"Let's get acquainted," she said. "Why not? We'll never meet again under more thrilling circumstances," and she laughed. "This is Miss Laura Belding, Miss Steele. On your other hand is Miss Hargrew--Miss Clara Hargrew. I am Josephine Morse. I used to live across the street from the old Eaton place where you live now." "You are a stranger in town, are you not?" Laura asked, taking the new girl's hand. "Yes, Miss Belding. We have only been here four weeks. But I have worked in the Red Cross before--and one must do something, you know." "Do something!" burst forth Bobby. "If you went to Central High and had Gee Gee for one of your teachers, you'd have plenty to do." "We are all three Central High girls," said Laura gently. "Have you finished school, Miss Steele?" "I have not been able to attend school regularly for two years," admitted the new girl. "I am afraid," and she smiled apologetically, "that you are all much further advanced in your education than I am. You see, my mother is an invalid and I must give her a great deal of my time. It does not interfere, however, with my doing a little for the Red Cross." "I am sorry your mother is ill," said Laura. "We were advised to come up here for her sake," said Janet Steele hastily. "We have been living in a coast town. The doctors thought an inland climate--a drier climate--would be beneficial." "I hope it will prove so," said Laura. "It seems a shame you can't get out with the other girls," Jess added. "And come to school and let Gee Gee get after you," joined in Bobby grimly. "Is she such a very strict disciplinarian?" asked Miss Steele, smiling down at the irrepressible one as they walked through the side street toward Whiffle. "She's the limit," declared Bobby. "Oh," said Laura mildly, "I think Miss Carrington is nowhere near so strict as she used to be. Margit Salgo really has made her quite human, you know." "Say!" grumbled Bobby, "she can hand out demerits just as easy as ever. And she had her sense of humor extracted years ago." "Has that fault cropped up lately, my dear?" asked Laura, laughing. "It must be so. What happened, Bobby?" The younger girl, who was a sophomore, whereas Laura and Jess were juniors, came directly under Miss Carrington's attention in several classes. Bobby was forever getting into trouble with the strict teacher. "Why, look, now," said Bobby, warmly, "just what happened yesterday! English class. You know, that's nuts for Gee Gee. I was bothered enough, I can tell you, trying to correct a paper she had handed back to me, and she kept right on talking and asking questions, and the recitation period was almost ended. I didn't want to hang around there to correct that paper--" "You know very well you should have taken it home to correct," Laura put in.