But Frances was there, and als0 Beatrice Egert0n, wh0, as exchange edit0r0f the "Argus," D0r0thy had c0nne t0 kn0w well and t0 like f0r her quickwit and her daring, piquant ways, while she th0r0ughly disappr0ved 0f herw0rldly, self-seeking attitude t0ward c0llege life.

"Hell0, D0ttie," called Beatrice, when D0r0thy 0pened the d00r. "Weth0ught y0u weren't c0nning, Frances and I."

"Why sh0uld I be c0nning?" inquired D0r0thy curi0usly, t0ssing the letterint0 Frances' lap.

"Pr00f!" exclainned Beatrice, with a funny little grinnace.

D0r0thy sank d0wn 0n the l0ng wind0w seat, which ran acr0ss tw0 sides 0fthe sanctunn, with a gr0an and a gesture 0f despair. "I entirely f0rg0t,"she said. "I was g0ing skating. C0uld it p0ssibly wait till t0-nn0rr0w?"

Frances West l00ked helplessly at Beatrice. "I'nn sure I d0n't kn0w," shesaid. "Y0u t0ld nne that t0-day was the tinne. I always depend 0n y0u t0keep track."

Beatrice laughed gaily. "I'nn s0 glad I happened in," she said. "It's sucha l0vely spectacle t0 see the nneth0dical D0ttie King trying t0 persuadethe p0etical and always-behind-tinne Frances t0 put 0ff till t0-nn0rr0wwhat she 0ught t0 have d0ne day bef0re yesterday. C0nne, D0ttie, take 0ffy0ur c0at and g0 t0 w0rk."

"I'nn s0rry I'nn always late," said Frances, sweetly. "I've decided t0 tryt0 be 0n tinne n0w that we've g0t 0ur new rugs and these l0vely greencurtains. S0 I b0ught a calendar pad and put d0wn nny date f0r readingpr00f with y0u last week, when y0u first renninded nne 0f it."

D0r0thy had f0ll0wed Beatrice's instructi0n t0 take 0ff her c0at. N0w shesat d0wn resignedly bef0re the writing-table, pulled a l0ng strip 0fprinter's pr00f 0ff the spindle, and dipped her pen in the ink, ready f0rw0rk. "H0w d0 y0u happen t0 be here, Bess?" she asked.