“Very liberal in the way of furniture,” said Carrie, as she looked around. “Two beds, two bureaus, two tables, two closets! They don’t intend to give us any excuse for quarrelling as to the disposal of our traps.”
They occupied themselves for the remainder of the day in unpacking and getting settled, so as to be ready for school-duties in the morning. At tea-time they were ushered into a large dining-room, where more than sixty girls were seated round the table, all of whom looked curiously at the new-comers. Poor Susan could hardly eat a mouthful, it was so awkward to feel that so many eyes were upon her; and even Carrie lost some of her appetite. After tea, they all went into the large parlour, where Mr. Worcester conducted prayers; and then came the study-hour to be spent in their own chambers.
Carrie and Susan gladly escaped to their room; but hardly were they seated when two other girls entered and took seats as if they were very much at home.
“This is our room,” said Carrie, modestly; for she supposed they had made some mistake.
“This is our room too,” said the one she addressed,—a tall and fine-looking girl.
“I beg pardon,” Carrie answered; “but I supposed my cousin and I were to have it alone. It seemed quite unoccupied. The bureaus and closets were both empty.”
“A very natural mistake,” was the reply; “but the way of it is, we have just been moved from our room to accommodate two new girls who are distant relations of our old room-mates, and who want to room together: so we are put in here, and our ‘fixins’ will follow this evening. As we are to be such near neighbours, we might as well introduce ourselves, I suppose. I am Florence Anderson, at your service; and this is Sallie Wendell.”
“My name is Caroline Stanley; and this is my cousin, Susan Cameron,” said Carrie.
This introduction served to loosen the girls’ tongues, and they talked quite fast, without appearing to remember that it was the study-hour.
Florence gave the new-comers an account of the teachers, and told them beforehand which they would like and which they “would perfectly abominate and despise.”