Elizabeth shouted: "Of course she did. She doubtless supposed you were trying to be sarcastic. Well, never mind. Hear that awful gong? Dinner will be ready in five minutes now. Come down to the veranda, and I will tell you who some of the people are." Dolly was quite ready to go, and as they ran lightly down the steps, she confided in a whisper to Elizabeth her plan for the Sophomores' discomfiture. "You are a genius; I am sure that will work! Hurrah! Oh, Miss Randall, I want you to meet Miss Alden. Can't we sit at your table tonight?" "Of course you can, I shall be very glad to have you. Miss Alden, I know that you are going to do fine work here, your entrance examinations were most excellent." Then she passed on, leaving Dolly happy and Elizabeth surprised. "I hadn't supposed that you were a bookworm and a student, and all that. You don't look it." "Mother has always helped me and been so interested in my lessons. It will be hard to study without her. She has always explained and encouraged me. I shall miss her fearfully." "I suppose you will," said Elizabeth slowly, with a hard look on her face that prevented further conversation on that point. The girls took whatever seats they wished at the table for the first few days. The next week they would be given permanent places. With her new friend beside her, Dolly found the meal pleasant enough. Afterward, they hurried to Dolly's sitting-room and began their preparations for making fudge. There was lots of fun and laughter over it. "How many do you think will come? I want just about enough pieces on this plate to go around. If any should be left over, they might want us to finish it, and I think that we may have had enough by that time." "I am sure that we shall," and Elizabeth nibbled away voraciously. "How small you are making the pieces, Dolly." "No need of wasting anything. I want each one to have a piece small enough so that she will put it all in her mouth at once. See? You did not tell me how many guests we might expect." "About fifteen, I think. They go out in squads. All of them cannot visit every Freshman, so they divide up. I heard them talking in our sitting-room while I was dressing. They didn't know that I was there, fortunately." "I'm going to shove that plate half under the paper, so--" suiting the action to the word, "they will think we are hiding it from them. Here are some pieces for us to nibble. Quick, sit down; take the candy in your hand, I hear them coming." A knock at the door. "Come in." "Arise and open the door." Dolly smothered a giggle and glanced inquiringly at Elizabeth, who nodded her head. So she crossed to the door and swung it wide. Fifteen Sophomores in fantastic kimonos and stately head-dresses stood outside. "Freshies, we have come to inspect your premises. Stand aside while we enter and examine you as regards your worthiness to remain within these sacred precincts. Stand in front of us, so!"