sue remarked. "Everybody you meet will ask you that. It sort of breaks the ice." Blue Bonnet put down her tea cup and rose. "It was awfully good of you girls to be so nice to me to-day. I appreciate it ever so much. I think I must go now. Carita will be looking for me. Come and see me, won't you? I'm in number ten"--she nodded toward Deborah Watts. "Not being a Senior I can't make you tea, but I might manage to have some crackers and Eagle milk. Good-by." CHAPTER VI NEW FRIENDS Blue Bonnet found Carita up in her room, the centre of an admiring group. Refreshments, here, as in the corridor below, seemed to be in order. Mary rose from a shoe-box which she was occupying, and offered it to Blue Bonnet. Several other girls rose also and offered their chairs. Blue Bonnet took the shoe-box and acknowledged the introductions. The girls were all about Carita's own age--between fifteen and sixteen. Carita reached over and touched the girl nearest her. "Here's a girl as far away from home as we are, Blue Bonnet. She's from California--Los Angeles." Blue Bonnet turned her attention for a moment to the girl--Isabel Brooks. Isabel's eyes were red and swollen. She dropped her head as Blue Bonnet looked at her, and her breast heaved. "Now, now!" Mary Boyd said, springing up from the bed on which she had perched. "Don't you cry any more. You'll be sick if you do, and they'll put you in the Infirmary. Here, eat some more candy." Isabel refused the candy and continued her sobbing. One or two others around the room, moved by Isabel's weeping, commenced to cry also. Mary seemed helpless. "Oh, dear," she said, and her own lip began to quiver, "they always do it--these new girls! They get us every last one started." Blue Bonnet looked at Carita. Tears were in her eyes, and, even as Blue Bonnet looked, her head went down in her hands and she, too, began to sob. Blue Bonnet rose to the occasion instantly. It was like a call to arms--the sight of those lonely children. She looked at her watch. "We have twenty minutes yet, to visit. Let's play a game. I know a fine one. Come on, everybody." There was not the slightest response. Mary Boyd took hold of Isabel and dragged her to her feet. Then she roused the others. "Come on," she said. "You've got to play, whether you want to or not. How do you do it--Miss--" "Call me Blue Bonnet." The girls stood up listlessly--a sorry looking group. "You can sit down," Blue Bonnet announced. "You don't have to stand--just keep your eyes on me. You are each of you a musical instrument." She went round and whispered something in the ear of each girl.