Nan patiently picked up the scattered possessions of her chum. There were other things in the bag, as Bess, with a squeal of satisfaction, proved by producing the folded announcement of Lakeview Hall.
“Goodness gracious, Bess!” sighed her friend. “How will you ever get all these things back into that bag?”
“Oh, tumble ’em in,” said the careless Bess. “There must be room for them, or they would never have got in there in the first place. But listen here! I thought I remembered the name. Your Professor Krenner is on the staff of the school.”
“What!”
“Yes. He teaches higher mathematics and architectural drawing. ‘Architectural drawing’! What girl wants to take that? Of course, the mathematics is compulsory, but the drawing is elective. Dear me! he’s a sour looking apple.”
“Not when you get close to him,” Nan said quickly. “He has kind eyes.”
“Humph!” Bess said again.
The man occupying the seat directly ahead of the two girls left at the very next station. Immediately Professor Krenner, who seemed to be much interested in Nan and Bess, crossed the aisle with his bag and sat down in the empty seat.
“Well, Miss,” he said to Nan, his eyelids wrinkling at the corners as though a smile lurked behind the shell-bowed spectacles, “I see you have not allowed that little contretemps to blast all the pleasure of your journey. Are you and your friend going to school?”
“Yes, sir. This is my chum, Elizabeth Harley, Professor Krenner,” Nan said.