Edith K. Dunton

“ In a few minutes every one was dancing again, and only too soon it was ten o’clock.
“Wasn’t it fun?” said Betty enthusiastically, as she and Helen undressed.
“Oh yes,” agreed Helen. “I never had such a good time in my life. But, do you know, Miss Watson says she was bored, and Roberta thought it was tiresome and the grind-book silly and impossible.”
“Truth is stranger than fiction sometimes,” said Betty sagely, smothering a laugh in the pillows. ”

“ So ended Betty’s first day at college. Nan finished unpacking, and then sat for a long time by the window. Betty loved Nan, but Nan in return worshiped Betty. They might call her the clever Miss Wales if they liked; she would gladly have given all her vaunted brains for the fascinating little ways that made Betty friends so quickly and for the power to take life in Betty’s free-and-easy fashion. “Oh, I hope she’ll like it!” she thought. “I hope she’ll be popular with the girls. I don’t want her to have to work so hard for all she gets. ”

“ Parsons was a very attentive host, providing partners in plenty; and Betty, who was passionately fond of dancing and had been to only one “truly grown-up” dance before, was in her element. But every once in awhile she forgot her own pleasure to notice Eleanor and to wonder at her beauty and vivacity. She was easily belle of the ball. She seemed to know all the men, and they crowded eagerly around her, begging for dances and hanging on her every word. ”

“ Nevertheless the gift had been managed in Helen’s case; she had gotten her start at last. Miss Mills’s tactful little attention had furnished her with the hope and courage that she lacked, had given her back the self-confidence that Caroline Barnes had wounded. Whatever the girls might think, she knew she was “somebody” now, and she would go ahead and prove it. She could, too–she no longer doubted her possession of the college girl’s one talent that Betty had laughed about. For there was Theresa Reed, her friend down the street. ”

“ Dorothy’s amazement was undisguised.
“You’ll have to be costumer for our house plays next year, Miss Wales,” she said, while Betty blushed and contradicted all Helen’s explanations. “You’re coming on the campus, of course.”
“So virtue isn’t its only reward after all,” said Eleanor Watson, who had come in just in time to hear Miss King’s remark. “Helen Chase Adams isn’t exactly a vision of loveliness yet. She won’t be mistaken for the college beauty, but she’s vastly improved. I only wish anybody cared to take as much trouble for me.” ”

“ A wave of literary and dramatic enthusiasm had inundated the Chapin house. The girls 110 were constantly suggesting theme topics to one another–which unfortunately no one but Mary Brooks could use, at least until the next semester; for in the regular freshman English classes, subjects were always assigned. And they were planning theatre parties galore, to see Jefferson, Maude Adams, and half a dozen others if they came to Harding. Betty, who had a happy faculty of keeping her head just above such passing waves, smiled to herself as she hurried across the dark campus. ”

“ Then she remembered Mary Brooks’s remark. Yes, no doubt some one else would enlighten Eleanor. It was just too bad. But perhaps Mary was right and the story was only a story.
It is hard for freshmen on the eve of their mid-year examinations to be perfectly calm and philosophical. The story of the fifty unfortunates ran like wild-fire through the college, and while upper-class girls sniffed at it as absurd and even freshmen, particularly the clever ones, pooh-poohed it in public, it was the cause of many anxious, and some tearful moments. ”

“ To Betty’s great delight Dorothy King met her in the hall of the Administration Building the day before and asked permission to take her to the frolic. At the gymnasium Miss King turned her over to a bewildering succession of partners, who asked her the stereotyped questions about liking college, having a pleasant boarding-place, and so on, tried more or less effectively to lead her through the crowd to the rather erratic music of one piano, and assured her that the freshman frolic was not at all like the other college dances. ”

“ Betty had quite lost interest in Helen lately; she had small patience with people who moped, and besides, between Eleanor and the valentine enterprise, her thoughts had 236 been fully engrossed. But this new mood made her curious. “She acts as if she’d got a crush,” she decided. “She’s just the kind to have one, and probably her divinity has asked her to dinner, and she can’t put her mind on anything else. But who on earth could it be–in the Westcott House?” ”

“ By Wednesday Betty was well enough to go to classes, though she felt very conspicuous with her scratched face and her wrist in a sling. And so when early Wednesday afternoon Eleanor pounced on her and Katherine and demanded why they were not starting to class-meeting, she replied that she at least was not going.
“Nor I,” said Katherine decidedly. “It’s sure to be stupid.”
“I’m sorry,” said Eleanor. “We may need you badly; every one is so busy this week. Perhaps you’ll change your minds before two-thirty, and if you do, please bring all the other girls that you can along. ”

“ Katherine had a chafing-dish, Rachel a Persian rug, and Roberta an illustrated “Alice in Wonderland” of her own. To Betty’s great relief Helen had brought back two small pillows for her couch, all her skirts were lengthened, and the Christmas stock of black silk with its white linen turnovers replaced the clumsy woolen collars that she had worn with her winter shirt-waists. And–she was certainly learning to do her hair more becomingly. ”

“ Eleanor’s usually listless face was radiant. She had a smile and a gay sally for every one; there was never a hint of the studied coldness with which she received any advances from Helen or the Riches, nor of the scornful ennui with which she faced the social life of her own college.
“Aren’t you glad you came?” said Betty, when they met at the frappé table.
133“Rather,” said Eleanor laconically. “This is life, and I’ve only existed for months and months. What would the world be like without men and music?” ”

“ Betty smiled at the memory of her mishap. How nice Eleanor had been to her then. And Miss Ferris! If only Miss Ferris would speak to 303 Eleanor. “Why, perhaps she will,” thought Betty, suddenly remembering Miss Ferris’s note. “I could ask her to, anyway. But–she’s a faculty. Well, Ethel is too, though I never thought of it.” And Dorothy had wanted Betty’s help in keeping the matter out of the hands of the authorities. “But this is different,” Betty decided at last. “I’m asking them not as officials, but just as awfully nice people, who know what to say better than we girls do. ”

“ What I mean is that it seems to me far better in the long run to be interested in too many people than not to be interested in people enough. Of course, though, we mustn’t neglect to be sufficiently interested in ourselves; and how to divide ourselves fairly between ourselves and the rest of the world is the hardest question we ever have to answer. You’ll be getting new ideas about it all through your course–and all through your life.”
There was a moment of silence, and then Betty rose to go. “I have to pack and I know you are busy. Miss Ferris, I’m going to be at the Belden next year.” ”

“ The next afternoon Betty and Mary hurried over to the campus directly after luncheon to try their new toys. The crust was still firm and the new sport popular as ever.
“You see it’s much more exciting than a ‘bob,’” a tall senior was explaining to a group of on-lookers. “You can’t steer, so you’re just as likely to go down backward as frontward; and being so near the ground gives you a lovely creepy sensation.” ”

“ I want to learn, for one–men or no men.”
“So do I,” said Rachel and Mary Rich together. “And I,” drawled Roberta languidly.
“Oh well, if you’re all set upon it, I’ll play for you,” said Eleanor graciously. She was secretly ashamed of the speech that Katherine had overheard the day before and bitterly regretted having antagonized the girls in the house, when she had meant only to keep them–all but Betty–at a respectful distance. ”

“ The girls were too much astonished to speak, as the creature advanced silently into the room, and without a word began dancing something that, as Katherine expressed it afterward, was a cross between a double-shuffle and a skirt-dance. When it had succeeded in reducing its audience to a state of abject and tearful mirth, the creature stopped suddenly, announced, “You’ve seen the Jabberwock,” in sepulchral tones, and flopped on to the end of a couch, saying breathlessly, “Mary Brooks, please help me out of this. I’m suffocating.” ”

“ You’re a good hard worker, Helen. Isn’t it queer,” she went on, “we’re not a bit alike, but this game is making us feel the same way. I wonder if the others feel so too. Perhaps it’s one reason why they have this game–to wake us all up and make us want to do something worth while.”
“Betty Wales,” called Christy Mason from the floor below. Betty leaned over the railing. “Don’t forget that you’re coming to dinner to-night. We’re going to serenade the team. They’ll be dining at the Belden with Miss Andrews.” ”

“ The Chapin house girls decided not to spend the proceeds of the dancing class for an elaborate supper, as they had first intended, but to turn their “spread” into the common college type, where “plowed field” and chocolate made with condensed milk and boiling water are the chief refreshments, and light-hearted sociability ensures a good time for everybody.
“But do let’s have tea too,” Betty had proposed. “I hate the chocolate that the girls make, and I don’t believe tea keeps many of us awake. ”

“ As the car whizzed by the Main Building, Betty wanted to wave her hand to that too, but she didn’t until Dorothy King, appearing on the front steps, gave her an excuse.
“Well,” she said with a little sigh, as the campus disappeared below the crest of the hill, “you and Rachel may talk all you like, but I feel as if something was over, and it makes me sad. Just think! We can never be freshmen at Harding again as long as we live.”
“Quite true,” said Katherine calmly, “but we can be sophomores–that is, unless the office sees fit to interfere.” ”

“ I’ve got to–I can’t go off letting people think that I’m only a miserable failure. The Watson pride won’t let me, Betty.”
“Oh, people don’t think anything of that kind,” objected Betty consolingly.
“I know one person who does,” said Eleanor with decision, “and her name is Eleanor Watson. I decided while I was out there waiting for you that one’s honest opinion of herself is about as important as any outsider’s. Don’t you think so?”
“Perhaps,” said Betty gaily. “But the thing that interests me is that you’re coming back next year. Why, it’s just grand! Shall you go on the campus?” ”

“ They’re human, like other people,” said Betty, quoting Nan. “I don’t see why some one didn’t think of it sooner.”
That night at dinner Betty announced her 159 plan. The freshmen looked relieved and Mary Brooks showed uncalled-for enthusiasm.
“Do go,” she urged. “It’s high time such an absurd story was shown up at its real value. It’s absurd. The way we talk and talk about a report like that, and never dare to ask the faculty if it’s true.”
“Do you take any freshman courses?” inquired Eleanor sarcastically.
Mary smiled her “beamish” smile. ”

“ Eleanor shrugged her shoulders. “Good-bye,” she said. “For my part, I prefer to be the one and only–while I last,” and snatching up her furs she was off.
Betty found Mary and Katherine in possession of her room and engaged in an animated discussion about the rules of hockey.
“I tell you that when the thing-um-bob is in play,” began Katherine.
“Not a bit of it,” cut in Mary.
“Come along, girls,” interrupted Betty, fishing her skates from under her couch, and pulling on her “pussy” mittens. “Never mind those rules. You can’t play hockey to-day. You promised to skate with me.” ”

“ Down on the wharf Betty and Eleanor were curled up close together in an indiscriminate, happy tangle of rain-coat, golf-cape, and very drabbled muslin, holding a conversation that neither would ever forget. Yet it was perfectly 352 commonplace; Harding girls are not given to the expression of their deeper emotions, though it must not therefore be inferred that they do not have any to express. ”

“ That is, I have only math., and one other little thing.”
“I don’t see how you did it,” sighed Betty. “I should never dare to get behind. I have all I want to do with the regular work.”
Eleanor leaned luxuriously back among the couch cushions. “Yes,” she said loftily. “I suppose you haven’t the faintest idea what real, downright hard work is, and neither can you appreciate the joys of downright idleness. I shall try that as soon as I’ve finished the math.” ”

“ She finished the sentence with an expressive little gesture.
“Who gave you the rest of this conservatory, Betty?” asked Mary Brooks.
“Clara Madison brought the carnations, and Nita Reese, a girl in my geometry division, sent the white roses, and Eleanor the pink ones, and the freshman I was sliding with these lilies-of-the-valley. It’s almost worth a sprained wrist to find out how kind people are to you,” said Betty gratefully. ”

“ So long as I do my work and go to all my classes, they really can’t object to my spending my Sundays as he wishes.”
Betty observed all these changes without being in the least able to reconcile them with Eleanor’s new attitude toward herself. Unlike the friendship with Jean, Eleanor’s intercourse with her had been inconspicuous, confined mostly to the Chapin house itself. Even the girls there, because Eleanor had stood so aloof from them, had seen little of it, so Eleanor was free to break it off without thinking of public opinion, and she did so ruthlessly. ”

“ After the elocution recitation I went home to lunch. At quarter before two I began studying my history. At quarter before four I started for the gymnasium. At five I went to a tea which one of the girls was giving for her mother, so I felt obliged to go. I stayed only half an hour and cannot remember how I spent the half hour till dinner, so I presume it was wasted. I am afraid I am too much given to describing such unimportant pauses in the day’s occupation 90 and magnifying their length and the frivolous pleasure which we thoughtlessly derive from them. ”