MARVELOUS MANAGER
While the discussion concerning herself was going on between Marjorie
and Louise Walker, the enchanted princess and the wicked wizard were
amicably eating dinner at the Colonial. Leslie was listening with acute
attention to Doris’s unemotional account of the Beauty contest related
in the drawling English diction which she had used since childhood.
“You think you’re it, don’t you, Goldie?” she said with a slow grin when
Doris had finished her recital.
“Yes; why shouldn’t I?” countered Doris, unruffled by the slangy
question. She was very desirous of going to New York with Leslie for the
Christmas holidays. She had no intention of quarreling with her and thus
defeating her own ends.
“I’ve no objection,” Leslie amiably assured her. “You haven’t told me
where Bean was, though. Certainly she wasn’t in the gym or _you’d_ never
have got away with the prize. She must have purposely effaced herself.
She has it put all over every other girl I ever saw when it comes to
Beauty. I hate the ground she walks on, yet Bean is beautiful Bean.
Don’t let it worry you, though.”
Doris smiled rather condescendingly at Leslie. “You know it doesn’t
worry me, Leslie. You are absurd. No, Miss Dean was not at the contest.
Some of her friends were, but she was no where to be seen. Don’t you
think the contest itself is very quaint? Miss Harper is really immensely
clever.”
“Next to Bean, I hate _her_.” Leslie’s face lowered. “Don’t mention her
to me ever. Since Bean handed over the college beautyship to you, make
the most of it. You’d better give a dinner to some of the sophs who
belong to the best families. They’re the ones who count in college. They
can either make you or break you.”
“I—I haven’t decided just what I’d best do after Christmas to keep up my
reputation as the college beauty.” Doris experienced a sudden violent
dislike for Leslie. She wished she had never seen her. She wished she
had not promised to go to New York with her. She had had a taste of real
girl happiness, spontaneous and free from the plotting and planning
which seemed ever to attend Leslie’s movements. Once again she was
hearing the quaint adjuration to Beautye “to say a prayer of
thankfulness at even for the gifte of Beautye by the grace of God.” Once
again that clear, resonant voice rang in her ears. Though her new,
unbidden mood soon left her, it would come again. The leaven had begun
to work.
On the way up the main drive to Wayland Hall the following afternoon she
came face to face with Marjorie. She bowed with less coolness than was
her wont. “Good afternoon, Miss Monroe,” Marjorie said sedately, looking
neither smiling nor serious. She was on her way to Hamilton Arms to
spend the rest of the afternoon and evening with Miss Susanna.
Doris had a faint impression of having known someone else whose voice
was like Marjorie’s. She could not recall any such person. She
grudgingly admitted to herself that Leslie’s rude appraisal of
Marjorie’s good looks was not without foundation. Doris was
fundamentally sound of judgment and honest enough not to deceive
herself.
“You and I are going to have one of our old-fashioned heart to heart
talks this afternoon,” greeted Miss Susanna as she folded Marjorie in
her arms and kissed her on the forehead and both cheeks. “We’re going to
have a light tea now and dinner at seven. Tea will be in the study. I’m
going to ask you to help me this afternoon go over some of Uncle
Brooke’s papers. I’d like to arrange them in chronological order. A nice
sort of hostess I am, to invite you here to dine and then make you work
for your dinner,” chuckled the old lady.
“You know there is nothing I’d rather do. You are a fraud.” Marjorie
swooped down on her, arms flying, mouth open, fingers curved into claws.
It was her favorite mode of onslaught upon her general when at home.
Miss Susanna squealed, dodged and giggled as the avenging bogie bore
down upon her. A merry tussle ensued in which Miss Susanna held her own.
It was not until they had settled down at the study table with the tea
spread out upon it that they behaved with anything but hilarity.
“I never treated you to such a tussle before.” Marjorie declared
blithely as she reached for the cup of tea Miss Susanna held out to her.
“Those are General’s and my favorite tactics at home. Oh, wait until we
get you there. We’ll have some grand family frolics at Castle Dean.”
“I am looking forward to them with all my heart. This will be the first
Christmas I have spent away from the Arms since _he_ died. I am sure he
would wish me to go with you.” Miss Hamilton regarded Marjorie with deep
solemnity. “Now tell me about the girls. What have you all been busy
doing?” She switched the subject from herself with characteristic
abruptness.
During the light meal Marjorie kept strictly to the subject of her
friends’ and her doings on the campus. Miss Susanna listened to the
lively recital with apparent pleasure. Now and then Marjorie would catch
the old lady’s eyes resting upon her with an expression of brooding
tenderness which she had never before seen in them.
When Miss Susanna had rung for Jonas to come for the tea service she
straightened in her chair with a nervous kind of energy that Marjorie
had learned to construe as a sign that the last of the Hamilton’s was
about to make an important disclosure. It was an entirely different
attitude from that which she invariably adopted in giving a surprise.
Without a word she rose, and, walking to one end of the study turned the
key in a tall narrow mahogany cabinet which Marjorie had not seen before
in the study.
“These are the most precious things in the world to me, Marjorie,” Miss
Susanna said as she turned a brass key that stood in the lock. “Come
here, child. Hold out your arms.” She swung open the door of the
cabinet, revealing shelf upon shelf of papers. They were, for the most
part, letters without envelopes, and documents. “This is his story, in
his own hand,” she continued musingly. She carefully lifted the pile of
papers from the top shelf and placed it upon Marjorie’s arms. The amazed
lieutenant’s arms were steady, but her heart was thumping wildly.
“Miss Susanna,” she managed to gasp, “truly—are you going to _allow me
to look at them_?”
“Truly, I am.” There was a tiny catch in Miss Susanna’s crisp voice. “No
one has touched them since I partially collated them and put them here
years ago. Bring them over to the table and lay them upon it. I have
something to say to you, Marjorie Dean. I’ve been wondering for a week
just how I’d like to say it to you. Well, the simplest way is best. I’ve
decided to give his story to the world. I’ve selected my biographer. I
can only hope that the one I wish to write the biography will not be too
modest to accept my offer. The person I have in mind will probably
declare that—”
“If you feel you have chosen the right person, then you must have,”
Marjorie interrupted. “Oh, pardon me, Miss Susanna. I couldn’t wait to
say what I felt. You will have to _make_ the one you have chosen see
matters as you do.” Marjorie’s mind was already made up. Since Miss
Susanna had actually decided to permit Brooke Hamilton’s biography to be
written she must be encouraged and supported in her decision. There must
be no refusal of any sort to discourage her.
“Yes, I am sure I have chosen the right person.” Again Marjorie caught
the divinely tender look in her friend’s eyes. “You have always seen
matters about him much as I have, Marvelous Manager. That is the reason
I have chosen _you_ to give a faithful presentation of _him_ to the
world.”
“Miss Su-u-san-na. I—” With a little inarticulate murmur Marjorie’s
curly head went down on the table, her face hidden in the curve of her
arm. She did not raise it when she felt a hand rest lightly upon her
curls. Silence reigned in the study, a calm, stately silence over which
Brooke Hamilton himself seemed to preside. The impression of him was
borne to the two who had united to keep his memory green. Afterward Miss
Susanna and Marjorie both happily admitted to having had the same
impression of his immediate presence in the study.
Presently, when the great emotional strain upon both women had lessened,
they commenced an eager discussion of plans concerning the best way of
writing Brooke Hamilton’s biography.
“You fell into your own trap, young lady. You can’t back out,” Miss
Susanna told Marjorie with apparent relish.
“I don’t wish to back out; _never; never_,” was the fervent assertion.
“It’s the greatest good fortune that has ever happened to me. I should
like to drop chemistry, French, the dormitory, welfare—” Marjorie
lightly waved away her enumeration of duties. “But I can’t.”
“I wish you and Jerry would come and live at the Arms while you are in
process of writing the biography. Perhaps you may be able to manage it,
in the spring. You and I are to go to President Matthews with the news
tomorrow. I have already written him that we would call at his Hamilton
Hall office tomorrow afternoon at two o’clock. I have a curiosity to
walk across the campus. When we go to Castle Dean for Christmas we will
perfect all our plans. Shall we tell our girls now or wait until after
the holidays?”
“Oh, please let us tell them soon,” pleaded Marjorie. “It will be the
most wonderful Christmas present for the old Travelers. ‘Peace on earth;
good will toward men.’” Marjorie hummed under her breath. Her eyes
luminous, she rose, went over to Miss Susanna. Standing behind her chair
she dropped her arms over the old lady’s shoulders. It was the special
caress she loved to give her captain.
“Yes, ‘Peace on earth; good will toward men,’” Miss Susanna repeated,
her small face bright with love. “And the reason I can say it is because
I had the supreme good fortune to fall into the hands of Marvelous
Manager.”
How Marjorie spent the remainder of her college post graduate year
between Hamilton College and Hamilton Arms will be found in: “MARJORIE
DEAN AT HAMILTON ARMS.”
THE END.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Transcriber’s note:
All instances of ‘Sandford’ have been changed to ‘Sanford.’
Page 14, opening double quote inserted before ‘Marjorie,’ “and the
“Marjorie Dean College”
Page 16, ‘is’ struck following ‘She’s,’ “She’s exasperating”
Page 22, opening double quote inserted before ‘Feel,’ ““Feel the chill”
Page 23, ‘Leida’ changed to ‘Leila,’ “Leila cast a grim”
Page 35, ‘promply’ changed to ‘promptly,’ “Ronny promptly read out”
Page 50, closing double quote struck following ‘might,’ “you might. I’d”
Page 50, opening double quote struck before ‘I’m,’ “J. J. G. Macy. I’m
the one”
Page 51, ‘Phillys’ changed to ‘Phyllis,’ “said Phyllis Moore”
Page 51, ‘two’ changed to ‘to,’ “herself to and fro”
Page 52, double quotes changed to single quotes surrounding ‘dramer,’
“old ‘dramer’ and”
Page 57, ‘Deans’’ changed to ‘Dean’s,’ “and Dean’s melodramer”
Page 61, full stop changed to comma following ‘Vassar,’ “fall from
Vassar, says”
Page 61, ‘Carins’ changed to ‘Cairns,’ “against Leslie Cairns’”
Page 68, ‘you’ changed to ‘your,’ “From your best friend”
Page 70, ‘Jerrry’ changed to ‘Jerry,’ “Jerry showed more surprise”
Page 77, opening single quote changed to opening double quote before
‘You,’ ““You ought to know”
Page 84, comma inserted after ‘directed,’ “curtly directed, her eyes”
Page 85, ‘relasped’ changed to ‘relapsed,’ “Doris relapsed into”
Page 86, ‘melancholly’ changed to ‘melancholy,’ “with melancholy pride
as”
Page 92, apostrophe inserted after ‘chums,’ “and her chums’ absence”
Page 93, closing double quote struck after ‘Oh,’ “Oh, Marjorie cried
out”
Page 93, opening double quote struck before ‘How,’ “How I’d love to”
Page 93, ‘beeen’ changed to ‘been,’ “been keeping her coming”
Page 93, ‘bethrothal’ changed to ‘betrothal,’ “her betrothal
announcement”
Page 94, closing double quote inserted after ‘morning,’ “this morning.”
She glanced”
Page 95, comma struck following ‘in,’ “now, in a hurry”
Page 95, closing double quote inserted after ‘inn,’ “at the inn.””
Page 96, ‘it’ changed to ‘in,’ “a dance in the gym”
Page 99, quotes regularized around ‘carrying on,’ “from ‘carrying on.’”
She”
Page 103, opening double quote inserted before ‘I,’ ““I don’t
un’erstan’”
Page 104, opening double quote struck before ‘I,’ “I simply have to”
Page 108, closing double quote inserted after ‘in,’ “count me in,”
Barbara”
Page 113, full stop inserted after ‘XIII,’ “CHAPTER XIII.”
Page 116, ‘taxis’ changed to ‘taxies,’ “taxies from the station”
Page 119, opening single quote struck before ‘Thus,’ ““Thus far we have”
Page 119, ‘marshall’ changed to ‘marshal,’ “begun to marshal seven”
Page 121, full stop changed to comma following ‘guests,’ “of guests,
Robin found”
Page 123, opening double quote inserted before ‘Yes,’ ““Yes; I passed
Gus”
Page 126, question mark changed to exclamation point following
‘citizens,’ “friends and fellow-citizens!”
Page 127, ‘themslves’ changed to ‘themselves,’ “piled themselves into
the”
Page 131, ‘Thankgiving’ changed to ‘Thanksgiving,’ “for Thanksgiving
dinner”
Page 135, opening double quote inserted before ‘Let’s,’ ““Let’s leave
her to”
Page 136, ‘beginnning’ changed to ‘beginning,’ “beginning of a deep”
Page 138, opening double quote inserted before ‘Remember,’ ““Remember
our own”
Page 145, ‘acompanied’ changed to ‘accompanied,’ “accompanied her
opinion with”
Page 146, ‘promotor’ changed to ‘promoter,’ “troubles as a promoter”
Page 148, ‘boastted’ changed to ‘boasted,’ “recklessly boasted Robin”
Page 155, full stop inserted after ‘graciousness,’ “with her ready
graciousness.”
Page 157, opening double quote changed to opening single quote before
‘Oh,’ “‘Oh, yes; you see”
Page 157, closing double quote changed to closing single quote after
‘again,’ “break down again.’”
Page 158, ‘Singor’ changed to ‘Signor,’ “expense, Signor Baretti”
Page 160, closing single quote inserted after ‘campus,’ “busses to the
campus.’”
Page 160, opening double quote struck before ‘a,’ “interposed, a trace
of”
Page 167, ‘Thansksgiving’ changed to ‘Thanksgiving,’ “seeing the
Thanksgiving part”
Page 180, ‘suits case’ changed to ‘suitcase,’ “find my suitcase”
Page 181, ‘Cairn’s’ changed to ‘Cairns’,’ “of Leslie Cairns’ part”
Page 191, ‘squestioned’ changed to ‘questioned,’ “she questioned half”
Page 200, ‘year’ changed to ‘years,’ “Hamilton many years ago”
Page 205, closing double quote inserted after ‘bidding,’ “to the
bidding.””
Page 207, opening double quote inserted before ‘I,’ ““I hope you know”
Page 210, ‘tumultous’ changed to ‘tumultuous,’ “impending, tumultuous
embrace”
Page 217, closing double quote struck after ‘Jeremiah,’ “Jeremiah?
You’re brim”
Page 217, opening double quote struck before ‘I,’ “interesting. I know”
Page 218, ‘monogramed’ changed to ‘monogrammed,’ “fussy handkerchief,
monogrammed”
Page 218, ‘subequent’ changed to ‘subsequent,’ “and the subsequent
mailing”
Page 222, full stop inserted after ‘performances,’ “by past
performances.”
Page 226, comma changed to full stop following ‘retorted,’ “Leila
retorted.”
Page 229, opening single quote changed to opening double quote before
‘NEARER,’ ““NEARER TO THE”
Page 230, ‘sceptical’ changed to ‘skeptical,’ “made skeptical reply”
Page 230, closing double quote inserted after ‘stand,’ “on the judges’
stand.”
Page 237, opening double quote inserted before ‘You,’ ““You mean you
wanted”
Page 238, opening double quote inserted before ‘I,’ ““I mean I wouldn’t”
Page 239, ‘decended’ changed to ‘descended,’ “just descended the last”
Page 241, closing double quote inserted after ‘letter,’ “that hateful
letter.””
Page 246, ‘roommate’ changed to ‘room-mate,’ “Her room-mate is Muriel”
Page 251, full stop changed to comma following ‘you,’ “to say to you,
Marjorie”
Page 253, opening double quote inserted before ‘It’s,’ ““It’s the
greatest”
Page 253, closing double quote inserted after ‘men,’ “will toward
men.’””
Page 254, ‘Majorie’ changed to ‘Marjorie,’ “Marjorie Dean at Hamilton
Arms.”
End of Project Gutenberg's Marjorie Dean, Marvelous Manager, by Pauline Lester