IN CLASSIC HALLS
A third year at Greycliff begun! Could it be possible? Where had the
time gone? When the girls thought of their studies, they realized
that there had been hard work enough to account for time, but when
they thought of their frolics! And now they were in the collegiate
classes. After all it was jolly to be a junior collegiate at
Greycliff instead of a college freshman somewhere else. The senior
collegiates were paying them a great deal of attention because of
the society “rushing” which began at once. Most of these girls in
the upper class they knew very well, because they had been senior
academy students when some of our Lakeview corridor girls first
entered as juniors in the academy.
Greycliff was as beautiful as ever, with its ivied buildings, velvet
front campus, its “high hill” back of Greycliff Hall, its beaches,
cliffs, windswept lake and tiny river. A new “Greycliff,” a larger
launch than the one which had been wrecked the previous year, rocked
on the water at the dock, to be raved over by the enthusiastic
girls.
“I’m glad they didn’t change the name, aren’t you?” observed Hilary.
“It’s so appropriate.”
“I don’t know but I’d rather have a new name. It’s hard for me to
forget that time when we were all in the water, and afterward when
we didn’t know whether Dorothy and Eloise would ever come to or
not.”
“Oh, that’s just nerves, Betty. You’ll be all right after your first
ride in this one. Think of bobbing up and down on the lake once
more! I made myself get over it. It’s never going to happen again. I
love the water and I’m going to be in it and on it as much as
possible. Besides I’ve learned to swim so much better at camp this
summer.”
“Yes,” acknowledged Betty, “we feel perfectly at home in water now,
and that would make a difference even in a storm, I suppose.”
“I don’t intend to lose what I’ve gained, either,” added Cathalina.
“I don’t suppose I’ll ever have the endurance that some folks have,
but I can keep active, and, as you say, Betty, be at home in the
water. No matter how heavy my school work is, I’m going to keep in
the swimming classes, either in the lake, river or pool, as they
have them.”
“Now, then,” said Lilian, “doesn’t Betty make a nice mummy? I’ve
even put a pillow for her head.”
“Look out, and don’t get any sand in my eyes,” said Betty, winking,
as Lilian patted the sand around her slender figure. “Now you’ve
gotten my sandal loose,” and the “mummy” wiggled her sandaled feet
free from the sand coverlet and sprang up. “Come on; one more dive
and then we’ll go up and get ready for the Psyche Club meeting.”
The September day had been warm and ideal for beach parties and
swimming. The sandy beach was well occupied by water sprites in
bathing suits of different colors. Classes had closed earlier than
usual that Friday afternoon, to let the girls take advantage of the
unusually warm day so late in September. Miss Randolph herself, and
most of the women teachers, were down, and were having a teachers’
beach party. But it was now almost time for dinner and some of the
parties were beginning to break up.
“If the teachers are having such a big beach party, the dinner will
be light, I’m afraid,” said Lilian, as the girls went up to the
hall.
“You forget the men,” said Isabel Hunt, who had joined them. “They
didn’t have any beach parties, and will be as hungry as we are.
Trust the matron to remember that.”
“Anyhow we are going to have eats at the Psyche Club. We have a
birthday cake for Virgie, you know. You didn’t hint a word to her,
did you, Isabel?”
“Not I, and she has forgotten that we said our first feast would be
in her honor.”
“Don’t be too sure of that. Remember, she said she never had a
birthday celebrated in her life.”
“Well, she thinks we have forgotten, then; nobody has said a word
about her birthday.”
“Yes, there has,” said Betty. “You know she came right on to
Greycliff from camp, and I asked her if they celebrated her
birthday, on the first, you know, and she said that she hadn’t told
anybody about it, so of course nobody did.”
“Oh, they don’t celebrate birthdays at Greycliff!”
“No, but there were several girls here the latter part of the
summer, and I thought perhaps they had had some fun.”
“Anyway, no one has called this a ‘feast,’ and I’m sure she can’t
suspect about the cake.”
“Let’s hope so.”
“What else are you going to have?” asked Isabel.
“Sandwiches and lemonade,” replied Hilary. “They are going to let us
have some ice. And we are going to have ice-cream delivered from
Greycliff Village at exactly eight-thirty, and we have a box of
candy for Virgie. Cathalina had Philip send it. That’s all beside
the cake. We have permission to stay up till ten o’clock if we are
quiet.”
“I think it would be fun if we all gave Virgie something.”
“It might make her feel uncomfortable,” said sensible Hilary. “We
did think of getting some ten-cent store things, just for fun, but
decided not to. Remember how dignified we are getting to
be—collegiates!”
“And we have a lot of business to transact, too. Aren’t we going to
elect officers, and maybe a new member or two?”
“I don’t know, Isabel. For my part I’d rather just have a social
meeting. We might talk things over, of course.”
“Oh, yes, Hilary,” said Betty; “let’s not have any business this
time.”
“Why bother to make any plans at all?” remarked Lilian; “no hurry
about anything.”
“True,” said Hilary; “but we’ve got to straighten up our little
suite before dinner. It’s a sight. We’ve been letting things go all
week in the excitement of getting started in classes and everything
else. Besides we have forgotten how to live at Greycliff. First we
had simple living and taking turns at the little bit we had to do at
camp. Then we had luxury at Cathalina’s with nothing to do, and if
the rest of you were like me at home you did little but scramble
around for some school clothes to wear, and visit with your folks. I
followed Mother around and helped a little, while we talked _all_
the time—so much to tell about the whole summer, and so little time
to tell it in. One morning it was too funny. We had a regular
procession. The maid was away, and I wiped the dishes for Mother and
talked, while Gordon, Tommy, June and Mary were all in the kitchen,
listening and putting in a little occasionally, especially June
about camp. Then, when we went in another room, they all followed,
and when Mother and I went out into the yard to hang up a few towels
to dry, Father saw us, coming out in line, and nearly perished with
mirth.”
“Imagine the dignified Dr. Lancaster’s ‘perishing with mirth’!” said
Isabel.
“That was poetic exaggeration,” admitted Hilary.
After dinner and the usual stroll outdoors till darkness fell and
the bell for study hours rang, the Psyche Club began to gather in
the suite occupied by Cathalina and Betty, Hilary and Lilian, for
there was the same arrangement which had been made the year before.
Juliet Howe, Pauline Tracy, Eloise Winthrop and Helen Paget, also,
were together. Isabel Hunt and Avalon Moore had moved into a suite
with Virginia Hope and Olivia Holmes, but Isabel and Virginia roomed
together, and Avalon was with Olivia. Whether Virginia and Olivia
should now be taken into the Psyche Club was a question to be
settled. Evelyn Calvert, who had been with the girls at camp, was
invited to this gathering, but Helen Paget was to go after her, and
Isabel was to bring the other girls at the proper time.
“Are we all here?” asked Hilary at last. “Let’s have a brief
business meeting and get the elections over. What do you say,
girls?”
“All right,” came from various quarters, and the president tapped
for order.
“Has the nominating committee a report?”
“Yes, Madam President,” replied Isabel, its chairman. “We offer the
names of Cathalina Van Buskirk for president and Lilian North for
secretary and treasurer.”
“How shall we elect the officers? Are there any other names
suggested? Sit down, Cathalina and Lilian. Nobody can refuse an
office in the Psyche Club except when in—incapacitated!”
“I move that we elect by acclamation.”
“Is this motion seconded?”
“I second the motion.”
“It has been moved and seconded that Cathalina and Lilian be
president and secretary, respectively. Any remarks? If any one has
anything to say let him say it now or else forever after hold his
peace!—except Cathalina or Lilian; they can’t say anything till
afterward.”
The girls were all laughing at this high-handed proceeding.
“All in favor say ‘Aye!’” A chorus of “Ayes” responded.
“All opposed, ‘No.’” Silence.
“Cathalina and Lilian are unanimously elected.”
“We will now regard the place where Cathalina is as the ‘chair.’ My
place is too comfortable to give to anybody.”
Cathalina gave smiling thanks to the girl for her “high honor,” and
suggested that remarks about election of members were in order if
some one would make a motion.
“I move, Madam President, that, considering our experience last
year, we do not elect any members until their sentiments toward the
Psyche Club be sounded out.”
“Hear, hear!” said Eloise. “I think that Isabel’s idea is good. Do
you remember how we felt when Dorothy and Jane refused?”
“There were special influences there, and we might have known!”
“That’s so, Lilian. Did we ever tell you how we appreciated your
being the victim?”
“Oh, I didn’t mind asking them, and I tried to take it gracefully.
Shall we try to get them this year?”
“I was sure they hated to refuse, so let’s wait and see if they are
as intimate with that other crowd as they were last year. And when
the invitations are out for the collegiate literary societies it may
make a difference, too.”
“How about Virginia and Olivia and Evelyn? I think it would be
lovely to invite them tonight if we are going to do it.”
“Does anybody know how they feel about it?”
“I should say we do!” said Isabel and Avalon in one breath. “Of
course they haven’t _said_ a thing about it, but we can tell by
looks and little remarks about the pins or compliments to you girls
that they would be tickled to death if we asked ’em.” This was
Isabel who spoke. “_I’m_ sure that we’ll be proud to have Virginia
wear our pin, and while Olivia isn’t quite so good a student, she is
a sweet, generous girl. Is there anybody that doesn’t like her?”
Isabel looked around the circle, while the girls shook their heads.
“This is all out of order, girls,” said the new president. “There is
no motion before the house! And Isabel’s motion, which was not
seconded, was negative so I can’t put it.”
“I move, Madam President,” said Isabel, very formally, “that we
elect the guests who are coming tonight.”
“I second the motion.”
Cathalina put the motion and it was carried, the girls mentioning
the names of Olivia, Virginia, and Evelyn Calvert. “Go for them,
girls,” said Cathalina, “and spread the feast. Won’t it be fun?”
“Hurry up, Hilary, and get the cake out in the middle of the table.
Where are the candles?”
“In it, Betty. Isn’t it a beauty? Virginia’s name in red cinnamon
drops just like the kiddies at camp!” The sandwiches were set out,
the ice fixed in the lemonade, and by that time the guests were
heard coming down the hall and excited voices drew nearer.
“Who do you suppose is here?” cried Isabel, leading the way, and
ushering in Diane Percy, while the other guests, all smiles, waited
in the doorway.
“Diane!”
“Diane!”
“The other sweet P!”
“Why, Diane! You never told me you were coming!” cried Helen Paget.
“My darling ‘Imp’!”
Virginia and Olivia were the only ones who would not have understood
who Diane was, and it had been explained to them on the way, as with
Isabel they had met Evelyn, Diane and Pauline. They were much amused
to hear that Diane and Helen had been dubbed the “Imps” by some
offended collegiates in their first year at Greycliff and had also
been known as the sweet P’s—Percy and Paget.
After Diane had been duly embraced and welcomed, Cathalina called
the girls to order for a moment and they dropped where they were,
either into chairs or on the floor. Cathalina had had a brilliant
thought, and explaining that she had a Psyche Club message to
deliver which would not be a secret but for a few moments, she
called Betty to her, whispered a moment, something which made Betty
laugh and wave her hand in approval. Betty then made the rounds of
the members, whispered a question, which was answered in every case
with a fervent “Yes, indeed!” and returned to Cathalina with the
report, announced publicly: “Your question, O most worthy President,
is answered in the affirmative by every member of the club.”
“So be it,” said Cathalina. “Dear guests of the Psyche Club, a short
time before you were summoned a motion was presented and passed
electing _our guests_ to membership in the Psyche Club. I have the
honor, then, to ask Miss Olivia Holmes, Miss Virginia Hope, Miss
Evelyn Calvert and Miss Diane Percy if they will join us.”
The girls enjoyed the surprised and happy expressions of Virgie and
Olivia. Diane had not heard of the Psyche Club, but rose and said,
“Whatever that club may be, beloved sisters, I am yours. Oh, isn’t
this fun? Girls, I don’t see how I stood it not to come back last
year!”
Evelyn told the girls that she had been aching for one of the
butterfly pins, to say nothing of the honor of belonging to the
club. Virgie and Olivia expressed their pleasure in a modest way,
and Cathalina rapped for order again.
“There is one more happy event which I have the pleasure to
announce. Part, indeed a great part, of this celebration is in honor
of the birthday of one of our number.” Here the guests were
wondering whose it was. “The day itself is past, but we were not
here to celebrate it, so we are having a little spread in honor of
Miss Virginia Hope. Minions, bring forward the banquet table!”
Hilary and Betty were the minions who carried the table from behind
a screen to the middle of the floor.
Virginia blushed deeply and stood dumbly while this was done, then
lit the tapers as she was told. The girls joined hands and sang the
camp birthday song as they circled around Virgie and the birthday
cake. “Oh, it’s perfectly lovely of you! I’ll never get over it!”
Isabel pretended to support her when the box of candy was presented
by Lilian, and then the girls settled down to the joys of eating and
talking, both of which they seemed to be able to do at the same
time.
Eloise looked a bit sober. Lilian said afterward that she thought
she saw tears in her eyes, and wondered why. But she soon brightened
up and took her plate over close to Diane, where she sat down. As
soon as she had opportunity, she said to Diane, “You used to room
with Helen, you know, and I have been waiting to get a chance to
tell you that I’ll not stand in your way. _I’m_ sure that Miss
Randolph can arrange something for me, and you can have your place
with Helen back. I suppose we can’t do it tonight, but just as soon
as it can be arranged.”
“Aren’t you a dear!” exclaimed Diane. “It is just like you, Eloise,
but I wouldn’t _think_ of letting you do it. It is all arranged, my
dear girl. My trunk was just brought up to Evelyn’s room tonight.
She and I, with Dorothy Appleton and Jane Mills, have a suite
together.”
“Dorothy Appleton and Jane Mills!” exclaimed Eloise.
“Why do you exclaim over that?”
“Nothing, only—I’ll tell you some time. They are fine girls—and,
Diane, it is lovely of you to let me stay with Helen.”
“I wanted to surprise Helen, so I did not write to anybody except to
Evelyn after Miss Randolph suggested this arrangement. I’ve known
Evelyn for a long time, though we were not very chummy that first
year, and we shall be as happy as can be. You see I did not know
whether I could come this year or not, and did not dare make
arrangements till I was sure.”
Diane told Helen and some of the other girls about Eloise’s intended
sacrifice, and Cathalina happened to repeat the story to Miss
Randolph in one of her talks with her; for Miss Randolph never
forgot to have an occasional visit with the niece of her firm
friend, Katherine Knickerbocker. Not long afterward, Miss Randolph
gave her first monthly address to the girls in the chapel. She had
chosen as her subject “Heroines,” and in the course of her remarks
referred to a girl who was willing to give up her cherished place in
one of the best suites in school for the happiness, as she thought,
of two friends. “A girl who does any act, great or simple, which
requires courage and unselfishness, physical or spiritual, is a
heroine. We want our girls to get so into the habit of doing the
brave, noble thing, and of making the higher choice, that nothing
else will ever occur to them. We want to train heroines in
Greycliff!”