There was no hesitancy in Miss Sutherland's answer. "I can't afford to waste any more money on things for my room, and I shan't put up my mother's work for those fools to laugh at, so I guess the sitting-room, as you call it, will likely stay as it is." Dolly felt uncomfortable. Miss Sutherland had a way of putting things that made one seem very small. It was clear, from the tone of her voice, that she worshiped her mother, and Dolly could see how the ridicule of her mother's handiwork had hurt the girl's feelings. "You must remember," she said gently, "that the sitting-room is as much yours as mine. Forgive me if I had seemed to take complete possession of it before you came." "That won't matter, I guess; I don't suppose I shall be in it much, anyway. I don't seem to belong there." The dinner-gong sounded at that moment, and Miss Sutherland went into the hall, Dolly following in a very perturbed frame of mind. "I will take you to Professor Newton now," she remarked as they reached the dining-room door. "I don't reckon that you need to, I know Professor Newton," Miss Sutherland returned, with the queer little smile that Dolly again failed to note. "Oh, you met her when you came, did you? Good-bye, then, for a few minutes," and Dolly crossed the room to Miss Randall's table, where Elizabeth was waiting for her. Their seats were next each other, and after the meal had fairly commenced, Dolly told her all that had transpired up in her room. Elizabeth gave a soft whistle. "I pity you, my dear; you see you have a tender conscience, and you are going to bother yourself about Miss Sutherland all of the time. Now, if I were you, I should never give her another thought, especially as your room has returned to its normal condition." "You slander yourself," Dolly retorted, "didn't you act the part of a good Samaritan to me?" "Oh, you--you are different! Don't you know that you are going to be one of the most popular girls here? You are pretty and bright, and friendly with everyone." "Hush up, Beth." "How came you to call me that?" Elizabeth's tone was queer, and Dolly turned to look at her. "'Beth,' do you mean? It is often a nickname of Elizabeth, you know, and I have always loved the name since the days of Miss Alcott's 'Little Women.' Don't you like it?" "Yes, I like it, but no one has called me by it for years, and when you said it just now, I felt absolutely startled." "I will not use it again if you would rather I did not." "I would rather that you did, however," and then Elizabeth joined in the general conversation around the table. Dolly wondered if she did it to avoid further questioning. The college soon settled down to the regular routine of work. Before a month had passed, the Freshmen knew who their best students were, and who stood a chance of being elected class officers. The other three classes had held their elections at the end of the first fortnight, their old officers holding over until that time.