The term was a busy one for all the girls. They had come to college, for the most part, at least, because they were inspired by a genuine love for knowledge. They had their times of recreation, of course, and their merry evenings in Dolly's room when they again made fudge and tea. Nevertheless, there was plenty of good, hard work done, and the Easter holidays found them all ready for a brief rest again. Mary went home with Dolly, and Beth would stop for one night on her return to college; but now, strangely enough, as it seemed to Beth herself, she could scarcely wait to get home. Beth had roomed alone since Margery Ainsworth's expulsion, and while Dolly often longed to get permission to move her possessions across the hall, and become Beth's room-mate, she was too truly fond of Mary by this time, to wish to hurt her feelings. So, while the girls often wished that they could room together, it did not seem possible, for the freshmen year at least. As commencement time drew near, the other students began to make arrangements for the next year. Rooms and room-mates were chosen, and everything gotten into readiness for the ensuing term. Dolly and Beth were talking it over one day, rather lugubriously, in Beth's room. "All the other girls have settled their plans, and I have been hoping that Mary would say something to me. She must know that we want to room together. Of course, I like her, but not as much as I like you. I am going to speak to her today, Beth." "I really think that that is the only thing left to be done; but we don't want to hurt her feelings, Dolly." "I'll try not to do that, Beth, but we must settle affairs." However, Mary herself introduced the weighty topic that evening, when the three were making tea. "Of course, I know that you two girls want to room together next year, but I hope that you have not spoken for a room yet." Dolly flushed a little. "We would not be very apt to make any arrangements without telling you, Mary. You ought to know that we don't do underhanded things." "Why, Dolly, I didn't mean to hurt your feelings at all, but I supposed you would room together. That was settled long ago, wasn't it? But I have a little scheme, too, that I trust you will like." "Tell us about it," and Dolly looked a trifle ashamed of her unnecessary heat. "Aunt Mary has her bedroom and sitting-room, of course, to herself, but opening onto her sitting-room from the other side is a small storeroom. The president says that I may have that as a bedroom if I wish, and I can use Aunt Mary's sitting-room. They will fit it up this summer. The college needs more rooms, anyway. Now beyond my room are some lovely rooms for you girls, if you want them. What do you say? I don't want to be selfish, but it did seem to me that it might be a lovely plan." "Lovely? It is grand! Superb! You are a duck and a darling, Mary, to have thought of it."