“Sometimes we have crackers and milk for supper,” added Laura, dropping her voice to the tone of one telling a ghost story at midnight. Then in a still more ghost-like voice she repeated: “Sometimes we have crackers and milk. The lacteal fluid is usually twice skimmed, first for the teachers’ table (they have cream in their coffee in the morning), secondly for the thin, anæmic fluid we get on our oatmeal. But, anyhow, it is milk.
“There are never more than seven crackers on a plate—just seven, the perfect number,” sighed this hyperbolical girl. “I’ve counted them again and again. Why seven, and not six, or eight, deponent knoweth not. I think Mrs. Cupp counts them out that way for some fell purpose of her own,” went on Laura, reflectively. “She must have the crackers all numbered and she deals ’em around as in a game at cards. Anyhow, I tried a trick once and it didn’t work, so I believe she has them numbered.”
“What did you do?” asked wide-eyed Bess.
“The girl next to me didn’t appear at supper. I took her crackers and slipped them down my stocking. But Mrs. Cupp caught me before I got out of the room, took me to her den, and made me disgorge the booty——”
A mellow gong clanged through the building. Nan and Bess, who were now almost convulsed by their new friend’s remarks, had managed to make some sort of a toilet.
“Come on!” whispered the red-haired girl, hoarsely. “Never mind your bags and wraps. They will be perfectly safe on that settee. But hang onto the lunch box. If Mrs. Cupp finds that she will confiscate its contents, I assure you.”
She thrust the box into Bess’ hands and drove both the new girls before her, like a fussy hen with two chickens.
CHAPTER X
A FAMOUS INTRODUCTION
The girls crowded into the dining hall from all directions. Nan and Bess were told that there were many who had not yet arrived; but to the two strangers from Tillbury it seemed as though there was a great throng.