TEA FOR TWO
Mimi was in front of the mirror in her green polka dot pajamas trying
to do a back flip like a Vandy cheer leader when Sue and Chloe walked
in. Betsy was still in bed.
"Pardon me," Sue grinned. "I was looking for Tumble Inn and gracious
me, my eyes must be going back on me. I've walked right into Barnum and
Bailey's circus winter quarters."
She winked at Chloe who could always manage to keep a straight face and
they backed out.
"Here," Mimi called so loud that she awakened Betsy. "Don't dare leave
without coming in and telling us where you've been."
"Oh--places." Chloe teased shrugging--"and you?"
"You know good and well where we've been but oh boy! We had a perfectly
precious time. Look," Mimi gushed pointing out her souvenirs. She had
pinned the football up by the mirror near Jack's picture. The program
was being pressed dry under the treasure chest.
Before Sue had time to examine either or Chloe to admire the crushed
mums in the window, Mimi was exclaiming, "Out with it. Where have you
been?"
"I don't care," Betsy said sleepily. "Don't tell us."
"Aunt Marcia came to see me," Chloe said proudly. It was fine to have a
family.
"Where is she?" Mimi wanted to know. She'd like to see Aunt Marcia. She
wished she had the nerve to ask her some questions. Was she a large,
slow moving woman? If you called her Aunt Freida suddenly as if by
mistake would she flinch?
"Gone. We went out to dinner and a movie with her and spent the night
at the hotel with her. She left on the early train and sent us home in
a taxi."
"That makes us even," Betsy said. "What are we going to do all day.
This is only Friday and there's tomorrow, too."
"So few of us are here, I imagine we can do what we please. I know,"
Mimi raised her voice, "let's ride horseback!"
"Oh, let's."
"We can rent horses out at the Riding Academy. The college girls go all
the time and I've just been dying to. Betsy, would you ask Mrs. Cole?"
"I will if no one else will but I asked her just the other day about
Nashville. How about you, Sue? Did you or Chloe ask for your
permission?"
"Aunt Marcia asked for us," Chloe answered for Sue.
"Sure, I'll ask," Sue spoke up.
While Sue was gone the usual wail went up.
"I intended to wash my hose, write letters, review my geometry, get up
my book report----"
All three had a list.
"There's always tomorrow," Mimi quoted solemnly. "It's a perfect day to
ride--crisp and clear."
"We can go if we take Miss Bassett," Sue burst in with the news.
"Grand," Betsy cried, "but you know what that means. We will have to
pay for her horse. Gee! I'm nearly broke."
"Don't spoil your pretty face with frowns and wrinkles, lovely," Chloe
said quickly. "Aunt Marcia gave me $5.00, _five dollars_, can you hear?"
She ran to her purse and reassured herself it was there.
"We'll pay you back, Chloe."
"Don't worry. It's all in the family."
The girls were beginning to feel like a family, really. Their schedules
had smoothed out, they were accustomed to each other's individuality,
the ugly head of rivalry and jealousy which leered the first few days
had withdrawn. They enjoyed each other and shared their food, spending
money, and now for the first time they were wearing each other's
clothes.
Mimi, of course, had a beautifully tailored habit. She had taken good
care of her patent leather boots. The other girls had jodphurs, so by
exchanging blouses and sweaters a few times they managed to fit
themselves out becomingly. Chloe had the worst time of all. Everything
she had on but her jodphurs was borrowed. She had never been on a horse
in her life. She wasn't too keen on the idea but tried not to show how
she felt, Mimi guessed.
"We'll take good care of you, Chloe. I can give you a few pointers that
will help you. So can Miss Bassett. We'll all ride slowly and keep
together. We'll have a grand time."
They did have a grand time; although, Chloe and Sue both limped the
next two or three days when no one was looking.
When they returned they stopped in the Post Office. That was one place
Mimi never passed without peeking in. Although, she knew exactly when
the mail was put up she always had a hopeful feeling. Today she was not
disappointed. There was a big fat letter from Mother Dear. Mimi dropped
her hat and crop and ripped the letter open.
"Wait 'till Olivia sees this stamp," she said. "She'll go wild."
Mimi devoured every word of the letter. She trailed the other girls on
up to Tumble Inn for the second reading which was usually aloud. Sue,
particularly enjoyed news of Mimi's family.
Mimi straddled a chair backwards, unfolded the letter and prepared to
read----
"Where is Sue? This is getting queer. Has she an invisible cloak? Every
time I've looked for her lately she has disappeared."
"She had a notice in her box to come to the studio. Miss Taylor wanted
to see her."
"What are you saying about me, Chloe?" Sue asked poking her head around
the door.
"Eavesdroppers hear no good of themselves," Betsy quoted.
"Come down to the studio with me, Mimi--'sprise."
She need say no more--at the word "s'prise," Mimi was up and after her.
"You can usher with me at Albert Spaulding's recital!"
Mimi failed to catch Sue's enthusiasm.
"Crazy--you will get to wear your long wedding dress and high heeled
slippers--now--say something."
"Swell! I begin to catch on. But how did you manage to get me in? I'm
not a music student."
"Simple enough. The college music students are going to receive and
serve at the reception and the preps are to usher at the recital. There
are so few of us this year that Miss Taylor thought we'd better get one
or two outsiders. The minute I caught on I asked her if I could ask
you. Here we are and Miss Taylor can tell us exactly what she wants us
to do."
The recital was the biggest event between Thanksgiving and Christmas.
For Sue it was one of the high points of the year. Mimi tried to be as
interested as Sue expected her to be.
Dressing up in the long dress was fun. Thank goodness, Miss Jane had
chosen a rainbow wedding. Her dress was orchid and Sue's was blue. Only
one or two girls mentioned that they were made alike. Every time Mimi
wore the high heeled pumps she handled herself better. Eventually she
hoped to walk gracefully in them, to float along as Miss Jane had. Mimi
even went so far as to pay a college girl fifteen cents to set her
hair. Even though she was wearing it longer than she had at camp, the
wave wouldn't make it "stay put." It wasn't that kind of hair. Betsy
and Chloe had fussed over them no end, patting and preening.
"Leave your hair alone, Mimi," Chloe despaired.
Mimi tried to. All the time she was greeting people and marching
sedately up and down the aisle, she carried her head a bit to one side
so the wildest lock of hair would not fall in her eyes. However, she
and Sue had not been through their duties and seated ten minutes before
Mimi unconsciously tucked the lock behind her ear. Sue did not notice.
She was entranced with the music.
To her there were only two people there, herself and Albert Spaulding
in that enchanted realm of music. His nimble fingers, supple wrist, the
powerful singing tones brought tears to her eyes. She followed with
understanding. She was aware of nothing but a violin laughing, crying.
Mimi was moved by the music but she was much more aware of the artist
himself. She was pleased that he was tall, that his shoulders were
broad. She loved the way he stood with his feet wide apart. How grand
to see an artist who was, withal, such a man. Mimi's mind kept hopping
to tennis racquets and other sporting goods which had made his family
famous. Then she would come back to the music. Several times she
checked down the program to see how much longer it was.
She knew exactly how to act at the reception which followed. Only the
music students were presented to the artist and Mimi felt she shouldn't
barge in on that. She had been very lucky to get to usher. She did,
however, go down the receiving line and chatter with many of the
college girls. She liked knowing them. She was fast growing into one
herself. Nor did she pass up the punch and wafers. Not Mimi. Sue found
her there.
"Lead me upstairs, please," Sue plead in such a queer voice that for a
moment, Mimi was frightened. Was Sue ill? Had she stood on her high
heels too long? Was she going to faint? She was holding out her hand to
Mimi.
"What on earth? Why, you're trembling!"
"Oh, Mimi!" Sue gasped, "I shook his wonderful, magic-making hand!"