"I haven't time to sit down, Miss Minot; I've my algebra lesson to
learn for to-morrow morning," and Jennie, flushing with sudden
anger at being so cursorily consigned to a trunk, turned to leave
the room.

Katherine put out a detaining hand.

"Thank you, Jennie, for coming up with me," she said, with a
friendly smile, adding: "And I hope there will be no more
interruptions while you are conning the algebra lesson."

"I hate mathematics," Jennie affirmed, with an impatient shrug,
"but the things you most dislike are supposed to do you the most
good, so I just have to bottle up when it's time for algebra and
try to play 'it's an angel being entertained unawares.' Good-by,
Miss Minturn. I'll see you again later." And bestowing a bright
glance and nod upon her new friend, she shut the door and went
whistling cheerily down the hall.

"That's a queer 'pickaninny'! I didn't mean to hurt her, though,"
observed Miss Minot, as she curled herself up on the foot of a
bed, preparatory to getting acquainted with her new roommate.

"She certainly possesses originality," Katherine laughingly
responded; "but I like her none the less for that."

"Poor young one!" Sadie continued. "She doesn't have a very easy
time of it here. She is a stray waif, and hasn't a relative in the
world, to her knowledge."