Spring affairs came on with their hikes, their different activities,
their work and their fun, till Betty almost forgot what Lucia had said
to her, in the interest of other things. She saw very little of Lucia
now, for the sorority seemed to take up Lucia's time, so far as her
associations were concerned.
Betty was working hard on her studies. She had passed her mid-years with
credit and now she was keeping up the standard for the second semester.
It was not so hard as the freshman year's work, yet there were more
distractions as she increasingly took part in the school's activities.
However, there was no basketball. She made progress in swimming, took a
little part in other athletic affairs, earned points and hoped that she
would win "something or other" on honor night, that last function and
climax of the G. A. A. The girls had wanted her to play baseball, but
she "said them nay" as she stated at home. And in her free time she took
up serious practice upon her violin, as well as regular lessons again.
Saturdays she saved for picnics and hikes, except a few hours devoted to
study. Mrs. Lee had a little maid come in now to help at home, though
Doris and Betty still had very light tasks, chiefly in looking after
their own room and keeping things in order. School was exacting and the
girls needed their time if they stood well in their studies, Mrs. Lee
said.
There was some discussion between the parents as to whether it was not
outside affairs that took the girls' time and strength, but inasmuch as
more of it was in the line of healthful activity than of late parties,
the decision was to let the girls, particularly Betty, just now, "have
their chance" and their good times. The little maid needed the work,
moreover, and it gave Mrs. Lee the freedom she needed to leave Amy Lou
and get away from cares.
Betty was "crazy" to get into the junior orchestra another year. Ted,
who had been somewhat of an attraction, to be sure, would not be in the
senior orchestra, but Betty liked the idea, with or without any
interesting boy. He had not invited Betty to accompany him again to any
school or city entertainment, but he had asked her to a picnic with a
few chosen friends and she had had a wonderful time, she reported to the
girls. However, Ted said that Chet and some of the other boys had said
"Hands off" about Betty Lee. So Ted put it, and while he reported it
jokingly, Betty had an idea that it would make a difference. Well, it
was better than being invited and dropped without a reason, and no boy
should think that she wanted his attentions! And of course Ted was very
much interested in this other girl. They both would be in the University
next year.
Betty felt more grown up when she was with an older boy like Ted and
enjoyed the feeling. The junior girls and some of the senior girls knew
Betty and were quite inclined to be chummy, at least when thrown with
Betty at any gathering.
The sophomores had a picnic, to which Chet invited Betty and one of the
girls whom Betty did not know so well, remarked: "Well, the Dorrance
boys keep you in the family, don't they?"
"Oh, no," lightly answered Betty, who did not like the remark, but did
not know how to answer it. Betty did not like to resent what was
probably not meant to be annoying. From certain indications she was
pretty sure that Chet _had_ resented Ted's taking her out and that Ted
had promised Chet not to interfere.
So the time flew, till in the lovely Maytime Mrs. Lee was invited by the
Countess Coletti to an afternoon tea at the Murchison home, and Betty
was reminded of Lucia's remarks. The countess was "being nice to Mother"
now, and Mrs. Lee reported a large gathering of charming ladies, some of
them not so attractive or cultured, but many of them simple and
interesting with the results of many opportunities for travel and
reading, study and pleasure. "The countess herself is very delightful as
a hostess, Betty," said Mrs. Lee. "I feel sure that if she entertains
for Lucia it will be a gathering planned in every detail."
The series of teas and other entertainment at the Murchison home was
followed "at last" by the arrival of invitations for Lucia's friends,
invitations with a "crest!" For the _Countess Coletti_ was entertaining
for her daughter.
"Oh, dear, why aren't I Lucia's friend and a little older?" sighed
Doris, whimsically, examining the pretty invitation. "I'd always keep
this, Betty, but if you don't care for it, let me have it."
"You can borrow it any time you want it, but it has to go among the
archives, Dorry. I'm sorry you can't go; but it's very likely, if we
stay here and Father is in the same business, that you can go there some
time."
"But that isn't now," said Doris, strictly adhering to fact.
Betty wondered whether it was a girls' party or whether the boys would
be invited, but as she saw several invitations displayed among the boys
at school, her unuttered question was answered. It seemed to be taken
for granted that the countess did not expect the young gentlemen to
bring the young ladies, though Chet said, "see you at the party, Betty.
I hope I'm your partner at supper." Budd Leroy, also, who had shown
recent signs of being interested in Betty Lee, made a similar remark
about meeting her at Lucia's, though he did not suggest himself as her
partner. "Do you suppose the countess will wear her 'tie-airy?'" Budd
added.
"Do countesses have tiaras?" asked Betty. "I hope whatever she has she
will wear it. What is the use of being a countess if you can't have some
sign of it?"
"Sure Mike," said slangy Budd, who was to be very correct in his speech
in the high society atmosphere at the Murchison home a few nights later.
Betty felt very fine indeed, when the Murchison car came for her. Lucia
had told her that day at school that it would. "We're taking care of my
sorority and your little crowd, Betty, which is my crowd, too, though
they don't seem to know it since I joined the sorority. I didn't think
it would make that difference."
"Do you really care about the girls, Lucia?"
"Of course I do."
"Then I'll tell them, if you don't mind."
"Tell away," said this Italian-American girl with a laugh.
So here were both Carolyn and Kathryn in the car with Peggy and another
of the sorority girls. There was plenty of room for them to keep their
fluffy dresses from being mussed and with great anticipations they
arrived at the large place which Lucia now called home.
Mr. Murchison was a widower of some two years' standing. This accounted
for the fact that the recent visit had been the first that Mrs. Lee had
made there. There was no entertaining done until his sister, the
countess, came home. Mr. Murchison had explained the situation to Mr.
Lee early in their acquaintance and entertained Mr. Lee and other men
friends at his club down town. There was an old, old grandmother, Betty
had heard, but Lucia never talked about the household and Betty, of
course, never inquired.
There were no class or sorority decorations here. The great rooms, of an
old-fashioned type with their high ceilings, heavy woodwork, dark and
carved, were fragrant with the odor of roses, which were Lucia's
favorite flowers. The walls bore some fine originals from the brush of
famous artists and Betty felt that she would like to wander through the
rooms just to look at them.
But human relations were more interesting yet. The countess did wear her
tiara. Perhaps Lucia had suggested that the girls would like it. At any
rate here was near-royalty with its jewels. Lucia was in pink, very
becoming to her style, and wore pink corals, necklace and bracelets. But
Lucia, in the language of society, was a sub-deb and must not be too
gorgeous yet.
Handsome books were in the library. Vases, tapestry, and rugs, exquisite
ornaments, not in too great a profusion, indicated the wealth and taste
that had collected them. Poor Mr. Murchison, thought Betty, to think he
had to lose the wife that helped him make this home. But there again,
Betty was mistaken, for it was the Murchison wealth and taste, including
that of the Countess Coletti, that had made the old home what it was.
Mr. Murchison received with the Countess and Lucia. Betty had thought
that possibly the sorority president would be asked to receive with
Lucia. But no, it was merely the family, distinguished enough to be
sure. Mr. Murchison had not forgotten Betty and met her with a kindly
grace. "You are particularly welcome, Miss Lee," said he. "I have not
forgotten how you and your father looked after Lucia and my sister for
me."
The first comers were a bit overwhelmed with the elegance of everything,
but the countess was cordial and easy and as the rooms filled up with
familiar faces, the general stiffness disappeared. Ted Dorrance was
there and a number of juniors, Marcella, of course, and her friends of
both junior and senior classes. Some older boys Betty did not know at
all, as well as girls, airy and assured, that Betty thought must be from
the private schools of which Lucia had spoken. But they were pretty and
clever and with charming manners. Betty was glad to meet some of them.
Mathilde was in her element, so far as her feelings was concerned, Betty
saw; but she felt sorry for her, for she was so evidently not of the
elect, so far as those other girls were concerned.
Chet and the boys that she knew came around, with Carolyn, Kathryn and
the other girls. Lucia mingled with them all and the countess did not
retire, as mothers have some times been known to do. Even Mr. Murchison
stayed until games and some dancing were started. Then he disappeared.
And Lucia, too, had an orchestra to discourse sweet music, either for
dancing or games or, later, for supper. But who should be her partner
for a funny game of which Betty had never heard before, but Marcella's
brother, the Pirate of Penzance!
"I believe, I'm quite sure, indeed, that this is the fair Titania," said
he, as Marcella introduced him to Betty and told him that he was
supposed to be Betty's partner "for these games," said Marcella.
"Do you know how to play this?" asked Lawrence Waite.
"No, I don't," replied Betty, as Marcella left them.
"Then come on," said Lawrence. "I know a secluded and not too secluded
spot. Let's talk. They'll let me do it because I'm not in school with
the rest of you, and already I know Lucia very well."
Lawrence Waite, known as Larry, explained to Betty, as he escorted her
to just such a spot as she had read about in the grown-up books. Well,
what of it? Wasn't she past sixteen? Why should she not have a handsome
young man seating her in the conservatory by a fountain? It turned out
to be some sort of a treasure hunt; but when Ted rushed by and called,
"Come on, Larry, get into the game after treasure," Larry waved a
careless hand and said, "I've found her."
Ted laughed, appreciating the point and Betty naturally dimpled with
amusement, but Larry turned to her again, smiling, but not altogether in
fun. "Really, Miss Lee, I have wanted to meet you since that Hallowe'en
at our house."
"It has been sometime, Mr. Waite," suggested Betty demurely.
"Yes, but I've been away at college except at the Christmas vacation.
I'm home on a rush trip now. Father wanted me to come, a business matter
in which I could help him. I wanted to ask you if you minded that little
affair. I was around looking for things for Marcella, and I took a
chance of frightening you, I know, when I lit that candle; but I had
recognized you, that is, as Titania, and I had to make a train and
wanted to see what you really looked like. You were very good to take
off your mask."
"It was just great fun, Mr. Waite. I should think I didn't mind! It
would have been very stupid just to have your candle go out and not to
have a single thing happen, not even to look into the mirror."
Larry had half a mind to mention one more thing that he had been tempted
to have happen when he saw Betty's face under that shining hair, but he
decided that it was not best. She might think it just his line, and she
was too sweet anyhow and too young for any suggestion of a stolen kiss.
Pray heaven she went through high school and college as above anything
doubtful as she was now! Larry had asked his sister what sort of a girl
Betty Lee was, for Larry Waite was really interested.
"It was fun for both of us, then. I told at college that I had looked
over a girl's shoulder in a mirror at Hallowe'en and the fellows said,
'Beware, Larry.'"
"I'm not a bit dangerous," laughed Betty, though pleased. Betty was
modern enough not to be entirely unsophisticated and she did think that
this was what the girls called his "line." But it was a jolly one,
anyhow. She could safely have a good time with Marcella's brother. He
reminded her how as Titania and the Pirate of Penzance they had tripped
"the light fantastic" together and now, as her especial cavalier through
the games and at supper, he really took her some distance on the path of
pleasant acquaintance.
There was no more on the personal line but they were as one on athletics
and many other features of school life. Betty was fascinated at his
tales of college life and thought it must be great fun to be away at
school. Larry was quite popular with all the girls, Betty saw, and she
wondered how Marcella had happened to assign him to her for the supper,
for Betty was too modest still to guess that he had made the arrangement
with Marcella, who was planning the arrangements with Lucia and the
countess.
If any one had expected any Italian dishes at supper she was doomed to
disappointment. Perhaps the countess was as glad to return to American
food and cooking as are many travelers. At any rate it was the customary
late evening supper, dainty and appetizing. Lights, conversation, gay
dresses, young faces, much laughter--Betty never _would_ forget it she
declared to Doris the next morning as she described it in detail to her
sister.
"Everybody and everything were lovely, Dorry. I wish you could have been
with me. And the Countess Coletti is a peach!" with which conclusion
Betty hopped out of bed and began to dress.
"Isn't it a pity," sighed Doris, "that life can't be parties all the
time? And think of it, Betty; school is almost out and next year you'll
be a junior!"
"That is so," thoughtfully replied Betty, but she was thinking just then
of the "Pirate of Penzance."