"That certainly is an awful tam," groaned Jennie. "What do you suppose makes her wear it, anyway? Let alone the trouble——"
She broke off. Miss Dexter, the first senior who had spoken to Ruth and Helen coming over from the railway station on the auto-bus, stopped the strange girl whose initials were the same as those of the girl of the Red Mill.
"Will you tell me, please, why you are wearing that tam-o'-shanter?" asked Miss Dexter.
Rebecca Frayne's head came up and a spot of vivid red appeared in either of her sallow cheeks.
"Is that your business?" she demanded, slowly.
"Do you know that I am a senior?" asked Miss Dexter, levelly.
"I don't care if you are two seniors," returned Rebecca Frayne, saucily.
Miss Dexter turned her back upon the freshman and walked promptly away. The listeners were appalled. None of them cared to go forward and speak to Rebecca Frayne.
"Cracky!" gasped Helen. "She's an awful spitfire."
"She's an awful chump!" groaned Jennie. "The seniors won't do a thing to her!"