"I trust you don't call your mother a college romp," answered the old lady indignantly.
"Not at all, Mama. You belonged to the early days of Wellington before romps came into existence," Alice replied sharply.
"I'm sure you may have to see a great deal of college, if——" began Mrs. Fern, and broke off abruptly.
Alice shrugged her shoulders.
"If—if——" she thought. "How I detest that word."
On the way back that afternoon the old Queen's girls held a council of war.
"I think we ought to make it our business to find out who played this trick on us," cried Margaret, "if it takes detective work to do it. Our dignity as seniors has been attacked and the standards of Wellington lowered."
"I don't believe any juniors had a hand in it," put in Judy, "because we are so friendly with them."
Nance nudged Molly.
"She's afraid somebody's going to blame that charming Adele," she whispered.