At the farther end of the corridor, a crowd had gathered, and the three
girls hurrying there, found that the commotion issued from Charlotte
Graves's room.
Charlotte was explaining; "It was my exasperating lamp. It has always
been wobbly, and tonight, when I chanced to hit the table, it went over.
I might have known enough to pull a blanket off the bed, and smother it;
but, of course, I just stood here and screamed. Then Margaret Hamilton
came in and put it out. That's what it is to have presence of mind!
I always was a fool when there was anything to be done. I tell you what,
Miss Hamilton, those freshmen knew what they were doing when they elected
you class president. If I'm not brilliant myself, I can recognize a good
thing when I see it."
"Miss Graves, I tell you what you must do in sheer gratitude to the
freshmen--invite us all in and get out those delicious cakes and pickles
of yours. You ought to treat."
"That is certainly so, come along, all of you. Sit on the floor if you
can't find any other place to sit," and after the girls had properly
bestowed themselves, she got out her jars and boxes, for Charlotte was
fond of good things and always kept an unlimited supply on hand.
"I trust you understand," she said severely, "that the rest of you
freshmen are only here out of compliment to your president. I don't for
a moment consider the rest of you her equal in anything. As she has the
misfortune, however, to belong to the class of '09 instead of '08, we
must put up with the rest of you, I suppose, for her sake."
There was a chorus of groans from the freshmen, and Charlotte's voice
was drowned in an outburst of animated retorts. Under cover of the fun,
Abby Dunbar said to Dolly, who chanced to be sitting next to her on the
window ledge; "One can see that Margaret is a true aristocrat. It shows
in every move she makes, and every word she says."
"Do you think so?"
"Why, yes, indeed. Surely you have noticed it? Mamma is always so
careful about my associates, but she cannot help being perfectly
delighted with Margaret. Don't you like her?"
"I certainly do."
"I thought you must, for you were so good last fall at the time of our
class elections. Margaret has made an ideal president."
Then the conversation became general again, much to Dolly's relief.
In some way the subject branched off to military men, and Margaret was
appealed to.
"Were any of your relatives army men, Miss Hamilton? And don't you
think that they are the finest men in the world?"
"I have not been blessed with many relations, Miss Fox, and so I have
not had the chance to have military men in my own family and to know them
intimately, as some of you have done. Of course, I admire them. Some of
my ancestors were in the wars of 1776 and 1812, but I never saw them. My
own father was anxious to be a military man and he entered West Point.
He had a splendid record there, and was in love with the life, when he
met with an accident out yachting that ruined his health, left him a
trifle lame, and forced him to give up all thoughts of a military life.
He never got over the disappointment."
There was a general expression of sympathy, and Margaret found herself
the target for more questions than she cared to answer. In such a babel
of voices, however, it was easy to disregard any which she did not choose
to hear, so that she extricated herself serenely from a position which
Dolly knew to be rather trying.
It was late, and as Charlotte's cakes and pickles had been demolished,
the girls separated presently.
"You think that Margaret's story was quite true?" Beth asked as they
slowly paced the corridor on the way back to their rooms.
"I'm sure of it. Of course, her ancestors may have been privates in the
wars of 1776 and 1812, but still they would have been soldiers all the
same."
"But about her father?"
"I imagine that he won his West Point cadetship by a competitive
examination. You know those appointments are given in that way. He may
have been very poor, indeed, but if he stood highest in the examination,
he would certainly receive the appointment. When he left West Point he
evidently had no friends to help him to a good position, and so he took
the first honest work that he could find, at least, I imagine that such
was the case."
"You are about right, I'm sure. Poor Margaret. I don't know why I pity
her, though. She seems quite capable of holding her own. She is worth
a score of Abby Dunbars."
"Miss Dunbar will either be a freshman next year, again, or else become
a special student. I understand that the stupid ones who fail in their
examinations, usually linger on for a year or two as 'specials,' so
that they can say they have been at Westover."
"And Miss Dunbar has failed?"
"Flatly."
"I'm glad that we got through, Beth, and Mary is all right, too. I
was rather worried about Mary's mathematics, to tell the truth, but
her aunt gave her some coaching at the last. She is so thankful that
she will not have to take them next year."
"And I like mathematics better than anything else. I shall take an extra
course in it."
"You will be sure to win the senior prize for that branch, Beth. I am
a little like Mary, however. I shall not take more mathematics than I
absolutely must."
"We'll not take mathematics, or anything else, for three blessed
months."
"We shall have jolly times, my dear, see if we don't."
And they certainly did. In Dolly's eyes, at least, the evening spent
in Professor Newton's room was more important than the commencement
exercises themselves. Professor Newton had taken a quiet moment to thank
Dolly for her real kindness to Mary during the year, and Dolly thereupon
had summoned courage to beg Professor Newton to visit her during the
summer at the Thousand Isles. The invitation had been accepted, and Dolly
felt that her cup of happiness was running over.
Mrs. Newby was very glad to accede to Beth's wishes for the summer; and
the girls had a delightful time, for Mr. Newby was fortunate enough to
secure the cottage adjoining the one which Dolly's father had taken.
Fred brought a crowd of college chums again, and there was plenty of
yachting and fishing. In the evenings there were lovely rows on the St.
Lawrence, and music and singing.
The girls were provided with kodak cameras, and every week they sent a
group of pictures to Mary. She had started for her home on the day that
college closed, but she wrote regularly, and her letters, which seemed
at first quite stiff and formal, grew toward the end of the vacation to
be as chatty and bright as those sent her by Beth and Dolly.
Professor Newton's visit had been postponed until the last fortnight,
and when she came, she found a comparatively small crowd at the Alden
cottage. All of Fred's former visitors had left, but Dick Martin and
Bob Steele had come down for the last part of the vacation. The former
had spent his time in the woods of Maine, while Robert Steele had been
doing hard work in a law office in Boston; for he had fully made up his
mind that he would be a lawyer. He would have a hard time, but he was
becoming accustomed to hard times, and his innate grit and indomitable
pluck would doubtless carry him triumphantly through.
Roy had grown brown and healthy during the summer outing, and Mrs. Newby
declared every day, that she was under infinite obligations to Dolly for
suggesting their coming to the place.
Beth and her stepmother had grown to know each other well, and Beth
was devoted to Mrs. Newby. It seemed as if she were anxious to make
up in some way, for those miserable years that were lost to them through
a wretched misunderstanding. Mr. Newby seemed younger and brighter
than Beth had ever known him before. While he said but little, his wife
realized that he, too, had paid a heavy penalty during those years, and
that now he was rejoicing in the real family love and good fellowship
that pervaded his home.
Professor Newton looked at them all with interested eyes. It seemed
strange enough to her that Robert Steele, whose history she knew, should
find Beth so congenial. While there was plenty of depth to Beth, she
usually showed strangers only the froth and sparkle of her character.
However, the two seemed to understand each well, and to be the best
of friends. One day Professor Newton heard Mr. Newby suggesting that
Rob spend the next summer in Philadelphia and read law in his office.
Naturally enough, the young man grasped the opportunity eagerly. It was
a chance which many young men of wealth and social position coveted,
and it had come to him unsolicited. Professor Newton could not help
wondering if Mr. Newby quite realized what he was doing, but she had
no right to interfere, and she was not even sure that she would have
interfered if she had had the right.
Despite the happy summer-time, the girls were not sorry to return to
college. They were sophomores now, and could afford to look down on the
green freshmen who seemed so forlorn and lonesome. Beth and Dolly fixed
up their rooms in a gorgeous and artistic manner. Dolly's chafing-dish
still held a conspicuous place. Beth had one, too, this year, and their
room bade fair to be one of the most popular in the building.
Mary was next door, and just beyond was Professor Newton's sitting-room;
for the girls had been able to carry out the plan that Mary had proposed
at the close of the freshmen year.
Margaret Hamilton looked into their room as they were giving the
finishing touches.
"May I come in, or are you too busy to talk?"
"As if we were ever too busy to talk to our president," said Dolly
promptly, pushing her guest down into an easy chair.
"I shall not be president after this week, you know, and that is what
brought me here. Who is your candidate for the place?"
"Not Dolly," said Beth promptly. "I have set my heart on her being
president during our senior year."
Margaret's brow cleared. "She would make a capital president for our
last year, and I pledge myself to work for her. Now, as she is out of
the question, for the present, I want to tell you that my candidate is
Elizabeth Newby."
"How perfectly absurd!" That was Beth's exclamation, of course.
"It is not absurd, and I want you, please, to listen to me. She can be
elected, for the girls have not forgotten how grateful they were to her
for saving our reputation at the entertainment last fall. There is no
other strong candidate. Of course, ever so many names will be proposed
in as large a class as ours, but the only one who will carry many votes
is Hazel Fox."
"Hazel Fox!" the girls both exclaimed aghast.
"Yes, and you see what I mean. She is not the person for the place. We
could not feel proud of her in any way. She barely escaped conditions
this year, and I don't suppose she will ever get through the sophomore
year with a clean record. The class is so grateful to Elizabeth, that
she could be elected almost unanimously. What do you say?"
"Never mind what Beth says, I say that it is a 'go.' I'll work
for her with all my might and main. I'm sure she will be elected! Of
course, you will be made chairman of the executive committee." This was
a position which the classes had uniformly given the retiring president.
"I do not know. The girls may want someone else elected." And Dolly
told herself that Margaret never felt sure of her hold on her classmates.
She felt that Margaret would feel more secure if every bit of her
history were known; probably, too, she would be happier.
They talked over the coming elections at some length, and had just
decided upon the list of candidates whom they would favor when Mary
entered. The news was told to her, and she endorsed Beth's candidacy
very heartily, despite the fact that Beth herself persisted in regarding
the whole matter as a huge joke.
It was impossible, seemingly, for Beth to realize that she was actually
popular with the girls, that her many little deeds of quiet kindness,
and her bright ways, had won her a warm corner in every heart. The matter
was talked over again after Mary's entrance, and then Mary announced a
bit of news herself.
"We have an addition to our class. Did you know it? Miss Van Gerder
was a freshman two years ago, and was a fine student, I believe; but
she was not here last year because her mother's health was poor, and
they went to Europe. We shall have one of the largest sophomore classes
ever enrolled here. I am glad that she is to be one of us, aren't you?"
"Do you know her first name and in what city she lives?" Margaret
asked, ignoring Mary's question.
"She lives in New York, and her first name is Constance."
Something in Margaret Hamilton's tone had caused all three of the girls
to look at her intently. There was no disguising the fact that she was
startled and dismayed. All of them realized that Miss Van Gerder must
have known Margaret in the old days in Chicago, and all three felt sorry
for her now. Her position was not enviable. She showed little of what
she felt, however, and soon after returned to her own room.
Dolly and Beth were passing along the lower corridor to the dining-room
that evening, when they heard someone exclaim; "Why, Margaret, how glad
I am to see you! I did not know what had become of you after you left
Chicago!"
The speaker was a tall, stylish girl, whom they knew to be Miss Van
Gerder. At least, she appeared to like Margaret, and Dolly saw Abby
Dunbar's eyes sparkle at this unmistakable proof of her friend's
"aristocracy," for Constance Van Gerder was the daughter of one of the
richest men in the country, and neither Miss Dunbar, nor anyone else at
the college could claim the wealth or social distinction of the Van
Gerders. Her face was not handsome, but Dolly liked it; it was fine
and clear-cut. A face that was too noble for petty motives or mean
ambitions.
Margaret had no time to say more than a few words in reply, when the
second gong hurried them to the dining-room. Dolly tried to gain Miss Van
Gerder's side and sit beside her at the table, for as yet the permanent
places had not been assigned, and the students took whatever seats they
wished.
Dolly found herself foiled, however, in this attempt, by Abby Dunbar, who
had evidently determined to make the most of the opportunity, and who
kept beside her new classmate until they took their seats at table. Beth
and Dolly were opposite them, but Margaret was at another table at the
far end of the room.
"Miss Van Gerder looks kind," whispered Beth to Dolly. "If we only
sat next to her, so as to prevent her saying anything during this meal,
there would be no further danger. After dinner I shall carry her off to
our room and tell her the whole story. Oh, yes! you needn't look so
surprised. I'm not acquainted with her, but I shall do it anyway. You
must mount guard outside, during the scene, and not let anyone else come
in."
"If only she does not say something, all unconsciously, during the
dinner! I feel on pins and needles myself. What must Margaret feel?"