"Yes, sir."

"Your first term there?"

"Oh, yes, sir."

"Then you don't know these other girls?" and he nodded to the group further up the car.

"No, sir. Are _they_ going there, too?" asked Nancy, eagerly.

"Yes. I've been carrying a lot of them to Clintondale this week. The Hall opens day after to-morrow. Anybody to meet you, Miss?"

"I telegraphed on from Cincinnati," said Nancy.

"That's all right, then. One of the 'bus men will be on the lookout for you."

"But are those all new girls, too?" asked Nancy, earnestly, as the conductor was about to pa.s.s on.

"No. But most of them have been there only one term. That tall girl is named Montgomery. Her father's a State Senator--guess you've heard of Senator Montgomery? Go up and speak to them," and the conductor pa.s.sed on.

But Nancy did not have the courage to take his advice. She, however, observed the girls with renewed interest.

The tall one--the Montgomery girl--was very richly dressed, and she seemed to think a good deal of what she wore. She was always arranging her gown, and looking in the gla.s.s to see if her hat was on straight--and occasionally Nancy caught her powdering her nose.

There was a black-haired girl, too, with very sharp eyes and a lean face, who laughed whenever the Montgomery girl said anything supposed to be funny, and seemed to ape the Senator's daughter in other ways, too.

The other girls called her "Cora."

Once Nancy went forward to get a drink of water. She pa.s.sed the group of her future schoolmates slowly, hoping that some of them would speak to her. But none did, and when she came back down the aisle, the tall girl eyed her with disdain.

Nancy flushed and hurried by; but not too quickly to hear the Montgomery girl say:

"Trying to b.u.t.t in, I guess."

The girl called Cora laughed shrilly.

"I guess I'm not going to like _those_ girls," sighed Nancy. And then she shivered as she thought of how mean they might be if they ever found out that she was "Miss n.o.body from Nowhere."

The rain began to slant across the open fields and trace a pattern upon the broad, thick, gla.s.s beside her so that she could no longer see out.

Besides, it was growing dark early.

The train pa.s.sed through towns that seemed all gloomy, smoky brick buildings, or shanties clinging like goats to the sides of high bluffs.

A pall of dun vapor hung over these towns, and the lonely Nancy was glad when the train did not stop.

Sometimes they dashed into a tunnel, and a cloud of stifling smoke wrapped the cars about and the cinders rattled against the ventilators and roof.

On and on swept the train, and at last the brakeman, as they left one station, announced:

"Next stop Clintondale!"

Nancy began to gather her things together and put on her coat long before the train slowed down. Then the other girls got ready leisurely, still chatting.

The rain beat harder against the window. It was after seven o'clock.

They pa.s.sed a block-tower with its lights and semaph.o.r.e. Then the grinding brakes warned her that her destination was at hand.

The end of the wet platform flashed into view. There were dazzling lights, rumbling hand-trucks, and people running about.

As she came to the door of the car--she did not go out by the one chosen by the Senator's daughter and her friends--the roar of voices burst upon her ear:

"Clinton Hotel! This way!"

"Pinewood Hall! This is the 'bus for the school! Pinewood Hall!"

"Carriage, Miss! Private carriage, Miss!"

"Pinewood Hall! Pinewood Hall!"

"Clinton House! Come on, here, you that want the hotel."

"'Bus for Pinewood. That you, Miss Briggs? Going with me? Where's yer check?"

"This way for the school. Pinewood Hall! Hi, there, Jim! Found that other one? Miss Nelson! Miss Nelson! Who's seen Miss Nelson?"

Suddenly Nancy realized that the big man in front of her was roaring her name in stentorian tones.

"Oh, oh!" she gasped. "_I'm_ Miss Nelson."

"All right. Here she is, Jim! Right this way to the 'bus. Where's your check, Miss? All right. Have the trunk and bag up some time to-night--if they are here."

"They should have come on the earlier train," explained Nancy.

"All right. Then you'll git 'em on this load. There's the 'bus, Miss.

Yes! there's room for you in there."

The omnibus was backed up against the platform under the hood of the station. There was a crowd of laughing, chattering girls before her in the vehicle.

"Now, Jim! you can't put another livin' soul in this 'bus--you know you can't," cried one, to the driver.

"Boss says so, Miss," growled Jim.

"What do you think we are--sardines? Oh! my foot!" shrieked another girl.

"And she's a greeny, too. Any of you ever see her before?" demanded one of the girls nearest the half-closed door.

"Say! what's your name?" asked another girl, leaning out to speak to Nancy.

Nancy told her.

"She's green--what did I tell you? And we're all sophs here. Say, Freshie! don't you know you don't belong in here?"

"She'll have to ride with you, Jim, on the front seat."