FIRST IMPRESSIONS
Jean awoke with a start and sat straight up in bed. "Don't be alarmed,
Jean," said Anna; "it isn't a fire; just the rising bell which rings
every morning at ten minutes before seven. There's another one at seven
and the breakfast bell at half-past. Of course no one needs forty
minutes to dress for breakfast, and before long you will be able to do
it in five, or ten at the most. Meals are served promptly here and Mrs.
Thompson is very particular about having every one on time. So if you
do oversleep I warn you that you'll get no breakfast unless you keep a
good supply of food in your room. And there's danger in that, too, for
mice fairly haunt these rooms, especially the closets and behind the
radiators, for that's a favorite dumping place for crumbs. I remember
the winter that our room seemed to be a regular gathering-place for
them, and once when I had one of the girls from home out here over
night we had a merry chase with five from under our beds before we
could get any sleep. One morning not long after that my room-mate found
one in her bed when she was making it up. She never knew whether it had
been there all night or not, but she very carefully examined her bed
ever after that before she got into it.
"Well, suppose we arise and take plenty of time to dress this morning
and make our best appearance at the breakfast table. You know first
impressions are often lasting and as most of the girls here are
upper-class girls I want them to see you at your best. Of course,
dear, you always look well; you can't help it any more than you can
help breathing, but this is a special occasion. Wear one of those
good-looking white linens I saw you hang up in the closet last night. I
must say I admire your Aunt Molly's choice of materials and dressmaker,
judging from the clothes I've seen so far. You must open the other
trunk and show me your best gowns before I depart. And by the way,
Jean, that must be to-night. We'll start in town early and have a good
afternoon of it and I'll leave you at the North Station on the right
train for Ashton. You won't mind the short ride out here alone, will
you? I'd love to stay the rest of the week, but you know how little
time I have left to finish my preparations for the hospital, and I
wouldn't be found deficient for anything.
"Of course you take a cold bath every morning; any one could tell that
just to look at you. Well, hustle into the bath-room now, for I just
heard some one leave it. When you're finished, please draw the water
for me."
As the two girls entered the long dining-room they found most of the
seats at table occupied, for they were a bit late in spite of their
thirty minutes. However, Mrs. Thompson was always lenient first
mornings and greeted them with a pleasant smile. "You will sit at the
end of the second table, Miss Cabot, and your cousin may sit beside you
this morning, as Miss White, who will have that seat permanently, has
not yet arrived."
"Oh, I had hoped that would be my room-mate's seat. Where will she sit?"
"Why, of course you didn't know that Miss Fairfax is to wait on table
here and so will not have a regular table seat."
At these words Jean's expression changed and she looked so astonished
that Anna said softly, "You know, dear, some of the girls who haven't
much money pay their board by waiting on table. Lots of girls do it,
and it's perfectly all right. Some of the best girls I ever knew worked
their way through college." Jean said nothing, but she was bitterly
disappointed. Why couldn't her room-mate have been Miss Remington or
some one equally attractive? She was already beginning to wish that
she'd been fortunate enough to draw a single room.
If Nan Maitlandt had wished to have her cousin make a favorable
impression on the other girls in Merton she certainly succeeded in
doing so. Jean was tall and broad-shouldered, with a splendidly
developed figure, a perfect picture of health and strength. She had
masses of yellow hair which she wore this morning coiled in thick
braids round her well-shaped head. Her eyes were dark and her skin,
naturally fair, was now somewhat tanned from her out-of-door life. She
wore a severe white linen dress with a turned down collar and a bow
of black which set off her style of beauty to perfection. She carried
herself well and with head held high in the air she had entered the
room almost unconscious of its occupants. The girls stared for a moment
and then whispered comments on her beauty and wondered who she could
be. Mrs. Thompson soon went the rounds of the tables introducing the
new girls until at length everybody knew everybody else.
There were about a hundred girls seated at the three long tables and
only here and there appeared a vacant seat. At Jean's table there were
five freshmen besides herself, and much to her satisfaction she soon
discovered her acquaintance of the day before, Miss Remington, half way
down the other side of the table. Peggy Allison and her room-mate were
at the first table at the opposite end from Jean, but they waved her a
hearty welcome, even at that distance. She looked at the girls around
her laughing and talking and seeming so perfectly at home and she had
to admit to herself that they were a happy lot and if so many girls
found college such good fun there ought to be something in it for her.
Most of the conversation at her end of the table seemed to be on summer
vacations and proposed studies for the coming year. Just beyond Nan sat
a freshman named Miss Samson, who after some deliberation found the
courage to lean forward a little and ask Jean if she had decided what
studies to take. Jean answered cordially in the negative and added that
her cousin was to help her choose them later on. She was conditioned in
French, so she supposed she'd have to take that, although she hated it
thoroughly.
After breakfast the girls collected here and there about the
reading-room and halls in little groups. Miss Remington came up at
once to where Jean was standing and talked casually about her room and
trunks and then asked her how long her cousin would remain with her.
Upon hearing that she was to leave that evening she promised to spend
the night with Jean, so she wouldn't get lonesome. Jean was delighted,
for to herself she admitted that Marjorie appealed much more to her
than any of the other girls she had met, excepting, perhaps, Natalie
Lawton. She hoped they were going to be good friends even if they were
not in the same class.
Registration was to be at ten o'clock and Nan suggested that they go
up to 45 and talk over studies before Jean made out her programme.
She had arranged some tennis with Peggy and Natalie at ten-thirty and
then after lunch they would take the first train for Boston. Nan had
been a good, all-around girl in college, but had maintained a high
standard in her studies and was anxious to have Jean do the same,
but she was discovering that Jean cared very little for her books.
Every freshman was required to take English and mathematics and had
the choice of the other subjects. As Jean had been conditioned in
French her cousin suggested that she begin at once to remove the
condition. By satisfactorily completing a course in French at the end
of the year this could be done. Jean agreed to this and then after
much discussion she decided to add German, oratory and music to the
list, with gymnasium work twice a week. Mathematics and German were
to come Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings; French and English,
Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday mornings; oratory once a week on a day
to be announced later; "gym" two hours each on Tuesday and Thursday
afternoons and music two hours a week when she could arrange it with
the instructor.
"That looks like a pretty stiff programme to me, Nan," said Jean; "I
don't see any time in the week for anything but studying. A girl can't
study all the time, you know. I want to do other things, too."
"You will find plenty of time for other things, dear, for this isn't
a very hard programme. You will find any number of girls taking more
than you have. You'll have every Saturday afternoon free, and generally
the girls go in town to the theater that day. Boston always has all
the best plays and music and there are Wednesday matinées, too. I
don't advise cutting recitations, but once in a while when there's
something worth while it won't do any harm. Then, Friday afternoon is
Symphony rehearsal, which you must hear once in a while. The faculty
very often advise the girls to attend certain performances and are very
willing to chaperon them. Speaking of the faculty, I think you are
going to enjoy all of yours, for I had them all with the exception of
Miss Whittemore, the gym instructor, who is new this year, and I can
vouch for them. My advice is to work hard at the beginning of the year,
get the principles of the study and a good foundation and the second
half-year will come easy. Don't let things slide, for it's awfully hard
to make up a lot of work in a short time. If you must cut classes or
chapel, cut consistently. To-morrow morning you will meet some of the
instructors and have lessons assigned for next week. Things will hardly
be in running order before a week, so you can take your own time for a
few days. Now we'll start for the office and get registration off our
hands. Is your programme written out carefully; ready to pass in to
the clerk? Let's stop for the other freshmen on our way downstairs so
we can all go together."
Nan and her six charges hurried up the hill as the college clock rang
out its ten strokes. The office was crowded and each girl had to pass
in single file before the registrar. It took some time for Jean to
reach the desk and when at length it was her turn to sign her name to
the great book and pass her programme to the waiting clerk she gave a
sigh of relief. Now she was a freshman and the year had actually begun,
and there was no turning back. Hurriedly the six girls were shown over
College Hall and Nan pointed out the mathematics room and then the
French room and so on until they all knew where to go on the following
days. In one of the rooms on the third floor they met Miss Whiting, and
as Nan had always enjoyed her courses in spite of some rather marked
peculiarities, she was glad to stop and talk with her and have her know
her charges. They talked a few moments, long enough to have her ask the
girls if they had yet seen the ivy on the chapel tower. Nan had to
admit that as yet they had not, pleading as her excuse that she wished
them to see the chapel for the first time the following day at chapel
exercises. Remembering her tennis appointment, Nan invited the other
freshmen to accompany Jean and herself to the courts, but as they had
their rooms to settle and letters to write they returned to the hall.
Soon the two reached the courts and found plenty of girls enjoying the
game. They had time for two sets in which Jean showed her skill and she
and Nan easily defeated their opponents, causing Peggy to exclaim, "You
see, Nat, it's as I said, you'll have to work hard for championship
next year."
The afternoon passed all too quickly for Jean. Nan knew just what
stores to shop in and just what to buy and before she realized it the
long list had been bought and ordered to be sent out to Merton. They
had time for tea in a quiet little English tea room which Nan often
frequented, and here she told Jean some of her own plans for the future
and how she had decided to take up hospital work. Her conversation
revealed quite another girl from the light-hearted one of the last two
days, and Jean found herself admiring her cousin more than ever.
"You must come in to see me whenever I have time off and you can
arrange it. I shall feel the greatest interest in your life at college,
for in a way I feel responsible for it. There are many things I might
have told you, but I am going to let you meet problems and solve them
by yourself. Now we must start for the station or we'll miss the train."
When they reached the station Nan said that she knew they would find
friends on the train, but Jean pleaded to be left alone, for she wanted
to think things over by herself. Nan stayed until the train pulled out
of sight and then gayly started homeward, saying to herself, "I'll bet
on Jean every time. She'll have no end of trouble, but she'll come out
all right in the end."
When the train drew into the Ashton Station Jean alighted with the
others and as she stepped off the train she found Marjorie Remington
waiting for her.
"I thought you'd be out on this train, so I came down to meet you." So
saying, she put her arm through Jean's in a friendly manner and they
started up the hill.
"Supper isn't for half an hour yet; let's take a walk and see the
sunset from the hill. I never stay in the 'dorm' when there's any
possible excuse for being out of doors. Thank goodness there's no
lessons until next week. Have you promised to do anything Saturday
afternoon?"
"No," said Jean.
"Well, I want you to spend it with me then in town. I'll get tickets
for 'The Spring Maid'; everybody's wild about it. Are you fond of the
theater?"
"Yes, but I've never been very often except once in a while with father
or one of my brothers. We live some distance out of the city and it's
pretty hard getting home after the theater."
"Oh, I'm just crazy over it, and never miss a Saturday afternoon if I
can help it."
"I'm going to ask Mrs. Thompson if I can change seats with Miss White
and sit next to you at table. I've no use for the girls who sit on
either side of me and I'd much rather sit beside you. Let's go to
supper now, this walk has made me hungry as a bear. Wait a minute in
the hall while I speak to Mrs. Thompson about changing."
When Marjorie returned she looked anything but pleased and exclaimed,
"Just like her, says she has assigned the seats and doesn't want to
change them even for one meal. Well, I sha'n't tell her that we're
going to room together to-night, for I suppose she'd put her foot down
on that, too. She's certainly the crankiest individual I ever ran up
against."
As the two girls entered the dining-room, arm in arm, several of the
older girls smiled and looked knowingly at each other. Peggy Allison
seemed a bit worried, as she whispered to Natalie, "Midge Remington's
up to her old game again, always appropriating the best-looking girl in
the place. We'd better look out or we'll lose this Jean Cabot."
After supper, one of the girls went over to the piano and began
playing a dreamy waltz. The chairs were moved to one side and several
of the girls began to dance. Natalie came up to Jean and asked her for
the waltz. "You'll have to lead, Miss Cabot, you're so tall. Why, it
will be almost as good as dancing with a man, you're so big and strong."
"I don't know how to lead, Miss Lawton. I never have danced with girls
before."
"Well, I'll show you over here at one side. You'll have to content
yourself here dancing with girls, for we only have men on state
occasions, which are few and far between." And the two left the others
for a little lesson in leading. It did not take Jean long to learn, and
soon they were swinging over the floor with the others.
"Why, Miss Lawton," exclaimed Jean as the music stopped, "I wouldn't
have believed it could be such fun to dance with girls and lead. Won't
she play some more music?"
"Yes, we generally dance half an hour after supper every evening and
the girls take turns playing. Will you play for us some times? Nan
says you play beautifully. In Merton we believe in making every girl
do all she can for the good of the rest. If I don't see you again
while you're dancing I want to invite you down to 27 Saturday evening
to meet some of my friends and a few of the freshmen. I hope your
room-mate will have arrived by that time; if so, please invite her for
me, although I shall try to see her myself. Thanks for this splendid
dance." And she hastened on to another freshman.
Jean had plenty of opportunities to dance and at the last dance
Marjorie Remington came up to her and said, "Now for my turn. I've been
waiting patiently all the evening. You seem to be in great demand."
After the dance was finished the two girls went up to Marjorie's room;
several of the other girls dropped in and made themselves comfortable
in the rather close quarters.
"Have some chocolates, girls," said Marjorie as she passed them a large
five-pound Huyler's box. "Wasn't it good of Jack to leave this with me
at the train?" Everybody but Jean seemed to know who Jack was, but she
asked no questions and the conversation changed from one subject to
another. Suddenly there came a knock at the door. As Marjorie opened it
the girls saw Mrs. Thompson standing in the hall with a shy, timid girl
behind her.
"Is Miss Cabot in your room, Miss Remington? I saw you go up the stairs
together. I should like her to meet her room-mate, Miss Fairfax, who
has just arrived."
Jean left the room and the merry group assembled there and went
somewhat reluctantly into 45. Introductions were soon over and Mrs.
Thompson left the two girls together. Jean soon learned that it was
Elizabeth's brother who had been ill with typhoid fever, but his
condition was so much improved that she was no longer needed at home.
She was very tired, for it had been five long weeks that she had helped
to care for him, but she felt she must leave for college as soon as
possible in order not to miss any more than was absolutely necessary.
Could she go to bed at once, she asked, and leave all her unpacking
until the next day? Jean helped her as best she could and before long
she was sound asleep in the little white bed and Jean stole softly back
into Marjorie's room.
The girls had left and she found Marjorie propped up on the couch
writing a letter.
"Come right in. I'm only writing to Jack to thank him for the
chocolates. Well, isn't it a shame to have our plans for to-night
spoiled? What do you think of your room-mate? Isn't she awful? Worse
than any of mine. Did you notice her hat? Where do you suppose she
hails from? Hard luck for you, that's all I've got to say. Well, make
yourself at home in my room any time you want to, whether I'm here or
not."
"Yes, she is a disappointment, but perhaps things will look different
in the morning. Good night, I guess I'm tired, too," and Jean left the
room and was soon sleeping quietly in the other white bed in 45.