Elizabeth Hobart

“ Hobart’s a fine fellow, but is not accustomed to deal with men in the underbrush.”
“Hobart will take care of himself. He’s had his eye on—”
At this moment the porter came to her assistance and Elizabeth heard no more. She wondered at their talk, but she was not uneasy. She had unbounded faith in her father, and felt that he would be able to protect and take care of himself under all circumstances. Entering the car, she deposited 51 her sleeping burden on the seat. The others followed with the boy and the wraps.
Landis and Min had finished their lunch. ”

“ She had her father’s aptitude for study, and took up an original problem in geometry as most girls take up their fancy work.
Elizabeth had no girl friends at Bitumen. Her father was the only really young person she knew, for although in years he was not young, yet in the joy he took in living, he was still a boy. He had the buoyancy of youth and the ability of manhood. No laugh came clearer or more often than his. No one could be dull in his presence. ”

“ The Seniors were not blind. Each had her appointed work, and when the Middlers gathered together, there was a Senior concealed near by, with ears and eyes open. If the Middlers suspected that they were being shadowed, they made no signs.
“It’s a banquet, I’m sure,” confided Mary Wilson to Landis and Min. “We have our class exercises on Tuesday evening. The time was set for then, but Elizabeth Hobart and some of the others had that changed. They wish to attend our exercises. So it will be Wednesday evening. Elizabeth was writing when I went into the room. ”

“ She was not offended now by Elizabeth’s words, but was surprised. She appeared shocked that Elizabeth should be crude enough to show vehemence.
“What a little spitfire you are, Elizabeth! When you’re a few years older you’ll learn not to express yourself so strongly. As to your knowing who the girl is to whom I object, there is no reason for my keeping silent. I have not mentioned her name because I was considering her feelings and reputation. But since you insist, I’ll tell you. I must emphatically object to having my name published over Exeter Hall with Nora O’Day’s.” ”

“ As they quitted the dining-hall, Elizabeth looked about for Mary, but could not find her. Nora, Landis, Min and Anna Cresswell also were among the missing. Then she hurried to join Nancy and Mame.
“Mary is not to be found. Perhaps she has already gone to chapel.”
The audience hall was almost filled when they entered. Bright fans on the wing looked like a swarm of gay butterflies. The subdued hush of conversation came from all parts of the room. Elizabeth looked about but could not see her roommate. ”

“ Sinking back in her chair as though this was too much to be borne, Elizabeth sighed deeply, then said, “I’m surely surprised at you, Mary. Affairs have come to a pretty pass when you’re in debt and take glory in it.”
Mary laughed, tossed aside her paper, and coming over to her roommate, sat down beside her. “It’s my new oration. Miss Brosius called me into her office, and gave me this to learn. It is really very fine—effective, if my voice was not quite so high-pitched. Listen, I’ve learned so much already.” ”

“ Her new spring dress had come the day before. She had spread it out on the couch to show Elizabeth, and it still lay there. She took it up in her hands, inspecting with care every hook and bit of trimming. It was beautifully made and of handsome material. But Nora O’Day was not satisfied. She missed more and more the mother she had never known. She coveted the plain, simple gown which loving hands had made for her friend.
Elizabeth wasted no time in putting her frock into use. Dressing immediately, she went over to Landis’ room to talk over the plan of examinations. ”

“ Elizabeth in company with Nancy moved through the room. “Here is someone I wish you to meet,” said Nancy, “that is, if you are really interested in people of strong, though peculiar character. She is a Miss Rice. She owns a little farm not far from where my father preached. She works the whole place herself.”
They came up to Miss Rice, a woman far past middle age. Her features showed exposure to the sun. Her red-bronze hair was turning into a grizzled, faded gray.
“I’m glad to meet Miss Hobart,” she said. “You are from Bitumen, I hear. ”

“ Miss Wilson drew forward a chair. “Sit here a moment to rest. Let me put your wraps away. I’ll make a guest of you to-day. It isn’t long until dinner-time. We are expected to change our dresses. But Miss Morgan will excuse you to-day as you have just arrived. I think you will like the girls here.”
She chatted on while Elizabeth rested and prepared for dinner. She looked with admiration upon Elizabeth’s linen frock and 62 long braid of smooth hair. “I like the way you braid your mane,” she laughed, giving a toss of her own. “It’s the style of hair I’ve always coveted. ”

“ I do not like the idea of your being here alone. Exeter is dull with the girls gone. It’s really unbearable. But I have arranged to go home with Min until the day before Christmas. We always have a big family party for that day, and our home is filled. I suppose we could tuck you in somewhere—if you do not object to the third floor.”
“Oh, do not think of it, I beg you,” began Elizabeth hurriedly. Somehow Exeter without company seemed better to her than The Beeches with Landis. “I would not for the world cause you any inconvenience. Besides, the matter is in the hands of Dr. Morgan. ”

“ She and Elizabeth stepped inside. Elizabeth’s face grew crimson. In the middle of the floor lay her school shoes which, in her haste to dress, she had kicked off and left. Her coat and hat were on one chair. Stretched out on the end of the couch was her gym suit, glaringly conspicuous with its crimson braid. Every toilet article that she had used was in evidence, and in a place never designed for its occupancy.
Miss Wilson arose to the occasion. With a characteristic toss of the head, she crossed the room and drew forward a chair. “Sit, all of you, and I’ll put the kettle to boil for cocoa. ”

“ Here Landis’ self-confidence 296 forsook her. She could not believe it possible that any girl would be generous enough to keep to herself such a matter as that of the essay-copying. Should Elizabeth tell but one or two, the affair would soon become public property. Her name would be mentioned with scorn throughout Exeter. Already she saw herself ostracized as she had helped to ostracize Nora O’Day. But if such a condition would result from her dishonesty, she would leave The Hall at once. She was much too proud, too ambitious, to allow anyone to ignore her. ”

“ Every morning Elizabeth on her way down-stairs to breakfast slipped into the sewing room to view the new dresses. She had never so much as thought, not to say expected, to own a rain coat and bath robe, and a soft eider-down sacque. But there they lay before her. Their existence could not be questioned.
“Do you think the other girls at Exeter will have so much?” she asked of Miss Hale. “I don’t want to look as though I was trying to out-dress anyone.”
“If you find they have less than you, keep some of your good things in your trunk. 21 You do not need to wear them all,” was Miss Hale’s advice. ”

“ Meester Hobart, he say, ‘No tear up road.’ Joe Ratowsky, he say, ‘No tear up road.’ All time keep watch so no tear up road. You not come. Mebbe no road, mebbe all right, b’gosh.”
“A strike, Joe? Do you mean the miners threaten to destroy the road?” He nodded.
“No strike now, b’gosh. Colowski, he say, ‘Strike.’ Then all say, ‘Strike.’ Joe Ratowsky, he give him one between his eyes like this.” He doubled up his fist, showing how peace had been restored. “He no say strike then. He crawl off. He no come round for day and day.”
“Did they go back to work then?” Elizabeth was excited. ”

“ Hastening to the door, she peered into the hall. Not a ‘noble Senior’ was in sight. The girls flitting through the dormitories were Middlers and Freshmen. Confident that she was safe from interference, Elizabeth, her white gown trailing after her, started forth for the chapel. Nancy Eckdahl and Mame Welch joined her at the foot of the stairway.
“Don’t I look like a boiled lobster?” cried Nancy. “But this was the only dress anywhere near my size. It’s Nora O’Day’s. Isn’t it handsome? It is unfortunate that she is so dark and I so fair. ”

“ Of course, the Senior class will not return, and there will be many new students. Those I hope to meet.”
“I’ve never had any girl companions,” said Elizabeth. “I expect to like all the girls.”
Again the smile. She shook her head decidedly in negation at Elizabeth’s remark.
“No; you will not like them all,” she replied. “Exeter Hall is like a little world. We have some fine girls there, but we have, too, some that are petty and selfish. Exeter 47 Hall has sent forth some of the noblest women I have ever known, and it has also sent forth some that simply cumber the earth with their presence.” ”

“ He was brimming over with joy at the prospect of her delight.
“It is a catalog of Exeter Hall, Elizabeth. That is the school Miss Hale attended. I’ve looked over dozens of catalogs and this pleases your mother and me best. We want you to go in the fall.”
“Oh!” was all she said then, but it was expressive enough to satisfy her parents. She had read stories of schoolgirl life which seemed more like fairy stories than experiences of real girls. 17
“Look it all over, Elizabeth. The course of study is mapped out. We think the classical course suited to you. ”

“ I had no time to write an oration suitable for a public affair. I remember I did commit one of those old ones. But I do not think I claimed it was original. You people just took that for granted. If you had taken the trouble to ask me, I would have told you. 294 I do not know that it is my fault that you were deceived.”
“Well, Landis,” said Elizabeth slowly, “you are surely an adept in slipping out of trouble. Now, Nora O’Day did wrong and made no attempt to deny it. She bore her punishment without a complaint. Your words do not deceive me one iota. ”

“ For a moment she was an orator worthy the name.
“For this ostracising, I have as little sympathy. A student does wrong, and you would cut her off immediately from all who are trying to do right. If your purpose is to assist those weaker than yourself, you will never succeed by such a method. If every one was to be ignored for every bit of 185 deceit they practice, I fancy most of us would be going around by ourselves, rather lonely.” A smile passed over the faces of her hearers—a smile of amusement and surprise, for hitherto Elizabeth had been a quiet, shy girl, almost timid in company ”

“ We waited in the gym, all togged out in reception gowns, but the caterer came not. Suddenly it came to us that there must be some mistake. We set out to hunt for the banquet. We found its remains up in the laboratory where the Seniors had been feasting at our expense. No, indeed, Elizabeth,” Mary shook her head slowly, “no Middlers hold banquets at Exeter Hall. It isn’t countenanced.” ”

“ HOBART, Sir MILES (d. 1632) , politician, was the son of Miles Hobart of London, by his third wife, Elizabeth, and was descended from William, brother of Sir James Hobart [q. v.] He appears to have been knighted at Salisbury on 8 Aug. 1623 (Metcalfe, Book of Knights, p. 181) . In the parliament of 1627–8 he was returned for Great Marlow, Buckinghamshire. During the memorable debate of 2 March 1628–9 Hobart, to prevent the more timid members from leaving the house, locked the door and pocketed the key. ”

“ All we’ve got to do is to trust in Providence. I’ll get you there or kill the horses in trying.”
At last, at the opening of a small ravine, the road broadened. The horses sprang forward.
Suddenly Elizabeth, still looking eagerly ahead, exclaimed, “I see a light! It looks like a lantern.”
The click of the horses’ hoofs upon the stones rang loud and clear. Jefferies drew them up. He leaned over sidewise to peer about. “I was trying to see just where we are. Oh, we’re all right. That light hain’t no lantern. That’s where Ketchomunoski lives. We’ll go on. He may come out if he hears us go by. ”

“ I have never so much as seen her.”
“She’s very philanthropic—always trying to help people who need it. I suppose she knew you were a new student, and perhaps hadn’t a wide acquaintance here, so she invited you that you might not find life too dull.”
“Perhaps,” was the reply, with a smile of amusement. Elizabeth was learning a great deal, not less important that it lay outside of classes and books.
The other girls had departed. Only Landis and Miss O’Day remained. Then the former with a whispered “good-night” 158 went tip-toeing down the hall. Miss O’Day lingered. ”

“ Car. 28) calls him ‘a most learned, prudent, grave, and religious judge.’ Bacon, however, accuses him of falsely affecting intimacy with great persons (Bacon, Life and Letters, Ellis and Spedding, iv. 93) .
A volume of Hobart's reports was published in quarto in 1641, and subsequent editions appeared in 1650, 1671, 1678, and 1724.
Hobart married Dorothy, daughter of Sir Robert Bell of Beaupré Hall, Norfolk, lord chief baron under Elizabeth, by whom he had sixteen children, twelve sons and four daughters. From him descended John Hobart, first earl of Buckinghamshire [q. v.] ”

“ Don’t stop. We’ll keep at your heels. Draw down your veil, Elizabeth, and put up your collar. Don’t speak or tell who you are. Remember the miners know you.”
Following her suggestion, Jefferies crossed the street, pushing his way through the throng, as though he was expected. The girls kept close to him, so close that 376 Nora could have reached forth and touched his arm. The mob of men scarcely noticed him. Indeed, few knew that the two girls had slipped through the crowd. They were talking in half a dozen different tongues and dialects. ”