"Just by getting a proper tam and stop being stubborn," Ruth told her.
"Miss Fielding!" cried Rebecca, her face flushing. "Do you think I do this for—for fun?"
"You must. It isn't a disease, is it?" and Ruth laughed aloud, determined to refuse to take the other's tragic words seriously.
"You—you are unbearable!" gasped Rebecca.
"No, I'm not. I want to be your friend," Ruth declared boldly. "I want you to have other friends, too. No use flocking by one's self at college. Why, my dear girl! you are missing all that is best in college life."
"I'd like to know what is best in college life!" burst out Rebecca Frayne, sullenly.
"Friendship. Companionship. The rubbing of one mind against another," Ruth said promptly.
"Pooh!" returned the startled Rebecca. "I wouldn't want to rub my mind against some of these girls' minds. All I ever hear them talk about is dress or amusements."
"I don't think you know many of the other girls well enough to judge the calibre of their minds," said Ruth, gently.
"And why don't I?" demanded Rebecca, still with a sort of suppressed fury.