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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/34605-0.txt b/34605-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..563b8d3 --- /dev/null +++ b/34605-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,5947 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook of Betty Lee, Freshman, by Harriet Pyne Grove + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and +most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions +whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms +of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at +www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you +will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before +using this eBook. + +Title: Betty Lee, Freshman + +Author: Harriet Pyne Grove + +Release Date: December 08, 2010 [eBook #34605] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +Produced by: Roger Frank and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BETTY LEE, FRESHMAN *** + + + + +BETTY LEE, FRESHMAN + +By + +HARRIET PYNE GROVE + +[image] + +THE WORLD SYNDICATE PUBLISHING CO. + +Cleveland, Ohio –– New York City + + + +Copyright, 1931 + +by + +THE WORLD SYNDICATE PUBLISHING CO. + +[image] + +_Printed in the United States of America_ + + + + + + +Table of Contents + + + · CHAPTER I: BETTY LEE’S MOST MOVING ADVENTURE + · CHAPTER II: BETTY MEETS RESPONSIBILITY AND A TRIAL OF PATIENCE + · CHAPTER III: “THE FATEFUL DAY” + · CHAPTER IV: A REAL FRESHMAN AT LAST + · CHAPTER V: JANET HEARS FROM BETTY + · CHAPTER VI: FRIENDS AND FUN + · CHAPTER VII: CAROLYN’S GARDEN PARTY + · CHAPTER VIII: BETTY HEARS THE LIONS ROAR + · CHAPTER IX: SHOWING OFF LYON HIGH + · CHAPTER X: MORE FESTIVITIES + · CHAPTER XI: THE “SURPRISE” PARTY + · CHAPTER XII: A CHANGE OF PLAN + · CHAPTER XIII: BETTY MEETS TROUBLE + · CHAPTER XIV: SENT TO THE PRINCIPAL + · CHAPTER XV: DETECTIVE WORK + · CHAPTER XVI: SOME FRESHMAN CONCLUSIONS + · CHAPTER XVII: SPRING AT LYON HIGH + + + + + + +CHAPTER I: BETTY LEE’S MOST MOVING ADVENTURE + + +Betty Lee, aged almost fourteen, was dressing for travel. She both +dreaded and anticipated the day and smiled at her reflection in the +mirror as it looked at her with eyes as bright as stars, cheeks pink +from excitement and lips a little apart. That _was_ a pretty and +becoming suit, “ducky,” her chum had called it. Now for the new hat, to +be put on over short, sunny, wavy locks that didn’t have to have +anything done to them to make them so. That again was what Janet Light +said, pretending to be envious. + +Betty’s hands trembled a little as she adjusted the hat. She could not +help hurrying, though her aunt, Mrs. Royce, had told her to take her +time now. “Don’t get all fussed and excited before you start,” Aunt Jo +had said. + +The twins, Dick and Doris, aged twelve, were already downstairs eating +breakfast. Betty had helped Dick with his tie and rounded up several +articles for Doris before she could finish her own toilet, but it was a +comfort to be alone for a little. + +From the bathroom came the sounds of splashing and the merry laugh of +Amy Louise, the little four‐year‐old. With the promise of “going to see +Mamma,” Amy Lou would let anybody do anything this morning, though she +had been insisting upon Betty’s dressing her as a rule, in this trying +interim. + +The cause of all this early morning excitement was that Betty Lee’s +family was moving from the home and town in which they had lived ever +since Betty could remember. A new home was being established in the city +where an unexpected business opportunity had developed for her father. + +Mrs. Lee had hurried to join her husband as soon as the goods were ready +to be moved by truck. She must give the final word about such locations +as Mr. Lee was able to find. With breath‐taking swiftness, it seemed to +Betty, her old home had been stripped of its furniture and seemed like a +different place. Temporary headquarters were made with Aunt Jo Royce, +Mr. Lee’s sister, and at her home the children were staying in the +absence of their mother. + +But word had come by telegram. Mrs. Royce could not accompany them to +the city. It was Betty’s responsibility to manage the most important +transfer of all, that of the Lee children; and it loomed rather large to +her, as she managed to swallow the soft‐boiled egg, all fixed for her by +Lucy Baxter, who lived with her aunt. But she wished that Lucy would not +say again what she had said more than once already, with a mournful air. + +“It’s _just as well_ that your house ain’t sold yet, I say. Cities don’t +always pan out, as I’ve told your ma. You remember when Mel Haswell went +to Noo York, how quick he come back, don’t you?” + +“Yes, Lucy,” Betty replied pleasantly, though she wished again that Lucy +would not always appeal to somebody for the truth of her remarks. You +had to say something. That was expected of you. As if her father were +anything like Mel Haswell! + +But Lucy’s cup of cocoa was just right and the toast was golden. Betty +felt ashamed of her annoyance and told Lucy that she was a dear to get +them such a good breakfast at that unearthly hour. “I ’spect we’ll be +back in Buxton many times, Lucy. You may get tired of us.” Hurriedly she +finished her breakfast, saying that she had “promised to stop for the +girls;” and with rapid steps she ran upstairs again, to gather up her +coat, umbrella and pocketbook, and to see if the last articles were +packed. + +“Run along, Betty,” said Aunt Jo, as Betty ran in to see if she were +needed. “We’ll bring the luggage. Amy Lou was such a good girl and is +almost ready. See, sister, I’m putting on the dress she likes best!” + +This was for the benefit of Amy Louise, who might insist on accompanying +Betty unless diverted. + +“Ought I?” asked Betty, hesitating. She did not want her aunt to have it +too hard at the last. But Amy Lou was having the dress put over her head +and it was a good time to vanish. Vanish Betty did at a nod from her +aunt. Stopping to say goodbye to Lucy, and seeing that Dick and Doris +were out for a farewell to Aunt Jo’s private menagerie of a few chickens +and two handsome dogs, Betty ran out of the front door to the street. + +People at Buxton rose early. Milk bottles were being taken in and screen +doors were opening or closing; but Betty met no one, as she sped toward +Janet’s home, except a boy driving an old grocery wagon. Somebody might +want something for breakfast. Bill was on his way to open up and start +things at the store. + +The faithful old horse was pulled up suddenly. “Hello, Betty, going to +leave this morning?” + +Betty halted, though still moving slowly. “Yes; the rest of us are going +on the morning train, Bill.” She smiled up at the big lad, who was a +junior in high school. Betty did not know him very well, though to be +sure all the high school and grade pupils knew each other and each +other’s families more or less. + +“Sorry you’re going, Betty. I s’pose you’re in a hurry, though. So long, +Betty. Don’t forget the old town.” Bill started the horse with a flap of +the reins as he spoke. + +“Never,” returned Betty, nodding a farewell and hurrying on. Was she +really going to leave–forever? She looked down the quiet street ahead of +her. Trees beautiful and green allowed their branches to meet over the +unpaved road. Homes with large yards displayed trees, shrubbery and +flowers, though so late for many of them. It was all so familiar that +she had forgotten how it did look! + +Betty almost felt like taking a turn around the block for a last look at +their own home; but she thought of the curtainless windows, the desolate +yard and the empty swing under the elm trees. No, thank you! Betty +sniffed and fumbled in her pocketbook for a handkerchief. Was she going +to cry now? Not a bit of it! She had to keep up before the girls. +Bounding a corner, there she was at Janet’s. Janet had cried last night. +It wasn’t real. She was in a dream! + +And Betty had had her dreams, like all girls of her age. The little town +of Buxton was not a rich one. It was not even in a good farming center, +nor was it a county seat. Two good school buildings and some churches +were its chief ornaments, architecturally. Among the people, as always, +there were the good element and the bad or shiftless element. Yet some +very fine people had found a home there and among them were the friends +of Betty Lee’s family. It was quiet. It was fairly safe. Betty, +protected by the oversight of a sensible yet idealistic mother, was a +happy girl, interested in everything and ambitious in school, whose +activities were always prominent and whose teachers held the respect of +the community. Betty would probably marry one of the boys some day, as +she had seen older girls do, and settle down. Perhaps she could go away +to school for a year or two. If she couldn’t, there were always books +and music and friends, nice things to do and dear people to love. Vague +thoughts like this about the future were in her mind when she thought +about it at all. Her father and mother were her standards of excellence; +and therein lay much safety, since those two were wise and +self‐controlled. + +And now, so unexpectedly, there was this bewildering change to city +life. It was exciting to think about it and yet Betty could not foresee +the changes it was going to make in her whole adventure of living. For +in the new and in many ways very superior school to which she was going, +new friends, with work, play, perplexity, even mystery, perhaps, and a +wider choice of opportunity waited for this wholesome, attractive Betty +Lee. To say the least, life was not going to be dull, and this Betty +felt. + +“No, there’s something about Betty Lee.” Janet Light was saying to Sue +Miller. “I don’t believe that she ‘will be lost in the multitude,’ as +she says. Her teachers will _notice_ her at least. I’d pick Betty out in +a thousand!” + +“Oh, that’s natural. You’re her chum. But isn’t she sort of scared to go +to such a big school?” + +“No, I don’t think Betty’s scared. Of course–you know Betty. She +wouldn’t want to show it if she were. I think that she’s really crazy +about going; but you can imagine how she’d feel, dread it a little. I +only wish I could go–that is, if I could take everybody along!” + +“Yes. It’s wonderful even to travel to a city; but to live there!” + +“Oh, I don’t know,” remarked Janet, taking a new tack. “You couldn’t get +into the country so much.” + +“You could if you had a car.” + +“If is a big word, Sue. Betty said her father had to have something +different from the old machine now, but he’ll be in business most of the +time.” + +The two girls were sitting on the Light porch, waiting for Betty and +talking as fast as girls can when there is some interesting subject. To +Janet the departure of her dearest chum was more or less upsetting. Sue +was not so intimate and Betty had never had any suspicion of the +admiration with which Sue regarded her. She was really surprised that +Sue wanted to see her off, with Janet. + +“It’s pretty cool this morning,” Sue inserted, throwing her light coat +around her shoulders. “I nearly melted yesterday when I came on the +train from Grandma’s. But it wasn’t much of a ride.” Sue was thinking +that her little trip was nothing in comparison with Betty’s coming day +of travel. + +“It was that big rain and the wind yesterday that changed things. I was +over with Betty till late because it rained so hard all evening. That’s +why I could hardly wake up this morning. It’s a good thing you were to +stop for me, for Mother didn’t call me. She forgot.” + +“I just _happened_ to telephone you before I started, thought maybe +you’d rather go down to Mrs. Royce’s.” + +“Lucky you did. But no, I thought there would be so much confusion with +everybody hurrying perhaps, and Betty said she would be sure to stop. +It’s right on the way to the station anyhow.” With this, Janet ran in +for the second time, to see if it were getting anywhere near train time. +“No, there’s loads of time,” she reported. + +“The rain was why I didn’t get to see Betty at all,” Sue explained. “I +had a headache and lay down after I came home; and at supper–at +_supper_, mind you, Mother _happened to tell me_ about how the Lees were +moving to the city! It had all gone on while I was at Grandma’s and +nobody ever told me a word! Of course, I wasn’t writing to anybody, not +even Mother but once. She and Grandma exchange letters every week, +though.” + +“It was in the paper and I suppose everybody thought you knew. Betty was +in too much of a whirl. Her mother’s only written cards, and just a +telegram came, saying which train they were to take. Betty does not even +know the address of where she’s going!” + +“How could the goods go down, then? Somebody had to know.” + +“I think the truckman was to telephone the boarding house or office or +some place after he reached the city, to find out where to take the +goods.” + +“I should think that Mrs. Lee would have wanted Betty to help get +settled.” + +“She was going to hire some one to put it through, in a hurry. Besides, +Mrs. Royce couldn’t manage Amy Louise without Betty. As it was, she made +a dreadful fuss.” + +“I suppose so. But Betty spoils her, too.” + +“Not so much. When Betty says, ‘Amy Louise Lee’, in that way of hers. +Amy Lou pays attention.” + +“How old is Betty anyway?” + +“She’ll be fourteen in December. Don’t you remember her birthday party +last year?” + +“That’s so. Oh, here’s Betty! ’Lo there, Betty Lee!” + +Sue ran down to meet Betty, who walked briskly around the corner and to +the open gate; for Janet’s home, like Betty’s, actually had a fence! +With a little squeeze and kiss, Sue led Betty to the porch, where Janet, +smiling, waited. “I would have felt awful, Betty,” cried Sue, “not to +have had a glimpse of you! I never knew a word about it.” + +“It was a shame, Sue; but you can just imagine how it’s been. I haven’t +known whether I was on my head or my feet.” + +“Of course. What a pretty suit you have, all blue, your color, Betty, +and hat to match and everything–even gloves, Janet!” + +Betty laughed at that. “I’ll probably not have them on much, with Amy +Lou to take care of. I’m glad you like my things. Auntie drove me clear +to Columbus to shop. You see I’ve had to get ready for school, too, for +it begins almost as soon as I get there. Won’t it be terrible to learn +what street cars to take and everything, unless Father can drive me to +school?” + +“Aren’t you awfully excited, Betty?” + +“I suppose I am. But all I can think of right now is getting through +this trip with Amy Lou. She never was on a train before, if she is four +years old; so I don’t know what she will do. But I’m hoping that she +will be shy, the way she is when strangers are around, and she may sleep +since we’ve been up so early. I think we’d better walk along, girls. +I’ll go in and say goodbye to the folks, Janet.” + +Betty was in the house a few minutes only. Then they strolled toward the +little railroad station, only a short distance of a few blocks. Several +people came along, to see Betty and stop, shaking hands and saying +goodbye. Ahead of them walked Aunt Jo with the littlest Lee, while Doris +was accompanied by three girls of about her own age, and a +freckled‐faced boy scampered on in advance, with Dick. “I wondered what +had become of Billy,” said Janet, recognizing her brother. + +Soon they stood in partly separated groups on the small platform. Amy +Lou started back after the cat, but was rescued in time by her aunt’s +restraining hand. To permit Betty and the other children last words with +their friend, capable Aunt Jo walked up and down now with the child, +showing her what little there was to see and making up a story about the +rails. Distracted as Betty was, she kept in mind a picture of these last +details. + +“Oh, dear, Betty,” said Sue, as train time drew near at hand, “you are +not going to forget us, are you?” + +“Forget you–I should say not! Forget the girls I’ve been with since the +first grade in school!” Betty held out a warm hand to each, as they +stood closely now. She and Janet exchanged a smiling look. They had been +all over that phase the night before. + +“But it can never be the same,” mourned Sue. + +“Maybe it will be better!” brightly suggested Betty. “You’ll both come +down to visit me in vacations and I’ll take you all around–that is, if I +ever learn to get around everywhere myself.” + +“That would be wonderful–if it could happen. Maybe I wouldn’t be allowed +to go, though.” + +“Oh, yes! We get older every year, you know.” + +Sue looked doubtful. Money was scarce in Sue’s home. It did not roll in +at the village store which her father kept. + +“Brace up, Susie,” laughingly said Janet. “We must send Betty off with +nothing but good wishes. Let’s not begin to mourn now. That’s what +Mother told me last night, and I pass it on to you.” + +“All right, Janet. You’re right. Good luck and a grand time, Betty. +Mercy! There’s the train tooting now and I haven’t said goodbye to the +rest!” + +Betty made a dash for Amy Louise, to hold her hand firmly. Last goodbyes +were said. Dick and Doris gathered up the bags while the train rounded +the curve at a little distance. The freckled lad soberly regarded Dick +as he said, “Well, so long, Dick. So long, Doris;” and Doris was being +embraced by the excited little girls, who followed the travelers and +tried not to get in the way of various small trucks. + +“Help Betty all you can, Dick,” advised Mrs. Royce, handing an extra +piece of baggage up to Dick, who was last to board the train. “Remember +that I shall want a card mailed at once to make sure of your safety. If +anything goes wrong, send a telegram.” + +Dick, grinning, feeling not a little important with his manly duties, +nodded and disappeared after his sisters. The group on the platform, +watching the windows, were presently rewarded by seeing smiling faces. +Dick was trying to put up a window, but without success; or possibly the +others were too impatient to wait for him to find out how to do it. + +Amy Louise, her light hair and childish face framed in a hat that was +now pushed back in the effort to see, smiled and threw kisses. She had +no regrets. She was on her way to her mother. Betty’s face looked +brightly out above Amy Louise, and there were Doris and Dick, the +blessed twins! Aunt Jo tried not to show the anxiety she felt. But Betty +would see it through! + +There went the clanging bell. Now the train started. Now they were gone; +and the small group on the platform turned away with that odd, lost +feeling that comes when something is over. + +The freckle‐faced lad scampered away alone. Mrs. Royce, after exchanging +pleasant words with the girls, hurried homeward with her thoughts. The +rest scattered. School was opening for them, too. There would be plenty +of activities to take up their time and interest. Janet and Sue would +report to the other girls how they saw Betty Lee off that early morning. +And they all would laugh over one quoted speech of Betty’s when she +said, “I imagine, girls, that this is my most _moving_ adventure!” + + + + +CHAPTER II: BETTY MEETS RESPONSIBILITY AND A TRIAL OF PATIENCE + + +Whatever puns, good or bad, Betty might make on this unaccustomed +adventure of hers, she was more accustomed to the little +responsibilities that fall to the eldest child in a normal family than +only children could be; and these in a measure had prepared her for this +trip. As soon as they were settled in their seats, it all seemed natural +enough. Proper conduct in public was a matter of natural pride with this +family, with the possible exception of Amy Louise, who had not reached +the age of entire self control! Dick was hoping that she would not do +anything to embarrass them, for she sometimes howled when she could not +do what she wanted to do. + +Betty, across the aisle from Dick and Doris, gave Dick an understanding +look and a smile when he gave Doris the seat next to the window. Dick +appeared not to notice this, but he felt that he was a pretty good +protector of the girls when necessary. Betty need not think that she was +the only one who could do things. And Betty was thinking that Dick was +going to be a great help. The worst would be changing cars at the first +city. + +Clutching the tickets, Betty had them ready when the conductor came +along. He lived in their town and knew her father. It had been a blow to +the little town when a railroad line took off all but one passenger +train each way, with a few freight trains. + +“Oh, yes,” cheerily said the conductor, “you’re going away for good now. +Your father told me to look after you when you came along.” The tickets +were being punched and given back to Betty. + +“Don’t lose your tickets and you’ll be all right. No you don’t change +stations. Anything you want to know you can ask about at the window +marked ‘information.’ But outside you’ll find the train notices, and a +light come on when the train is in. When you get off, you’d better get a +red‐cap to take your bags up for you.” + +Betty had a hazy notion of what was meant, though she had visited the +city where they were to change cars, it was very different, however, to +follow some one else without noticing how it was managed. She determined +to keep her eyes open on future trips. Well, there was no use in +worrying, but she wasn’t going to trust the bags to any porter. They +could carry what they had. Also, they would stay together, as Aunt Jo +had advised, with no expeditions here and there while they waited for +their second train. In this case ignorance was not bliss, for what would +have been perfectly simple to an experienced traveler was a matter for +serious consideration to Betty. + +Fortunately, Amy Lou was angelic. Fascinated by the kaleidoscope of +scenery, she watched it happily; and when they left the train she +willingly clung to Betty’s hand, saying, “I don’t want to get losted, do +I?” She nearly went to sleep in the station during their long wait, but +Dick came to the rescue with some entertainment, just as Betty was +having visions of having to carry a heavy Amy Lou to the train. + +At last they were established on the right train for the city for which, +they were bound and Betty breathed a sigh of relief. Nothing but a wreck +could keep them from home now, she told Dick. + +“‘Home!’” repeated Dick, pursing his lips. + +“Well,” argued Doris, “Betty’s right. It’ll be home, even if we’ve never +seen it.” + +“Wherever Mother and Father are, it’s home, isn’t it?” and Betty’s +dimples showed as she spoke. + +“You win,” grinned Dick, suggesting that Aunt Jo’s lunch be served. + +They all did their best, but the last hours were trying after little +naps were over and time was dragging for them all, unaccustomed as they +were to long train rides. When they were feeling that they could not +stand it any longer and Amy Lou was beginning to be fractious, they drew +into the suburbs of the “city of our dreams,” as Doris sarcastically +remarked. But interest revived and Dick told the youngest sister to +watch for the place where they would find their mother. It was a happy +suggestion, particularly for Betty, who was thinking that patience would +cease to be a virtue pretty soon, if she had to keep the child in check +much longer. + +At last the crowds were in the aisles. The train stopped with its +accustomed jerk. The tiresome day was almost over. + +Which way should they go? The direction of the crowd settled that +question for them, but where would they find Father? They avoided little +baggage trucks that ran about and looked like hand‐cars off the track. +Here were iron gates where Dick, at Betty’s suggestion, inquired the way +to the waiting room, where they found “Information” again. By this time +Betty was worried. Where could her father be? + +For the sake of the rest, she made herself keep calm and cheerful and +Dick suggested that it was not easy to get around in a city. Probably +they would be there pretty soon. + +“I hope they know the train we’re coming on,” said Doris. “I _told_ you, +Betty, that we ought to telegraph.” + +“_They_ told _us_ the day and the train, Doris,” firmly said Betty. But +Betty looked apprehensively at some of the people in the room. There was +a much better room upstairs, but Betty did not know that and there was +no one to tell her. + +Finally Amy Lou began to cry. That was the last straw. Betty hunted for +what addresses she had and made her way again to “Information.” She +wondered if she had enough money to pay for a taxi. And did you pay for +everyone, or was it some other way? Dick was scouting around outside +now. He could find out things. Boys always could. + +Then all at once darkness changed to light, figuratively speaking. +Before she had made an inquiry, she heard a squeal from Amy Lou and +turned to see if Doris were having trouble with her. But it had been a +happy squeal, not a cross one. There was Father, with his baby in his +arms and Doris holding to one hand! A very thankful girl ran back to her +family. + +“I’m so sorry, Betty,” said Mr. Lee, “that you have had this wait and +worry. I had expected to meet you right at the train and take you to our +own car. Come on. We’ll talk after we get started. It was an important +business conference and I could not leave early. Then traffic was heavy +and it was farther to the station from our office that I thought. That +was all.” + +Watching for trucks, street‐cars and machines of all sorts, they made +their way to where the new car was parked. Exclamations of delight +pleased Mr. Lee. Dick wanted to know all about it. It was not of a +highly expensive make, but as their father said, it would hold them all. +“I almost need a smaller one, too,” said he, explaining, “though I’m not +on the sales end of affairs. They’ve done me the honor to put me among +the executives, kiddies, and ask me to tell how I managed to do so well +in my little factory. I told the president, that it was nothing, only +quality of goods and good management; but he had me discuss products and +management at this conference.” + +“Good for you, Pop!” said Dick. + +“But I’m going to ask you all to help me, children. To make this change +and to live in a city is going to draw heavily on what I had saved. In +fact, there isn’t any too much left, except some property in the home +town. So don’t get any big ideas of what we can do here in the way of +living like some of the people you will see.” + +“Aren’t there any folks just like us, Papa?” asked Doris, rather +bewildered. They had started now and slowly Mr. Lee was driving the car, +up a hill and behind an immense truck. + +“Plenty of them, Doris, and thousands not half so well off.” + +The children were now too much interested in their surroundings to ask +questions. Their father explained a little about some of the streets +through which they passed, and pointed out some of the buildings, though +he was not yet familiar with the city and was compelled to keep to +well‐known thoroughfares on his way out to the suburb where they were to +live. “This is what they call ‘downtown,’” said he. “When your mother +and I considered locations near we found nothing suitable. So we are out +where we can have a few flowers in the yard at least.” + +Betty looked with “all her eyes,” as she said. Streams of cars filled +the streets. Her father watched the lights carefully and was prepared to +get out of the way when a reckless driver shot in front of him, almost +shaving a street car. “Hey, you!” exclaimed Dick, but the man could not +hear. “Why, if you hadn’t swerved to the right that fellow would have +hit us!” + +“Yes, Dick. He was either intoxicated, or just reckless. There are many +such in the city.” + +But in spite of what tired Betty considered several narrow escapes, they +successfully reached the suburb desired, where rows of houses, some of +brick, some of frame, some of stone, had a bit of yard in front and +behind; and on the porch of one there stood a slender and familiar +figure. + +“Mamma!” cried Amy Lou, wiggling down from between Betty and Doris. But +Betty kept a stout hold upon her little sister until the car stopped in +front. “I’ll let you girls out here,” said Mr. Lee, “but Dick may come +with me to the garage.” + +Amy Louise flew to her mother, while the other two girls walked briskly +up the short distance from the barberry hedge to the porch. The house +was of brick, well‐built and attractive. “Why, this is real nice, +Mother!” exclaimed Betty, the last to be embraced, but as warmly +welcomed. Betty was trying to remember to call her parents Father and +Mother, since some one had told her it was more dignified. + +They entered a hall of fair size, then a large front room with a big +window in it, the piano in the right spot, a fireplace–why, it would be +home after all! Familiar rugs and furniture met Betty’s eyes. Of them +her last view had been what Betty called “ghastly,” all done up ready to +be moved in that horrid truck. But the “horrid truck” had brought them +unmarred to their present position. Here were all of their treasures–and +each other. + +“I don’t believe, after all, Mother,” said she, looking around, “that +_walls_ make so, so _much_ difference!” + +“Not with our own pictures on them,” replied Mother, understanding. “I +wish that all you could have helped me decide where to put things; but +if you girls think of any good changes, we shall make them.” + +“Did you have a very dreadful time to find a place?” asked Doris. + +“It was not easy. An apartment house did not seem to be the best place +for children. This is not one of the most modern houses, but there are +enough bedrooms, hard to find, and something of a kitchen. I could not +imagine myself cooking for this family in some of the tiny kitchenettes +we saw. We shall be comfortable, I think. + +“We have the whole first floor. It is just a big house made into two +apartments or flats. Only two people are above us. There are two +furnaces and we have our own gas and electricity. We are to look after +the yard. Running the lawn mower will be Dick’s job.” Mrs. Lee looked +teasingly at Dick as she spoke. + +“I thought I’d get out of that in a city,” returned Dick; but he did not +seem to mind the proposition very much. He was still thinking of the new +car, though he had been content to leave more detailed examinations +until the next day. “The thing that’s most like home,” continued Dick, +“is that good smell of cooking in an oven somewhere. Is it a roast, +Mother? Yes, and I smell cookies!” + +“Right, son,” and Mrs. Lee led the way to the kitchen, where cookies +still warm from the baking were to be nibbled by hungry travelers. They +would still have things to eat in the city! + +Still further investigation disclosed a “den,” which had become a +sleeping room for Dick; a dressing room off the main bedroom, making a +safe and cosy place for Amy Lou’s bed, and a good bedroom for Doris and +Betty. A large bathroom was at the end of the hall. “You haven’t any +idea, children, how thankful I was to find this, with enough room, all +on one floor, and nice and clean, with new plumbing!” + +Betty looked thoughtfully at her mother. It was new to her to think +about homes, which, so far as she had ever thought, grew upon bushes. +And that rent was terrible. Wouldn’t it take more than Papa earned? Her +mother assured her that it would not, but remarked that the increase in +income did not amount to as much as they had supposed, because of +increased expenses. + +“Let’s go back,” said Betty, reacting to her first lesson in economic +lines. But she was laughing. + +“You know you wouldn’t do it for anything, Betty Lee,” cried Doris. “I’m +just as glad as I can be. Won’t it be great to go to all these wonderful +places?” This was after their mother had suddenly left them in their +room, to answer a call from her husband. + +“Yes,” sighed Betty, “but now listen, Doris–please don’t begin by +throwing your things all around. We’ve a big closet, anyhow; but do +let’s keep things straight as we can!” + +“You can, if you want to. I’m getting into my bathrobe the quickest I +can,” and Doris kicked a shoe under the bed. + +“I suppose you are tired,” and Betty sighed again. “I don’t really care, +either. It’s certainly good to pass Amy Lou over to Mother.” + +“She could have been worse coming down, but I’m glad I’m not the oldest. +She always gets stubborn when _I_ try to do anything with her.” + +Betty felt like telling Doris that she did not try the right way; but +did not want to start further argument and realized that her own +disposition was not in its best state after her day of being “chief +boss,” as Dick had put it several times. Doris might take her hot bath +first. Then it would be tub for her and bed as soon as possible after +supper, which would be called dinner now, Mother said. Happily it was +the week‐end. There would be Saturday and Sunday for getting settled, +seeing the city and hearing church music of the best. Then would come +Monday and school. What a vista for Betty Lee! The future, though +unknown, was enticing. + + + + +CHAPTER III: “THE FATEFUL DAY” + + +The “fateful day,” as Betty’s father jokingly called it, had arrived. On +Monday morning there were great stirrings in the Lee menage. Betty’s +mother was up early, getting everybody else up on time, seeing that the +school credentials were at hand, ready to be taken by the children and +presented at the schools. Amy Lou, fortunately, slept on, not waking +until everybody else was at the breakfast table. + +Betty started to get up when a mournful wail came from the bedroom. Amy +Lou had been Betty’s responsibility and she could not quite realize that +in school days now her first concern was to be her lessons, as her +mother’s custom desired it to be, though in moments of stress, Betty +knew well, she was to be on the “relief corps,” another of her father’s +expressions. + +“Not you this time, daughter,” said Mrs. Lee, rising. “Finish your +breakfast and be ready when your father goes. You’d better take charge +of all the grades and give Doris and Dick their papers when they get +there.” + +It was very exciting. What would the new big school be like? Dick and +Doris talked steadily during breakfast. “If old Bill was just here,” +said Dick, “I’d give him the Merry Ha‐ha about our going to a junior +high school!” + +Doris settled her beads about her neck, looked down at her neat frock, +chosen as suitable by her mother, then thrusting her napkin by her +plate, she scampered, unexcused, from the table, to do last things. + +Betty exchanged an amused glance with her father, who rose and went out +to bring up the car. Betty hastily carried a few dishes, from their +places, to the kitchen, as Mrs. Lee came out with a cross Amy Lou, and +then ran off herself to get ready. + +It seemed no time at all before they were in the car, driving to the +school, which they had seen only in passing. The morning traffic was +heavy and swift. Cars were making their rapid way in the direction of +“town.” Street cars clattered. Trucks and buses avoided them by inches +only. Overhead there was the occasional roar of a plane from the flying +field. + +At last they had reached the green campus of the school. “I’m glad we go +here,” said Doris, “instead of to that school we saw where the grounds +are all gravel.” + +“That was a new building, Doris,” said her Dad, “the grounds are +probably not finished.” + +“I don’t think so, Papa,” returned Doris. “You know how the school board +man at home said that there was no use in sodding our new school grounds +because the boys would spoil it all playing ball and things. And they +put gravel on it, and every time you fell down running it hurt like +everything.” + +Doris had no reply to this, for Mr. Lee was stopping before the concrete +sidewalk that bordered the school grounds. “Hop out, children,” said he. +“I’m sorry that I can’t stop with you. You know what the buildings are, +however. Inquire your way to the office of the principal, you know. Sure +you know what cars to take to get home?” + +“Yes, Father,” Betty answered. “Dick promised to wait for Doris; so if +they can’t find me they’ll go home together. My, what a crowd!” + +Mr. Lee glanced with some fatherly pride at the little group of three +that walked from the car to the entrance of the grounds. There a long +walk, paved and lined with beautiful shrubbery, led to the impressive +front of the building that spread so widely with its wings and corners. +Then he detached himself from the rest of the cars that were either +drawing up to discharge pupils or were parked in a long row along the +curb. The Lee children were already lost in the kaleidoscope of moving +boys and girls, of all ages, heights, and costumes, most of them very +nice‐looking, Betty’s father thought. He hoped that there would be no +trouble about their entrance papers. Mrs. Lee could scarcely risk taking +Amy Lou to the school, and he had told her that the children might just +as well begin to depend on themselves, even if the city was new to them. + +Nevertheless, it would have been better if it had been possible for a +parent to accompany them, and no one knew that better than Mr. Lee. The +hurry of their becoming settled had not been easy for any of them and a +city offered many dangers, especially those of traffic. But as the fever +of hurry had not yet infected them, it was likely that they would be +careful in crossing streets and would observe the traffic regulations. +He was glad to see that a traffic officer had been stationed at the +school crossing. + +“We look as well as most of them,” said Doris, though rather doubtfully, +as she looked admiringly at a tall girl who was strolling by with a +youth as tall as she. They were laughing and talking and the girl was +wearing a silk dress as pretty and stylish, as light in color and as +good, as Betty’s “Sunday frock,” Doris said. + +“Yes,” said Betty, “but there’s every sort, and our pretty summer +dresses that Mother made look all right. There–see that awfully pretty +girl, Doris. Her green dress is trimmed with white organdy exactly like +your blue one!” + +The two younger children left Betty to go around to the entrance of +their own separate building. Betty handed each of them the envelope with +the respective credits and grades and then went up the steps with her +own in her hand. Mercy, what a babel of voices! Betty stopped still and +looked around. Good! There were all sorts of notices posted. She read +them. That long line of boys and girls must lead to the “office.” + +“Freshmen go to Assembly Hall,” she read. Now where was the “Assembly +Hall?” Oh, that must be it, where all those younger looking boys and +girls were going. She followed, joining the stream of boys and girls +that in groups or singly entered the wide doors. + +Oh, what a fine, big hall! Was this really a public school? Facing her +was the wide stage with its handsome velvet curtains, and my, all those +pipes must be of a big pipe organ! Yes, there was the place for the +organist at the side. + +Betty slipped into a seat. Some one was reading names and telling them +what to do. She would sit there and listen. It was pleasantly cool in +the immense hall. Although it was morning, the September day was already +warm. Betty felt a little confused, but soon concentrated her attention +upon what was going on. Girls and boys were leaving the hall at times. + +Finally she bethought herself of the fact that her name could not +possibly be read out, since they had never heard of her. A girl who sat +beside her looked friendly. She would ask. Yes, these were the names of +all the freshmen who were coming in from other schools or the junior +high right here. They had turned in their credits and were assigned to +“home rooms and so forth.” + +Now what were “home rooms,” and what did “and so forth” include? She +could not ask the person who was reading the names. She hated to ask +questions of any other pupil near her. She would seem like such a +“dummy.” But she must find out what to do. She would go out and see if +she should go to the “office” first. + +Quietly Betty slipped out of the seat and went out into the noisy hall. +She went near the door and peeped into the office. Some one in the line +thought that she was going to get by and nodded in the direction of the +rear. It was a “snippy” sort of a look, Betty thought, that this girl +directed toward her. Betty merely looked at her with a contemplative +gaze and nodded in understanding. She would not say anything either. She +could see what was going on. That was the principal, she supposed, busy +with students. There were several teachers or assistants of some sort +there. Yes, this must be what she must do; besides, her father had told +her to go to the office. It was that sign that mislead her. My, what a +long line. Would she ever get any attention from the principal? But +Betty walked back and took her place in line, intending to ask some one +in it what this line was “supposed to be waiting for.” + +But there were two or three boys, perfectly strange to her, of course, +just ahead of her. And behold, two very tall lads walked up and took +their places behind her. The first one was such a fine‐looking boy, with +a good face, indeed, rather striking features, clear grey eyes, “almost +blue,” Betty thought, as she gave him a quick glance. He was dressed +suitably and neatly, yet looked “very stylish,” Betty thought, and a +silk handkerchief peeped from his pocket. The conversation of the two +boys helped Betty through the first part of her wearisome wait. + +“Going in for athletics this year, Ted?” asked the “other boy,” who was +not quite so interesting, Betty thought, though he had a pleasant +boyish, face, too. He was coatless and had his shirt sleeves rolled up +above his elbows. But a neat tie finished his soft collar and he looked +as fresh and clean as possible. + +“I don’t know what I’m going to do, Harry, swimming, of course, and the +usual gym work, perhaps. But Mother wants me to be in the orchestra this +year and that takes a lot of time. To tell the truth, I’d like to have a +little time for my lessons!” + +“I’ve _got_ to have,” assented Harry. “I worked my freshman year, but +last year wasn’t so good, and Dad says he won’t stand for it. My grades +weren’t so bad, but you should have heard the razzing I got! Dad took +the card and went through the grades out loud. + +“‘That grade in English from the son of a teacher!’ + +“‘Eighty in Latin, when you ought to have had ninety at least!’ + +“I mustered up grit enough to tell him that Latin was hard and that +eighty was a pretty good grade and that I hadn’t failed in anything. But +did that stop him? It did not. + +“‘Fail! Fail? Hum! Mathematics, not so bad. Pretty respectable showing +in science,’–‘well, make a better showing next year or I might have to +put you to work.’ He gave me a quizzical smile, at least that is what +Mother called it, and handed me back my card. Gee, sometimes I wish he +_would_ put me to work, but after all, if you can get by with, your +lessons, the old place here looks pretty good.” + +“I’ll say it does today. How long do you suppose we’ll have to stand +here?” + +“Until after lunch time, that’s what.” + +Betty, who had scarcely been able to keep from laughing out when “Harry” +had been impersonating his father, so good and funny a performance he +had made of it, now sighed. She was tired already. It was worse than +waiting in line at the one moving picture house that their little town +had boasted. She changed her weight, a light one, from one foot to the +other. She fiddled with the long white envelope in her hand and once +opened it to peep inside and make sure that its contents were still +there. + +But that was just the beginning. She held her place in line, wondering +what the two boys to whose conversation she had listened were there to +do. Perhaps there had to be some change in their work. But they talked +about everything else. Finally Betty thought she would “just have to go +and sit down somewhere to rest,” but she kept standing in spite of her +real fatigue. She was toward the end of the line and only two or three +persons had followed the boys at first; then a few scattered additions +had been made. A few in front had dropped out. + +Finally some one came from the office to make an announcement to the +line. Only a few more would be interviewed before lunch; and after +lunch, those who were new would be seen first. Others need not take +their place in line until later, as all changes of schedule would be +handled later in the day. + +Immediately the line ceased to be one, as its components vanished. Betty +again went into the auditorium and sank into a seat to rest. What was it +that tired her so standing in line? She was probably just sort of tired +from everything, all the change and excitement and the responsibility of +getting Amy Lou down on the train, though, that hadn’t turned out to be +so bad. Luckily some one near her was discussing lunch; for Betty was +hungry and did not enjoy the thought of going without what had always +been the family dinner. It had been easy enough in the village for her +father to come home from his business and for the children to come from +school, returning in plenty of time for the afternoon session. Now it +would be different indeed. Mother had said that dinner would be at +night, as Father would have his lunch down town; and on the street car +it would take the children almost half an hour to reach home, to say +nothing of extra street‐car fare. There was to be lunch served at the +school, they understood, but would there be any today? + +“No,” the girl behind her was saying in a low tone, though the names had +long since been read out and the freshmen dismissed to the “home rooms.” +Only scattered groups of resting pupils were here and there in the +seats. Betty was in the next to the last row and three girls had just +entered the last row together. + +“I’m a wreck from standing in that line,” said the first one, as she +dropped into a seat. “Aren’t they going to serve lunch today?” + +Then came the answer, for which Betty listened. “No; don’t you remember +that we never have lunch at first?” + +“Well, I’ve only one year to remember, May, and I never did get anything +straight when I was a freshman, at first anyhow.” + +Betty’s heart warmed with a fellow feeling. + +“I certainly wish that we could have one of those good lunches, but I +suppose it won’t kill us to starve for once. Let’s go down to you know +where and get a Swiss chocolate sundae. We can get back in time.” + +“I’d rather not, May; besides I’ve only got my street‐car fare and ten +cents, I think.” + +“I’ll lend you some more,” suggested May. + +“Can’t possible this time; too tired, besides. There used to be a place +opposite the school. What’s become of that? I used to get chocolate bars +and sandwiches there.” + +“New building across the street. Well, if you aren’t going, I am. Shall +I bring you something? Maybe I’ll have a sandwich, too.” + +“If you can get one for ten cents–no, here are some coppers. Hurrah!” + +Evidently the girl behind Betty was emptying her store of small funds +into the hand of the other girl. There was giggling and a scrambling +after a copper that had dropped and rolled. Then one girl left and the +other strolled over to join a group of girls by a window. + +Betty wished that she had brought a chocolate bar which by the irony of +fate she had taken out of her bag to leave it home! But she could go +without a meal if she had to do it. She could get something to eat as +soon as she reached home. + +Rested now, she thought she would go over to the building which housed +the junior high school and see if Doris and Dick were also waiting +around. It was quite a little walk, or seemed so to Betty, but it was +interesting when she reached the place and entered it. Scarcely any +children were to be seen. She walked through vacant halls and decided +that Doris and Dick had already gone home. She hoped that her mother +would not be worried about her. There was no way of getting her word, +though she had seen a telephone in the office. But of course she could +not use that. + +Time slipped by in some fashion. She went back to the auditorium, now +about deserted. She watched the time, determined to be one of the first +at the office door, and as all things come to an end at last, she found +herself talking to a sober, dignified, yet kindly man in the office, +arranging her schedule or, more properly, answering questions about the +work she had covered, and receiving a “slip” to present to her “home +room teacher” the next day. + +It was all more or less puzzling to the young freshman from away; but +she understood the next step and where she was to report on the +following day. That would have to be enough. A somewhat breathless, +excited, and very hungry Betty reached home at about two o’clock in the +afternoon, welcomed by her mother as a returning prodigal and directed +to where she would find the “fatted calf” or a more attractive +substitute. + + + + +CHAPTER IV: A REAL FRESHMAN AT LAST + + +Mother suggested putting up a lunch for the children on the second +morning of school, but Dick said that they would not need any. “One of +the kids said that we get out the same time tomorrow,” said he. And +Betty corroborated Dick’s statement. + +“I’ll not have to wait in line today, Mother,” said Betty. “That’s all +attended to. I know just what to do. You go to your home room, do +whatever you are told to do and I guess you report to your different +teachers. We get out at twelve‐thirty. After we really have classes and +two sessions there will be a place to get lunches, somewhere upstairs.” + +Back again in the echoing halls of the school building, Betty felt that +the worst was over, yet she was both lonely and a little timid in regard +to what was still before her. Oh for Janet or some one of the girls she +knew! Other girls, who must have been in the eighth grade together, were +walking arm in arm, or with arms around each other’s waist as they +approached the door of the same home room to which Betty’s feet were +carrying her. She wondered if poor little Doris felt the same way. She +went into the school room with the others, finding its back seats well +filled already. Accordingly she dropped into the nearest front seat, +which was on the outside row near the door. + +As it was not polite to stare, she believed, she did not look at the +girls sitting around her except for glances here and there; but it was +perfectly legitimate to gaze forward at the home room teacher. Was she +going to like her? + +Two teachers were standing, near the large desk in front and before the +blackboard, which covered its appropriate space on three walls. The +fourth side of the room was devoted to windows. The teachers were +laughing and talking together, apparently in the best of spirits. Then a +gong rang, or something made a sound in the halls and a corresponding +ring in the room. Immediately one of the ladies departed and the other +turned to face the class with a great change of countenance, not exactly +stern, Betty thought, but it was quite obvious that her home room +teacher was ready to handle any obstreperous little freshman who did not +want to keep order. + +But no one was disorderly this morning. It was an event to enter high +school. The expectant faces met the dignified survey of the teacher. In +due time she explained what was to be done. Cards were there from the +office. Schedules had been made out for each one. They were to report to +their respective teachers at the rooms whose numbers were given. Lockers +could not be given for some time. They would be obliged to carry their +books and take them home, but it was remarked that they would want to +study at home in any event. Books would be given out on the next day. + +“Oh, then, you didn’t have to buy any books,” Betty thought. She +wondered if her mother would like that. They would never buy any second +hand books and her mother had ideas on germs. There were a number of +questions that Betty would have liked to ask as the teacher talked, but +she did not dare interrupt. There seemed to be too many things to +remember. Of course, it was easier for the girls and boys that lived in +the city all the time. + +“And now,” the teacher was saying, “I want you to give your whole +attention to one thing. On these cards that I am giving you, you will +see what you are to write; and while I know that this is all rather new +to you, that fact is not going to excuse you for making mistakes in what +is really important. Pay attention and do not write until you are sure +you know what to write down. + +“Perhaps you wonder why I am saying this, but if you saw some of the +cards that we have had in past years, you would not wonder at all. When +you read that line saying the year of your birth, don’t put down the +present year. Girls less than a year old are not admitted to the +freshman class!” + +There was a subdued ripple of laughter at this, though it was just +possible that some of the girls did not understand the joke. A few +looked worried. But Betty had never been really afraid of teachers, +having had no cause to be afraid, and she did not intend to begin now. +Very carefully she read over the list of what she was supposed to +record; and then, after the teacher was through with her explanation, +she started in. There was nothing very bad about this. Of course they +wanted to know your address and who your father and mother were and +everything. + +“Elizabeth Virginia Lee,” she wrote, her name “in full,” in careful +round and legible hand. Writing was not hard for Betty, which was +fortunate and would make her entire school life easier for her. Betty +had been named for two grandmothers. At present she “rather hated it,” +the long names, but she always added that they were good, sensible names +and that her mother like them. + +Betty remembered the year of her birth and was not obliged to count +back, as the teacher had suggested might be necessary. Indeed, the +teacher had grown a little sarcastic while remarking that “they” were +“not particularly interested in mere birthdays,” and that “birthday +presents were not given.” + +A colored girl across the aisle from Betty looked at the teacher with +such a blank stare at this that Betty’s amusement was increased. My, the +teacher was funny. She wasn’t so bad and was rather pretty, too. Once +Betty’s intelligent and understanding look had caught the eye of her +teacher as she was in the midst of one of the funny speeches and Betty +was sure that the twinkle and comical raising of the eyebrows was for +her. + +“She shan’t have any reason to make fun of _my_ card,” thought Betty. +“She looked at me as if she thought I had some sense, anyhow.” But +teachers were accustomed to find response in Betty Lee’s eyes and the +mind back of them. At this stage, however, and particularly when the +girls were dismissed, to find their respective teachers and the rooms +where they were to recite, Betty was sure that she had no mind at all. +If she had only known some one! But every one was busy with her own +affairs, or went off with some other girls. And that building! Would she +ever learn where to go? Luckily her home room teacher taught one of the +freshman classes in which she had been placed and in the same room. That +was one off the list very shortly. + +The halls were full of wandering pupils on the same errands that +concerned Betty; but her mind was too set upon her purpose to see them +individually until once, when she was almost run over by a tall lad who +came flying around the corner from a run down a stairway, she recognized +the boy who had stood back of her in line the day before. + +“Oh, pardon me, _please_!” exclaimed the boy. “I had no business to do +that. I knocked your purse out of your hand and everything!” Stooping to +pick up Betty’s purse and scattered notes and slips, he added “I believe +you were standing in line just ahead of me yesterday. Did you get all +fixed up?” + +“Yes; and I’m just finding my class rooms now.” + +“That’s fine. You’re not from one of our schools–at least I couldn’t +help seeing that the envelope you had didn’t have a city address.” + +“No; we just moved here and everything is new.” + +“Well, I hope you like it. This is a great school.” + +“Oh, isn’t it! I suppose you’re a senior and know all about everything.” + +The boy laughed. “Not exactly ‘everything,’” said he, “and I’m a junior. +I hope I meet you again, but not to pretty nearly knock you over.” + +“Oh, that was all right,” replied Betty. “You didn’t hurt me any.” + +The boy started on, then stopped. “By the way, where are you living?” + +Betty named the suburb and the street. + +“I thought I saw you on the car yesterday. I live out that way, too, and +maybe I’ll come around some time–that is, if it’s all right.” + +“We should be glad to get acquainted,” said Betty, who felt sure that +she could safely be friendly with this kind of a boy, who had looked so +distressed at the results of his haste and had clutched her just in time +to keep her from falling. “We don’t know much of anybody yet, for Mother +and Father came down in a hurry to find a house.” + +“Oh, there’s the girl I was hurrying to catch,” suddenly said the boy +called Ted, as a girl came from the direction from which Betty had been +coming. “Louise, come here and meet one of the new freshmen. Probably +I’d better know your name, if I am to introduce you. Mine is Ted +Dorrance.” + +“I am Betty Lee,” smiled Betty, looking up at a tall, handsome girl whom +she remembered to have noticed before in the hall and whom she found to +be Louise Madison. + +“Lou has a lot to do with one of the school clubs and is always looking +for good material,” joked Ted. “I had my eye on this young lady for you +yesterday. Any relation to Robert E. Lee?” + +Betty shook her head. “We’re from the New England Lees, but I suppose +back in England the two families were connected.” + +“Well, the name Lee won’t hurt you any with the Southern families in +this town, and there are a good many of them. But we’re keeping you and +I’ve got to see you, Lou, about a matter of business.” + +“All right,” said the older girl. “I’ll see you again, Betty, and I’m +real glad to have met you.” + +That was interesting, thought Betty, as she climbed the same stairs down +which Ted Dorrance had been running. Louise Madison must be a wonderful +girl. She seemed to be perfectly at home–perhaps she was a senior. Betty +wondered what sort of a club it could be that freshmen could join. +Louise had passed her a few moments before Ted had come dashing down. +She must have finished whatever errand she had and started back very +soon. Well, she now knew two pupils in this school, but not a freshman! + +This time Betty was ready at twelve‐thirty to start home with the rest. +She just made the same street‐car with Dick and Doris and listened to +their accounts on the way home. Like Betty, Doris did not know any one +in her class, though Doris said that they “smiled at each other;” but +Dick knew several of the boys and had found out all sorts of facts, +particularly those relating to athletics. “There was a bunch of us +talking together,” said he, “and we’re going to have some great gym work +and everything. The eighth grade boys said that they have great games at +Lyon High School. Did you take in the size of that stadium, Betty? And a +fellow they called Joe said that he helped with a stunt the junior high +had at the faculty and senior basketball game last winter. That’s a sort +of funny affair and the senior team usually beats, though when the +athletic teachers play with the rest of the faculty it isn’t so dead +easy, I guess, from what they said. But first they have a sort of +athletic or gym show. I’d like to be on it.” + +“Yes, and break your neck,” remarked Doris with sisterly lack of being +impressed. + +“Never you mind. The girls do something or other, too. Maybe you’ll +_have_ to, so far as I know.” + +“Oh, if that’s the case, I’ll never do a thing! Couldn’t you get +excused, Betty?” + +“Don’t worry, Doris. It isn’t likely that you’d have to do anything too +hard for you. And there’s always Mother, and Father, to decide what is +best for us.” + +“But they always stand by anything school does.” + +“Of course, because there’s never anything out of the way. But they +wouldn’t let anything happen to us if there _were_ anything that wasn’t +fair or right. Gracious me, if I hadn’t anything more to worry about +than what may happen next _winter_ I’d be thankful. What are your +teachers like?” + +That started the children on a new track and Betty had amusing and +detailed descriptions of what had happened and what this teacher and +another were like. Doris was in a home room for girls and Dick in one +for boys. “There are a great many of us boys,” said Dick with much +dignity. “I don’t know just how many but I shall find out. Then when you +write to Janet, be sure to have her tell Bill.” + +“Can’t you write to Bill yourself?” + +“I don’t like to write letters,” calmly replied Dick. “Besides, Bill +might think I was getting stuck up telling him such big stories as I’d +have to tell.” + +“And I suppose Janet won’t think _I’m_ stuck up?” + +“Janet will think that everything you do is perfect, just as she always +has.” + +“That is news to me, Dick. Why we’ve had some of the most–well, +_disagreeing_ arguments over things that you ever heard of.” + +“Of course. Janet has a mind of her own. But all the same you needn’t +worry over what Janet would think. I know. Bill’s told me.” + +“Then you think I’d dare write Janet everything about Lyon High, do you? +Of course, I’m going to risk it, Dickie, anyway. And I think it was nice +of Bill to tell you that.” + +“Oh, Bill didn’t do it to be nice. He thought Janet was silly.” + +This was not so flattering, but Betty laughed. She had brought it out +herself. + + + + +CHAPTER V: JANET HEARS FROM BETTY + + +“Hello, hello; that you, Sue?” + +“Yes–Janet?” + +“Nobody else. Going to be at home for a while?” + +“Yes; can you come over?” + +“That is what I’d like to do, for what do you think?” + +“Anything exciting going on?” + +“Not exactly, but I’ve a letter from Betty Lee at last!” + +“Oh, then you will bring it over with you, won’t you?” + +“Of course. That’s what I’m coming for, although we might just as well +make plans for the Sunday‐school picnic while I’m over. This is a real +good long letter. I thought she’d never write as she promised, to tell +me about everything. I’d almost begun to thing Betty _had_ forgotten us! +But she hasn’t, at least she says she hasn’t, and she’s been so busy, of +course, and everything new. She wrote this at several different times. +But there, I’d better let her letter speak for itself. She said to tell +you all the news, and sent you her love and everything, so I’ll just let +you read all of it, even the more or less private part if you want to. +I’ll not get to your house for a little while, for I have to go down +street for Mother first. She has to have some soap and starch and other +groceries. She’s been doing up something extra. But I thought I’d better +call you up to see if you’d be there.” + +In due season Janet Light appeared at the home of her friend, where the +two girls repaired to the big swing in the back yard. There an old apple +tree spread wide branches over them and let the sunshine of late +September come through its leaves in fitful fashion, dancing with their +shadows on and about the slightly swaying lassies. It was Saturday +morning, hence their leisure after early morning tasks were over. + +“And see what I have to show you,” said Janet, drawing from the envelope +the letter and something with it that fell on the floor of the swing, +almost going through its slats. + +“Oh, a new picture of Betty!” exclaimed Sue, reaching down carefully to +pick up the unmounted photograph, a small one. “Isn’t that cute? And +it’s good of Betty, too. Why, it doesn’t look like a snap‐shot.” Sue +turned it over to examine it. + +“It isn’t. It was taken at some shop. Betty tells about it in the +letter.” + +“That’s Betty’s smile, and what a good light on her hair. Betty’s hair +is a real gold, just like what you read about in books. I always wished +I had hair like Betty’s. And I never saw such dark blue eyes as Betty +has. They look straight at you here. I think Betty is a real pretty +girl, don’t you?” + +“Yes, but she’s no doll. And I think Betty’s ‘gold’ on the inside, too. +That letter didn’t sound as if she’d forgotten us this soon. Read it.” +Janet held out the thick packet of folded sheets. + +“Oh, you read it to me. It will sound twice as well in your +‘mellifluous’ tones. Kate had to put ‘mellifluous’ in a sentence at +school yesterday.” + +Janet laughed. “I may leave out the messages to me, then, but I’ll read +it if you want me to. Thank fortune, Betty writes so a body can read it. +And she says that we simply must come down to see her at the +Thanksgiving vacation. I can’t wait to _read_ you that. Her mother says +so, too, she wrote. Do you suppose we could? I haven’t said anything to +Mother yet.” + +“Wouldn’t it be _wonderful_? But–clothes and everything–I’m afraid not.” + +“We have as good things as Betty has.” + +“I haven’t anything that would do to travel in, though, and I’m afraid I +can’t have a new winter coat. My old one’s a sight!” + +“Why it looked good enough to me last winter. But listen now. I’ll +begin.” + +“Dear Janet,” the letter commenced. “I’ll have to begin with apologies, +of course, and I’m hoping that you’ve received the two picture post +cards I sent. I meant to send some to all the girls and haven’t. But +honestly, I’ve been so busy and it’s all been so mixy, if you know what +I mean by that, that I just haven’t gotten at a letter that would give +you any idea of how things are. It looks sort of hopeless now, to tell +the truth, but I’m going to start in anyhow, even if I have to write at +several different times. The longer I put it off the more there will be +to tell. You haven’t any idea how much I’ve missed you and how I’ve +almost started to tell you things; that is, I’d think ‘I must tell Janet +that,’ and then I’d think again that you weren’t anywhere around! + +“Talk about being lonesome! Of course I’ve had the family, but not a +single girl at first. I have several friends now that I know more or +less, but nobody that takes the place of the girls at home. You see I +still call it home. I’m not sure that the city will ever seem like home, +but it is very interesting and the place where we live is ever so nice. +It is all on one floor, which makes it easy for Mother, and we have +enough room, though we wouldn’t have if we hadn’t gotten rid of so much +stuff before we moved. Still, there is a little room on the third floor +where we can store some things, like our trunks and boxes. Mother likes +it, though she has been lonesome, too, for all the friends. But of +course Mother and Father used to live in a city, so it doesn’t seem so +strange to them. Two people live on the floor above us, but there is a +separate entrance and stairs and everything separate in the basement. + +“There is a good church near enough to walk to it and Mother has been to +some of the missionary meetings and suppers and all, and we have, too–to +the suppers! So Mother and Father are beginning to be acquainted. I’m in +a Sunday school class, but I haven’t had time to go to anything besides +just Sunday morning, for there are too many lessons and school things +that take my time. I just have to get a good start. But I’ll have time +pretty soon. The class has monthly meetings. They wanted me to be in +some kind of a pageant, but Mother said I’d better not try it, for I +wouldn’t have time to practice. + +“And now about the school. Honestly, girls, I don’t know where to begin. +Not all the high schools are as fine as ours, for ours isn’t as old as +some of them and Father says it is modern in every respect. They are so +crowded that they simply have to build new schools, which Father says is +a good thing. In some old schools they’ve been actually heating with +stoves, not even a furnace. So Father said. + +“Well, the building is big and the grounds are gorgeous, full of +beautiful trees and shrubbery. I’m no architect, so I can’t tell you +about the building except that it spreads out and up three stories, +besides the basement floor, and Mother says we need wings! The basement +floor isn’t under the ground or anything, and all the freshmen have +their lockers there. We put our wraps and books there when we do not +need them and get them out when we do. We have a ‘home room’ and a +teacher in charge of it, and we go there the first thing in the morning +and the last thing before we go home. She tells us things, the teacher, +I mean. Some days we don’t do the same things. Sometimes we go to the +‘auditorium’ and hear somebody speak, or something happens there, but +not much yet. + +“At first I simply felt lost. Just imagine. Girls, there are +_twenty‐eight hundred boys and girls_ that attend our high school and I +don’t think that counts the pupils in the junior high. That is _more +than half as many people_ as are in our home town! + +“Dick and Doris are very much set up over being in a ‘junior high +school’–though I don’t mean that unkindly. But they think it as +wonderful as possible and like their teachers. Dick is more interested +in athletics than he is in his lessons and Father has to keep him at his +lessons a while in the evenings after he has been outdoors enough, as +Father thinks. Doris is working away to make good grades. She has her +eye on things that the other girls do and wear but that is only natural, +and I imagine that we need all the good advice Father and Mother give +us. Mother says not to join anything until we get a good start in our +lessons and learn more about living here. Oh, yes, I was to send some +message to Billy, but I told Dick he could just as well write himself, +and it may be possible that Billy will hear from him, though I couldn’t +say positively. You know how much the boys like to write! + +“By the way, I’m putting in a little picture of myself. Mother let me go +down town with, one of the girls that lives not so very far from us; at +least we take the same street car home from school. So we went down one +day right after school. She invited me, and took me to a real good +moving picture, and we stopped in at a cute little place where they take +cheap photographs. We also had a grand sundae at a wonderful place and +came home not a bit hungry for dinner. And that makes me think–we have +dinner at night, for Father can’t come home very well, it is so far, and +has a noon lunch down town. We children have one at school, and my, what +grand lunches we do have! They give it to us at about what it costs, so +it doesn’t quite break us up to buy it, enough for the time we have to +eat it. But everything, street‐car fare and all, costs more in a city. +Father drives us to school, mostly, and then goes on down to his +business. + +“I think that I shall have to stop, though I’ve been scribbling as fast +as I could, and I believe I’ll just send this right off, though I’m not +half through with all there is to tell. I’ll try to write something +about the folks we have met when I write again. More things will have +happened, too, I suppose, but I’ve got to stop now. Give Sue my love and +now I want you both to plan to come here for your Thanksgiving vacation. +Mother invites you, too. She said it would do me good to see some of +you. Auntie can’t come for she’s going to some family reunion or other, +and we can make room for you. Please try to do it!” + +But the letter was not finished with this. A dash and a new date began +the next part in which Betty said that since she had been interrupted +she might as well add something more to her “book” she was writing to +Janet. There followed more details with a comical description of “her +trip down in charge of the family,” her arriving to find no one, and the +“time she had the first day of school.” + +The “private messages” to Janet were only some loving remarks with which +she closed and those Janet let Sue read herself. + +“I’m sure she does miss you, Janet, just as I have missed my cousin +Moira. I don’t see why Uncle had to move ’way out to California. I’m +afraid I never _will_ see her again.” + +“Oh, yes you will–and wouldn’t it be a great place to go to visit her?” + +“Y‐yes, if I ever could. I’m glad I have you left, Janet. I know why you +and Betty have liked each other so much. You’re both so cheerful and +stout‐hearted some way.” + +“Why, whatever made you think that?” asked Janet, surprised. + +“Mother said that about Betty, and I’ve noticed it about you, only I +hadn’t put it into those words.” + +“It’s very nice of you to think it about me. I’m just as glad to have +you, Sue, and we’d better see a great deal of each other, just as we +have since Betty left. And if Mrs. Lee herself invites us to come, let’s +try as hard as we can to go to visit Betty at Thanksgiving. We’d not +need much in the clothes line for such a few days, our school dress and +our Sunday dress, a change of underclothing, I suppose, and our wraps. +_Betty_ would never be ashamed of us if we didn’t have new and stylish +hats and coats.” + +“I believe Betty did say that her old coat would have to do this winter, +though I’m not sure. Perhaps it was you that mentioned it. Well, it +doesn’t matter. I’ll go if I can, Janet, and be sure to give Betty my +love when you write to her. I hope she’ll write to me.” + +“Oh, she will, Sue. Of course Betty will, if she is inviting you. But +you can see what a rush she’s in. It must take a lot of time just to get +to places on the street cars. Mother said it would take over half an +hour to get down town from some of the suburbs. And maybe it’s more than +that. I believe I’d rather live here, where you can walk to church and +school and to the groceries and picture show and everything.” + +“I can imagine that Betty _is_ pretty lonesome sometimes,” added Sue, +gravely looking at the letter which she still held. “But it seems just +like a nice adventure that you read about, and if we can go, we’ll have +a share in some of it.” + + + + +CHAPTER VI: FRIENDS AND FUN + + +Had Betty Lee imagined any faintly romantic attraction to her dainty +self on the part of Ted Dorrance, she would have been disappointed +during these first weeks in the new school. He always spoke when they +met in the halls provided he saw her; but he was usually with other boys +and very much engrossed in whatever he was discussing with them. +Hurrying crowds on the way to classes had little interest for Betty as +well. She, too, was absorbed by the busy and interesting life, and soon +had friends among the girls in her classes. + +Betty, though friendly, was by nature not inclined to make close friends +immediately. But girls that recite together and have the same lessons +will find much in common. Betty’s good recitations and her hand that +went up often to answer the questions of different teachers were +sufficient introduction to her classmates, who heard her name, as she +heard theirs, when she was called upon to recite. She cheerfully lent a +pencil or pen for a moment, or answered some question before class about +the lesson, or sat upon her desk, opposite some similarly perched girl, +to chat about coming events. There were “hundreds of freshmen” and that +literally; but they resolved themselves into the comparative few with +whom she recited in her different classes. + +Long before the Thanksgiving visit, which she anticipated from her old +home chum, she was accustomed to school and work and thoroughly liked +many of the girls, especially a few who were “very chummy” with her, she +told her mother, and sat with her at lunch, or waited for her after +class, or planned their work or recreation together. + +Louise Madison, she found to be a senior, president of the Girls’ +Athletic Club, a large association, indeed, consisting of all the girls +who “went in” for athletics. A certain amount of gym work was required, +but one could take more, to be sure. Yet Betty’s parents were a little +hesitant just yet; and not knowing the wisdom of the teachers in charge, +preferred that Betty wait a little, except in swimming, which her father +said she ought to know as well as possible, so that she could “swim to +Europe” in case something happened to the ship before it reached port. + +At that remark, soberly delivered, the family had laughed, but Doris +asked in good earnest, “When are we going, Papa?” + +“Aw, Dodie,” said Dick, “can’t you tell a joke when you hear one?” + +“Well, we probably _shall_ go some day,” airily said Doris, provoked at +herself for having spoken too soon, and none too well pleased with her +twin. “You think you’re very smart!” + +“Doris,” quietly said her mother with a reproving shake of her head, and +trouble was avoided. + +The freshman to whom Betty was most attracted, and that very soon, was +Carolyn Gwynne, a bright, warm‐hearted, generous girl, alive to +everything and enthusiastic about many things, yet with a certain poise +that Betty decided was due to the fact that she had always lived in the +city. Her pretty brown head often bobbed along by Betty’s fair one and +her face was alight with various expressions as she told Betty “all she +knew and more,” as she herself said. + +“Everybody likes Carolyn,” said Peggy Pollard, who had seen the grades +through with Carolyn. “It’s because Carolyn goes out of her way to do +things for people. She has a lovely family, too, and that makes a +difference, don’t you think, Betty?” + +“Oh, yes. Wouldn’t it be terrible not to be happy at home?” + +“It certainly would.” + +Peggy herself was a “darling girl,” Betty thought, prettily plump, like +Carolyn, though shorter than either Carolyn or Betty. Her locks that +fell around her shoulders just now, being allowed to grow and variously +trained on different days, were of that dark brown red that belongs with +what seems to be the same color of eyes and a pinky complexion. But +Peggy did not go without a hat as much as the other girls, since +freckles “were one thing she wasn’t going to have!” If she could only +_tan_ decently now! “You have a dimple on one cheek, Betty Lee,” said +Peggy, “and Carolyn has one on the other. Those cheeks ought to be on +one person!” + +“Oh, aren’t you funny, Peggy Pollard!” exclaimed Betty. “Carolyn’s cheek +added to my cheek,”–then they both laughed, thinking of another meaning +for “cheek.” They were in a mood for silliness anyhow, Peggy said, for +they were on their way to the auditorium for a “pep” meeting. The +occasion, of course, was fall foot, ball. Enthusiasm must be aroused for +the “Lions,” soon to fight their first battles on the gridirons of +various schools in the city and suburbs. But Betty did have two dimples. + +In common with the rest of the scholars of Lyon High, Betty and her +friends were delighted to have an auditorium session, not only for what +usually went on, but for the cutting of recitation hours! + +“Carolyn’s going to have a garden party, Betty,” Peggy continued. “Has +she told you about it?” + +“No–I hope I’ll be invited, though,” laughed Betty, climbing the stairs +now for the recitation room and her freshman locker, just secured in the +last few days. “My, isn’t it nice not to have to carry your books around +any more!” + +“Yes,” and Peggy slid her hand up along the brass railing of the stairs. +“But I imagine Carolyn just decided about it last night. All their fall +flowers are so beautiful now. They have a wonderful big place, you know. +Have you anything else to do Saturday?” + +“No, only some shopping down town with Mother. I could put that off. She +has a lot of things to do for Dick and Doris.” + +“You might get your shopping done in the morning, perhaps. I’ll tell you +what cars to take, though it might be that Carolyn could come for you, +or somebody call for you in their car.” + +“Oh, I could get there, I think, if it is not too far from the car line. +I’m getting used to going around now.” + +“It isn’t so easy sometimes, even for those of us that have always lived +here, and our fathers and mothers like to be careful of us, of course.” + +“Will there be a large party? I might meet some of the girls somewhere, +wherever you have to change cars.” + +“Yes, probably you could. Why, I think that there will be all our crowd +and some others we don’t see so much of, real nice girls, you know.” + +Betty was glad to be included in “our crowd,” but there was no further +opportunity for conversation. Boys and girls were pouring into the +different entrances of the auditorium, seeking their regular seats, +which had been assigned. + +“Oh, look!” exclaimed Peggy. “We’re going to have the band! Say, don’t +they look fine in their uniforms? Well, ’bye–sorry I can’t sit by you.” + +The high school band did look resplendent. As Betty took her seat they +struck up a lively popular air and played it through while the school +was assembling. They were on the platform, where the principal stood +beside a chair, probably thinking that his presence would have more +effect if he stood. And the presence of the dignified principal always +did have a calming effect. No nonsense or disrespect was ever shown to +him, for the very good reason that he would not tolerate it. A school of +this size, and a city school, with its variety of composition, called +for no weakness in the men and women who had charge of its discipline, +though in this school all due consideration was given to the rights and +needs of its pupils. + +It was a pretty scene. Betty was glad that she sat on the end of one row +of seats, for she could see so much better. Eagerly she leaned forward, +not to miss any part of scene or action. But before they were seated, +they all turned as usual, at the signal from the principal, to salute +the flag, whose bright stripes and stars showed at the principal’s +right. Already the pupils were trained to say in excellent unison the +phrases which pledged them to the flag of their country and that “for +which it stands.” Together they made the right gestures at the right +time and Betty had not gotten over feeling thrilled to be a part of so +great a company, or over the patriotic tie that made them one. + +Carolyn sat not far away, in front of Betty, and as soon as they were +seated she leaned back to nod at Betty and form with her lips the words, +“I want to see you after this.” + +Betty nodded her understanding. She _was_ going to be invited to the +garden party, she thought. But what was the principal saying? He sat +down, after making a few announcements and handing the conduct of the +meeting over to some boy, whom Betty supposed the president of the Boys’ +Athletic Association, though she had not caught the last words of the +principal. The program was not so different from that of the meetings +which Betty had attended in the little school at home, when there was a +general gathering in honor of athletics, but oh, how much bigger +everything was. + +The band was several times as large, and how well they played! It must +be something to learn to play in a city where there is a symphony +orchestra, Betty thought. Ambition stirred. She just _must_ belong to +one of the musical organizations of the school, some time if not now! + +Now the yell leader performed, leading the school in different yells for +the team and school. Betty’s face was one wide smile. These were new and +funny yells. The team had to come forward and some speeches where made. +Some of the boys were shy and awkward; others, used to it, said their +say with greater freedom. Some funny expressions were used. Betty +thought of how they must grate on the ears of her strict English teacher +who had been particularly severe in regard to slang at their last +recitation. What would she say if she heard some of the things that +Betty had been surprised to hear girls say, girls that seemed to be nice +and were undoubtedly attractive? Such girls in the village at home were +not welcomed to intimate friendship and as a rule belonged to a class +careless and unrefined at home. + +Little thoughts like these ran through Betty’s young head as she +applauded with the rest and tried the yells, such fun to say; though she +did not know some of them. But they were easy to get, “crazy” as they +were. But the wilder the better, when it comes to athletics, or so the +modern rooters seem to think. The band indulged in funny little crashes +at quick signals from the yell leader. Betty, with one eye on the +principal, saw him smile occasionally. All this was allowed; but, after +all, it was an orderly performance, if wildly enthusiastic. “My, they +all know how to do it, don’t they?” she said to Carolyn, who joined her +on their way from the auditorium. + +“Yes, but they wouldn’t I guess if they didn’t have people in charge +that won’t stand for any nonsense. Got your Latin all out?” + +“Yes, though I’m shaky on some of it. It’s terribly hard for me to +memorize. If she didn’t have us go over it so much I’d never get it.” + +“That’s what teachers are for, I suppose,” laughed Carolyn. “But what I +wanted to see you about was this: I want to have a garden party while +the weather’s nice, so I’m asking everybody for Saturday–just informal +invitations, you know, not the way my big sister does when _she_ gives a +party! Can you come? We’ll have a picnic dinner outdoors, unless the +weather does something awful. But it’s pretty dry and I don’t believe it +will rain. We had such a lot of rain last week and our flowers are so +pretty now. Please come.” + +“Why, I’d just love to, Carolyn, and I think it’s nice of you to ask me. +I don’t know of any reason why I can’t come. I’ll ask Mother tonight and +let you know _sure_ tomorrow. It’s practically sure, though, because I +can do what I like Saturday afternoon.” + +“All right, Betty. I’ll expect you. I’ll give you the address and tell +you how to get there when I have time.” + +The girls hurried along with the rest of the crowds going to recitation +rooms. It must be said that Betty’s mind wandered a little occasionally, +whenever it was safe to let it wander, from the subjects of the lessons +to the delightful prospect of next Saturday. This was the first of the +week. What should she wear? She did not like to ask Carolyn, but perhaps +she could manage to bring up the subject with Peggy, or some of the +other girls, when she knew who were invited. Suppose there should be +some freshman boys. Peggy hadn’t said and neither had Carolyn. + +That afternoon, after school, Betty rushed into the house with her books +for night study and deposited them on the table with a slight thud. Her +eyes were alight and the “one dimple” was much in evidence. “Mother, I’m +invited to a garden party! It’s at Carolyn’s on Saturday afternoon and +they’re going to have a picnic dinner outdoors. Can I go? _May_ I go, I +mean?” + +“I shall certainly want to say yes, if you want to go, as I judge you +do.” Mrs. Lee was smiling, too, as she looked at her glowing young +daughter. She folded a garment she had been mending and laid it aside. +“Tell me about it.” + +“Well, you know who Carolyn is, don’t you?” + +“I ought to by this time,” and Mrs. Lee’s eyes twinkled. “It occurs to +me that I have heard you mention her before.” + +Betty laughed. “I suppose I _have_ raved about Carolyn. But she is the +dearest thing.” + +“I am sure that it is a perfectly proper friendship, Betty,” assented +Betty’s mother. “The Gwynne place has been mentioned more than once in +the paper and I read of a large garden party given there by Carolyn’s +mother, about two weeks ago, I think.” + +“Oh, was that the gorgeous place that had the pictures of it in the +Sunday paper?” Betty looked a little dismayed. “Why, they must be very +stylish and wealthy folks–but Carolyn likes me–I know she does.” + +“To be stylish and wealthy, my dear, does not always make people snobs, +and there are other assets that they may recognize in other people, too. +If you and Carolyn are congenial, there is no reason why there should +not be a pleasant friendship between you, at least now.” + +Betty looked thoughtful. “You mean that after a while their way of +living might make a difference and that Carolyn would have different +friends!” + +“Perhaps. I don’t know, Betty. Separation sometimes makes it impossible +to keep in touch. But don’t let me start unhappy thoughts about this. I +shall do everything I can to let you have friends and a happy time. You +always have; why not here in the city? Just so you have none that will +hurt you. But you are not likely to choose that kind, I think. Please +remember, Betty, that you can’t touch coal without getting black.” + +“But you ought to be friendly with everybody, oughtn’t you?” + +“Certainly, so far as being kind–but let the older folks do the +reforming, Betty. Well, all this about one innocent party? What should +you wear, Betty?” + +“Just what I was going to ask you! But I’ll find out from Peggy. They +are going to play tennis and things. I wish I had a real ‘sport +costume,’ for I don’t suppose they’ll wear ‘party dresses’ to an outdoor +party like this.” + +“Perhaps we can fix something up, Betty. If you only hadn’t outgrown +everything so! We can’t afford new clothes right now, after all our +moving and what we have had to buy to fix up this place. And social +prominence does not enter into our plans right at present.” Mrs. Lee +smiled at Betty, who was sitting in a low chair now with her hands +folded on her knees. + +“It never does,” laughed Betty, “but you usually can’t help having it. I +should think it would be a rest not to be president of a club or +responsible for church things. Nevertheless, Mother, don’t hide your +light under a bushel!” + +With this advice, Betty jumped up to run out into the kitchen and +pantry, for investigation of the cooky jar. Crumbs about showed that +Doris or Dick had been there before her, and she heard Amy Lou’s +childish laughter coming from the back yard. But Betty’s lessons were +hard for the next day and she returned to the living room to take one of +her texts back to her room and study a while by herself. + + + + +CHAPTER VII: CAROLYN’S GARDEN PARTY + + +The rest of the week went by in pleasant anticipation of the garden +party, Betty’s first. To be sure there had been “loads of picnics,” and +lawn fetes for the church, usually in the spring or early summer. But a +real “garden party” _must_ be different. There was much consultation +about clothes between Betty and her mother. One of the girls had said +that of course one wouldn’t wear her _old_ clothes, or her Girl Scout or +Camp Fire Girl suits, as you would on a picnic to the woods. _She_ was +going to play tennis, and her mother had gotten her an “_awfully +pretty_” white sport suit! + +Well, what _was_ a sport suit anyhow? Mrs. Lee took Amy Lou down town, +one morning when Mr. Lee could drive them down, and spent a rather +trying morning trying to shop with a child. She looked at dresses and +patterns, with a view of fitting Betty suitably for the occasion. But +the new things were expensive. Finally, by letting down a skirt Betty +had and arranging a suitable blouse, or upper part, what Betty called a +“near‐sport” frock was evolved. + +Then, after all the effort, Betty came home one afternoon with a new +idea. “Mother, it’s turned so awfully hot–Indian summer, I suppose–that +Peggy says she isn’t going to play tennis or anything on a court, and +she’s going to wear her light green flat crepe that is her second best, +or else some real cool summer dress, whatever happens to be ready. Peggy +doesn’t care! I believe I’ll just wear my pretty thin blue and let it go +at that. I don’t want to play tennis either, especially when I don’t +know anybody much and not so very many can play. Carolyn says she’s +going to pay all her social debts at once and have a big party, so I’ll +be lost in the multitude.” + +Like Janet, Mrs. Lee privately thought that Betty would never be “lost +in the multitude,” but she did not say so. “So Carolyn is paying all her +‘social debts,’ is she?” asked Betty’s mother, amused at the “social +debts” expression. “It is just as well that you have decided on the +blue. It will look pretty in the gardens and _I’d_ dress for the flowers +instead of the tennis court.” + +“Aren’t you poetic, Mother! It’s a shame that you went to all the +trouble about the other dress, though.” + +“That will be so much clear gain, child. You now have another frock, +which will come in for service at some time, no doubt.” + +When the day and the hour arrived, Betty’s father arrived home late for +lunch, as he could do on Saturday, unless there were some executive +meeting. That settled the question of how to get to the party, and Betty +called up two of her friends to say that her father was going to take +her and that she would stop for them if they liked. Naturally they were +glad of the opportunity, for the Gwynne estate was out at some distance, +_almost_ a “country estate,” Peggy had said. “Call up,” said Betty’s +father, “when you want to come home, or rather, when I should start from +home in time to reach you. We’ll take note of the time we spend getting +there. Then I’ll bring a machine full of whomever you like.” + +“Oh, that is so good of you, Mr. Lee!” exclaimed Dotty Bradshaw, one of +the freshman girls whom Betty had invited to ride with them. “But +perhaps Betty will want somebody else, though,” added Dotty, happening +to think that perhaps she was taking too much, for granted. + +“Why, Dotty, of _course_ if we call for you we’ll see you back home. +We’re sort of new to the city, though, so perhaps you can tell me who +live places that wouldn’t be too far away.” + +“Most anybody that attends our high school would be all right,” answered +Dotty, “because girls that live in other parts of town would go to other +high schools.” + +“Of course! I didn’t think!” + +“Well, I don’t know about that,” said Selma Rardon, the other freshman +in the car. “There are sometimes people way out, like Carolyn herself.” + +Betty was already assured by the very different dresses of the girls +with her, and when she arrived at the beautiful place where Carolyn +lived she thought how silly she had been to worry about clothes. Still, +you wanted to be suitably dressed, and when you knew hardly anybody, +there was some excuse. And oh, there _were_ boys, too. She saw a number +of lads whose faces she knew by having seen them in the different +freshman classes. Then there were others whom she did not know at all. +By the time Betty and her friends turned into the drive which led to the +house, most of the boys and girls had arrived, it seemed and were dotted +in groups all over the closely clipped lawn which still looked like +velvet between its flower beds and shrubbery. Oh, wasn’t it beautiful? +Betty was so glad that her father could see where the party was. + +“I was afraid you weren’t coming at all, Betty,” said Carolyn, squeezing +Betty’s hands, “but there are still a few that haven’t gotten here.” + +“I waited for Father to bring us,” replied Betty, “and we didn’t quite +know how long it would take to drive out.” + +“Well, you’re here now and I’m going to ask Peggy to see that you meet +everybody. I’ll have to be darting here and there and everywhere to see +that they all have something to do.” + +Carolyn looked so pretty, Betty thought, and she wore the simplest of +summer dresses, to all appearances, though the material was fine and +sheer, a sort of chiffon, Betty thought; for Betty was just becoming +aware of styles and materials, matters which she had left to her mother, +and most wisely. + +There was the usual tendency of the girls and boys to separate into +groups of boys and groups of girls, but Carolyn had announced that first +they would stroll to see the flowers and go to the pool and the +greenhouse and that each boy must join some girls, not necessarily _one_ +girl. In consequence the groups were mixed by the time Betty and her +friends began their stroll around the grounds and Peggy took Betty into +the midst of one. Dotty Bradshaw accompanied them, though Selma had been +drawn away by one of her special friends. Dotty was “cute,” Peggy said. + +Here were Mary Emma Howland and Mary Jane Andrews, the two Marys of +Betty’s algebra class. Then Chet Dorrance, whom Betty afterward found to +be Ted’s brother, was feeding the goldfishes in the lovely pool from a +box of something held by Kathryn Allen. Budd LeRoy perched on the stone +arm of a seat that curved artistically in grey lines, back a little from +the pool, and talked spasmodically to Chauncey Allen, Kathryn’s brother, +and Brad Warren. Budd, Chauncey and Bradford were not freshmen, Betty +thought, but she wasn’t sure. Who _could_ be sure about all the freshmen +there were? Chet Dorrance looked a good deal like his brother, though +his hair was lighter and Betty decided that he didn’t look quite so +smart, but not many of the boys could touch Ted for looks. + +The boys all wore coats, though she knew that some of them, at least, +would have felt more comfortable without them, as she had seen them +Friday at school. Later on, however, when games and sports began, many a +coat was to be found hung on the back of a garden bench or over the +slats of a trellis. Carolyn may have given the word. Betty did not know. +She usually kept her eye out for what boys did, on account of Dick, +whose social etiquette she helped superintend, little as she knew +herself. Between three and four o’clock it was very warm indeed. Later +it began to cool off and seem like early October. + +“Isn’t this the loveliest place?” she said to Chauncey Allen, by way of +making conversation. After introducing Chauncey to Betty, Peggy had +darted off to start Budd and Bradford in tennis, about which they had +inquired. Chet Dorrance and Kathryn Allen had finished feeding the +goldfish and sauntered to the big stone seat, where Chauncey suggested +that he and Betty also sit. Kathryn was a pretty, slight little girl +with an olive complexion, very black hair and dark eyes. Chauncey was as +dark in his coloring but was of a much larger build. + +“Pretty nice,” replied Chauncey. “They’ve got fine gardens and a good +tennis court, that much is certain; but their house is pretty old.” + +“But it looks so–distinguished,” said Betty. “Those big pillars and the +wide porch and the drive with that sort of porch built over it–I never +can remember the name for it.” + +“You can’t prove it by me,” grinned Chauncey. “I don’t know either, +although we have one. Yes, the Gwynne place is considered a fine old +estate, so my dad says. Mother says she wouldn’t have it for it isn’t +modern enough to suit her. She doesn’t like high ceilings and great +rooms that are hard to heat in winter.” + +“Oh, I _love_ them,” cried Betty, “though maybe it’s because I never +have to bother about furnaces and things like that. I’d just love to +have a great house and big grounds like this.” + +“Where do you live?” asked Chauncey. + +“In an apartment. My father’s just come to the city this fall and we +took the best place Mother could find. We still have a home in my home +town, but I don’t suppose we’ll ever go back there to stay.” + +“Would you like to?” + +Betty shook her head negatively. “I’m thrilled to death to be in our big +high school!” + +Chauncey grinned pleasantly. “It is pretty good,” he acknowledged, “but +I hate to study sometimes. I hope football will go all right for our +team this year. There’s one of the big high schools that is our greatest +rival, and O, boy–if we don’t beat them this year!” + +Betty had not heard about that, but she loyally echoed Chauncey’s wish. + +“How about going up to the house for that fruitade Carolyn said would be +ready pretty soon?” asked Chauncey, including the group, for two other +girls had come up to the pool and were now joining Kathryn and Chet. + +The suggestion was promptly acted upon and Betty now found herself +walking between tall pampas grass and well trimmed bushes of all sorts +along a path to the house and talking to Chet Dorrance, who asked her if +she had bought her season ticket for football yet. + +“No, I haven’t. Are you selling them?” + +“No, but Ted is.” + +“I’m awfully sorry, but Carolyn told me that if I hadn’t promised, one +of the girls wanted to sell me one, so I promised.” + +“Oh, that’s all right. It was probably one of the girls on a pep squad.” + +“What’s a pep squad?” laughed Betty. “That must be one of the things +that I haven’t heard about yet.” + +“You’ll hear a lot about it, then. Why, they have them in the G. A. A., +girls that talk it all up and make ‘enthusiasm’ and support the +athletics, you know.” + +“What is the G. A. A., please? I must be terribly dense, but remember +all the things I’ve tried to take in. You’re not a freshman, are you?” + +“Why, no–what makes you think that?” Chet was privately thinking that +there must be something after all in experience, though as he was no +larger than a very dear freshman friend, who had been left a little +behind in the race for high school, he had been “insulted” more than +once by being considered a freshman. + +“Well, I did think that you were one, since your brother is a +junior”–Betty had almost said that he looked so much younger than Ted +the tall, but she halted in time. “But you seem to know all about +everything, and even the freshies who live here don’t always remember +everything.” + +“I could get all that from hearing Ted talk, you know; but of course, +there isn’t much about the school that I haven’t _heard_ about–I +wouldn’t say _know_, of course.” + +“It must be nice,” said Betty, thereupon pleasing her escort, who +immediately began to enlighten her upon the workings of the athletic +association and the girls’ share in it. The G. A. A. was the Girls’ +Athletic Association. + +“Oh, yes! Of course. I hear them call it a _club_. I’ve even had it +explained to me–but not the pep squads. I only wish I had time for +everything!” + +“You don’t have to do everything your freshman year, Betty.” + +“That is what Father said–so I’m not. But that doesn’t keep you from +wanting to do things.” + +“You’re right it doesn’t!” Chet was thinking of several things that he +had wanted to do and still wanted. + +A great glass bowl just inside the screened porch on the side of the +house away from the sun, supplied a cool drink of oranges and lemons, +whose slices floated about pieces of ice. A maid in cap and apron served +them and fished out a whole red cherry to put in Betty’s glass. And +didn’t it taste good! + +Then, in the shifting of position and accidental meetings of this one +and that one, Betty found herself with Mary Emma Howland and another +freshman boy whom she recognized as the brightest lad in the algebra +class. “Oh, yes,” she said, in answer to Mary Emma’s question whether or +not she knew “Sim,” and brightly she smiled at him. + +“We never were introduced,” said Betty, “but when you recite every day +together you can’t help but know people, and whenever Mr. Matthews calls +on ‘James Simmonds’ he looks as if he expected to have a recitation.” + +“There, Sim!” laughed Mary Emma. “I told you you were the teacher’s +pet!” + +“Much I am!” and James Simmonds looked as if he did not appreciate being +complimented, even by two merry girls. He was a tall, thin boy, with +light, sandy hair, thin face and light eyes, but eyes that were keen +with intelligence when they did not twinkle with mischief. “And I’m +usually called ‘Simmonds’ by the men teachers.” + +“So you are,” acknowledged Betty. “But I didn’t know they called you +‘Sim’–I thought it was ‘Jim.’” + +“I’m generally known as Sim,” said the boy, “but sometimes it’s ‘Jim’, +or ‘Carrotts.’” + +Sim exchanged a look with Mary Emma, who giggled. “Sim’s my fourth or +fifth cousin,” Mary Emma explained. “He lives at our house to go to +school while his father and mother are away this year.” + +As Betty looked inquiringly at Sim, he explained that his father was an +engineer and was in South America with his mother for the year. “I’m +going there some day,” said he. “Say, they have mosquitoes and snakes +and all sorts of queer things, and there are some man‐eaters down there, +cannibals, you know–oh, it’s a wild country all right!” + +“That doesn’t sound so very good to me,” smiled Betty. “Do you really +want to go where there are snakes and things like that!” + +“Certainly! Mary Emma you bring Betty Lee out some time and I’ll show +her the things they’ve sent us.” + +“We really have some beautiful things from South America, Betty,” said +Mary Emma, and Betty was thinking how interesting it would be to see +them. My, she was getting acquainted fast! But just as Mary Emma was +beginning to tell her about a handsome purse that had come for her +mother, Peggy came running out of the house door and stopped before the +porch bench upon which the three were seated. Peggy was wearing +something funny on her head and carried something, a straight piece of +pasteboard, in her hand. Large black letters said something or other. + +“Oh, here you are, Betty. I was looking for you. Carolyn wants you to be +one of the social engineers. We’re going to have games for everybody on +the lawn now and you’ll have to help. Come on! ’Scuse Betty, please, +Mary Emma–and Sim.” + +Betty rose to follow Peggy inside. There were several girls, all +adjusting these pasteboard caps or hats, that looked like short +stove‐pipes. Carolyn was apologizing, though Betty thought the idea +clever. “I didn’t have time, girls, to make caps, anything pretty, you +know, and I went to a picnic where they had these. They looked cute and +I thought they’d do.” + +“Of course they’ll do,” said Peggy, adjusting the cap to Betty’s head, +merely by wrapping the two ends about and fastening them, top and +bottom, with ordinary clips. So that was what the big black letters on +the plain gray pasteboard said, “SOCIAL ENGINEER.” + +“But Carolyn,” protested Betty, “I don’t know everybody and how can I be +a ‘social engineer’? I suppose you’re going to have games to manage?” + +“That’s it, and it doesn’t make a bit of difference whether you know +people or not. Your head‐gear makes it perfectly proper to speak to +anybody. I’m sure you’re good at things like this–from your looks, you +know!” + +“Thanks for the confidence,” laughed Betty. “All right, I’ll do the best +I can.” + +For the next hour the lawn looked pretty with the groups that played the +old‐fashioned games as well as those of a later date. Here were flowers +and shrubbery, light dresses, darting figures, much laughter and little +shrieks in the midst of excitement, when some one was caught or some one +became “It.” Then tables were brought out upon the lawn. Carolyn and +Peggy pressed several of the boys into service to help place them, but +after they were set, with silver, napkins and flowers, a pretty vase in +the center of each table, the “banquet,” as Betty later reported at +home, was served them as perfectly “as if they were grown up” by persons +whom Betty supposed to be the servants of the house. Mercy, she would +never dare invite Carolyn to their apartment! And she did _love_ +Carolyn! + +Not that Betty was ashamed of simple living–Betty was trying to think +why she had such a thought about Carolyn–but that could be puzzled out +later on. The present was too pleasant for a single disturbing thought. +It was cool now and seemed more like the time of year it really was. +Sunset hues were showing. And they were to stay till the Japanese +lanterns all about were lit, with some hiding game or treasure hunt that +Carolyn had mentioned to the “social engineers” as their last effort and +fun. And now, after the pretty ice‐cream in the freshman colors and the +delicious cake with the double frosting, lovely baskets of grapes and +peaches were being passed. + +Betty slowly ate the juicy grapes of her bunch, one by one, as she +talked to Peggy on one side of her, or Chet Dorrance on the other. One +of the junior boys had been “fired,” according to Chet, for “cutting +classes, disorderly conduct and disrespectful behaviour.” Oh, no, he +couldn’t come back now. His parents had been over to see the principal +and they might get the “kid” into some other school–Chet did not know. +And Betty was to watch Freddy Fisher carry the ball at the first +football game in the stadium. “If you go with Carolyn and Peggy,” said +he, “they’ll tell you who everybody is that’s doing things. You’ve seen +’em all, though, haven’t you?” + +“Yes, but I’m not sure I’ll know them on the field. I guess I am going +with Carolyn and Peggy.” + +“Of course you are,” decidedly remarked Peggy, who had turned from her +other neighbor in time to hear Betty’s last sentence. “What is it you’re +going to?” + + + + +CHAPTER VIII: BETTY HEARS THE LIONS ROAR + + +Nothing could have been more appropriate for exciting athletic affairs +than the name which had been given to this high school in honor of a +distinguished public servant, interested in education. It scarcely needs +to be explained that the football team of Lyon High was called the +lions, on and off the gridiron, or that posters and the school paper +carried fierce‐looking drawings and cartoons of the King of Beasts in +action. A golden yellow, relieved by black, in the costumes of the Lyon +High band and in the sweaters of the team was supposed to suggest the +tawny coat of what could “eat up” any other team in short order. Lions +figured largely in various badges and insignia of all sorts. Betty Lee +had early decided that she must some day wear one of the pins or rings +that bore the “Lyon High Lion.” + +Oh, it was good to stow away books in the freshman lockers and hurry +with the rest of the big crowd to find seats in the stadium, seats where +one could see everything! + +The girls lost little time at their lockers. “Come on, Betty,” called +Carolyn. “I’ve got some newspapers to sit on. Yes, I should _say_ bring +your coat! Your sweater won’t be enough. I promised Mother to wear a +coat and wouldn’t have needed to promise, either. I don’t care to freeze +myself.” + +This was not the first game. That had been duly played in the home +stadium, not so long after Carolyn’s garden party, and Betty had felt +all the thrills of seeing the great stadium come to life for the first +time in her experience. After this big school, college could not bring +her more! Yet thrills could be repeated. Never would this place become +so accustomed, Betty was sure, that she would not have them. Then, this +was the GREAT GAME. It was the one between the two largest high schools +of the city and was an annual occurrence, long heralded, the great game +for which the teams prepared. There had been a lively meeting in the +auditorium beforehand, that very morning. The championship was at stake! +“Oh,” said Betty, “I don’t see how I can _stand_ it if the Lions don’t +beat!” + +“Don’t suggest such a thing,” Peggy called back. “Of course we’ll beat!” + +There was a large crowd, parents and friends included, as well as many +alumni of the high school, who were interested enough and loyal enough +to see at least this one chief contest every year. But Carolyn, Betty +and Peggy, with some of the other girls, were among the first among +those dismissed from the last Friday classes. Their season tickets were +punched at the stadium entrance before the stadium was appreciably +filled. + +“We’ve a grand choice, girls. Hurry!” Carolyn tripped rapidly down the +steps in the lead. + +“Down there, back of those boys, Carolyn!” called Peggy, who knew as +well as Carolyn the “strategic point” that they wanted to reach if no +one were ahead of them in securing it. “First come, first served here, +you know, Betty,” Peggy added, hopping from one high step to another in +a short cut. + +Carolyn was spreading newspapers and holding them to keep them from +being blown away in the slight breeze. “Sit on ’em in a hurry,” she +laughingly urged, and settled herself on the further one, next to two of +the teachers, who were spreading out a steamer rug. “Sensible girl,” +said one, smiling down at Carolyn. “Is your coat warm enough?” + +“Yes, Miss Heath, and we have on our sweaters beside. Peggy and I nearly +froze at the University stadium last week, so we bundled up this time. +Did you see the game with State, Miss Heath?” + +“Indeed I did.” + +“Good for you,” chuckled Carolyn. “You like athletics, don’t you?” + +“Very much–when some one else does it.” + +“But _you_ wouldn’t have time,” suggested Carolyn. This was the Miss +Heath whom all the girls liked so much, girls of any rank from freshmen +to seniors. She was always fair, though you had to work for her. No +“getting by” with poorly prepared lessons. + +“No,” assented the adorable Miss Heath, “I’d have no time, not even for +setting up exercises.” She looked at her teacher friend, a lady from the +rival school, and laughed. “What do you think, Carolyn, would it be +polite for me to sing with you our school songs or do any rooting for +Lyon High when my friend from our rivals’ school is sitting right by me? +By the way, Miss March, this is Carolyn Gwynne, one of our freshmen. You +know the Gwynne place, out on Marsden Road?” + +“Oh, yes, quite well. How do you do, Carolyn. I think I have met you at +your home. I belong to a club that met there last year.” + +Carolyn said the appropriate remarks in reply and was fortunately not +obliged to decide what was the polite course for Miss Heath to follow. +So far as she was concerned, no scruples would have prevented her +enthusiasm for Lyon High, for the good reason that Carolyn forgot +everything but the game when the contest was on. + +Peggy, and Betty, too, third in order from the teachers, leaned around +Carolyn to bow in friendly and respectful fashion, but at once they gave +their attention to the crowd and the field. On the track a few runners +were practicing, their costume looking very cool for the chilly fall +breezes. A few boys were standing about on the field or central +“gridiron.” + +Betty filled her lungs with the fresh air that was not blowing too +sharply. She was accustomed to the curving concrete that rose high +behind her and stretched to right and left, to the field before her and +to the gymnastic or athletic performances that had seemed so queer at +first because of the larger numbers and the better equipment. By this +time, too, she knew the team, its best members and what they were likely +to do, though in the confusion of the game it was sometimes hard for her +to recognize a play. + +As the game was with a city school today, there were as many or almost +as many rooters for the visiting team as Lyon High itself could offer. +As the seats filled rapidly, competition between rooters began. Rival +bands with tooting horns and rolling drums made a dramatic appearance, +paraded, and finally took position. Rival yell leaders led rival cheer, +though Lyon High, trained by its athletic director to good +sportsmanship, gave a complimentary yell or two for its guests, using +their own battle cries or merely giving hearty rah‐rahs for the rival +school and team. + +Then the pandemonium was at its height when the teams ran out upon the +field and the excited youngsters on the stadium seats rose and shouted +their greetings. Betty stood and waved and gave the yells with the rest. +She might not have been long in Lyon High, but she was a part of it now! +It was her school! There! That was Freddy Fisher, upon whose plays so +much depended. There went that mysterious tall boy that somebody said +came from Switzerland and somebody else said was a Russian. My, but he +was an active chap! He was almost as good as Freddy, Chet Dorrance had +told Betty, but he didn’t always understand the signals and occasionally +the team was penalized for something that he did either accidentally or +on purpose. “He’s a hot one when he’s mad,” said Chet, “and I guess he +still thinks in his own language, whatever that is, though he likes to +play and learn all the new signals pretty quick, the coach says.” + +“Peggy, there is your hero,” laughed Carolyn. + +“Who?” inquired Peggy. + +“The ‘Don.’” + +“Oh, yes. I did say that he deserved as much glory as Freddy for that +last game, didn’t I? He gave such fine interference.” + +“The ‘Don’?” inquired Betty, puzzled. + +“They have him Spanish now, Betty. He’s been Russian, German, Hungarian +and I don’t know what all and I think the boys like to tease us girls by +making up something new about him all the time. But isn’t he sort of +handsome?” + +“I’d hate to say, Peggy, if you like his looks,” countered Betty. + +“Betty likes them fixed up and awfully clean, like Ted Dorrance, Peggy,” +mischievously said Carolyn. + +Betty flushed a little, but smiled. “I have a brother, girls. He’s +better now, but time was when Dick would just as lief never wash from +‘early morn till dewy eve’ as Father used to say. ‘Aw, what was the use +of washing before breakfast when you had to wash right after it?’” Betty +gave a comical imitation of Dick’s tones. + +“So after assisting in rounding up Dick to be washed and being +embarrassed more than once by his grimy looks, it’s no wonder if I like +’em clean at least. But I suppose I went through that time of hating to +be washed myself.” + +“I doubt it, Betty,” answered Carolyn. “I think you are always dainty, +if you ask me.” + +But now the time of the contest was at hand. More excitement and cheers +called for the attention of the rooters to duty. They yelled for their +own teams now, under the frantic leadership of active yell‐leaders. The +Lions’ little mascot, arrayed in his mask of a lion’s head and a suit as +tawny as the coat of the biggest lion in the “Zoo,” ran up and down, +waving large paws and trailing a long tasseled tail. + + “Lions, rah! + Rah‐rah‐rah‐rah, Lions! + Eeney, meeney, money mi, + Lions win when they half try‐‐ + Eeney meeney money mi, + Chew’em‐up! Chew’em‐up! _Lions_” + (Roar) + +The influence of the living models at the Zoological Gardens, on whose +fearsome roars many of these high school pupils had been, figuratively +speaking, brought up, made this characteristic roar, with which many of +Lyon High yells closed, very realistic. It had been with a mixture of +startled surprise, amusement and admiration that Betty, Doris and Dick +had first heard it that fall. But now even Amy Lou tried to imitate it. + + “Hickity, rickity, spickity jig! + Zippity soom and lickity rig! + The Lions are loose, + Get out of the way! + They’ll romp to the finish. + And Capture the Day Gr‐rr‐rr‐‐LIONS” + +Another favorite yell was both prefaced and ended with a student roar +from the Lyon High part of the stadium. It was short and vigorous: + + “Lions! Lions! + And they’re not tame! + Go it, Lions, + And _win that game!_” + +Some unexplained delay gave time for a brief rendering of a short high +school song. “Make it peppy!” called the leader, “one stanza and a yell +for the team!” + +This closed the preliminaries and in a tense stillness on the part of +the spectators the game began. From the first it was exciting, for the +teams were well matched. “Now let the Lions Roar,” was balanced by “Now +let the Eagles Scream,” in several good plays by each in the first +quarter. + +The Eagles kicked off but lost their advantage almost at once. For a +little the struggle resulted in little gain for either side. A trick +kick failed. Line plays gained little. Both teams resorted to punting +and the Lions gained some yardage. Betty, Carolyn and Peggy shared some +tense moments when the Eagles’ quarterback made a good ran of +thirty‐five yards before he was pulled down by Peggy’s new hero, the +“Don,” who came in for much cheering from Lyon High rooters. + +“Oh,” said Peggy, sitting back weakly, “I thought he was going to make a +touchdown! How did he get away?” + +“I don’t know,” answered Carolyn, “but he’s a smart player, the best +they have. He’s Bess Pickett’s brother, you know.” + +“He _ought_ to be somebody, then,” replied Peggy. “What a pity he +doesn’t go to Lyon!” + +“We don’t need him,” proudly said Carolyn. “Wait and see Freddy Fisher +wiggle and twist out of–” but Carolyn did not finish her sentence for +interest in what was going on. She was, however, a true prophetess, for +as the quarter was drawing near its end, their Freddy caught an Eagles’ +punt on his own ten‐yard line and raced through the entire Eagles’ team +for a touchdown, almost caught several times, while the excited +spectators stood and shouted. + +“Get‐that‐man! Catch him! Catch him!” called the Eagles. + +“Look out, Freddy! Go it! Get there!” shouted the Lyon High rooters. “A +touchdown Freddy! Atta‐boy!” + +The Lyon High band struck up a victorious strain, while Freddy, once +more the conquering hero, lay upon his ball to get his breath. + +During the second quarter there was no scoring. The Eagles were +determined to prevent further scoring by the Lions and risked little +punting. They were able, however, to spoil any fine little plans of the +Lions. Betty, who could not remember sometimes the various positions of +the players, though she could note their work, watched the vigorous +tackling and the opening struggles of the plays and found it necessary +to make an effort not to become too worked up over the contest. But the +Lions must win this time! They had barely won over the Eagles the year +before, but the championship was not at stake then for an outside team +had developed into one that had beaten both Eagles and Lions, and the +Eagles had lost one other game. + +Time out saw some of the boys going out to the side lines and as they +returned, Ted Dorrance saw a vacant seat just below where our three +girls sat and vaulted into it. “Hello!” said he. “This is a better place +than I had before. Anybody rented it?” + +“Not that I know of,” laughed Carolyn. “Some freshman we don’t know or +some outsider sat there, I guess.” + +“He’s lost out now,” said Ted. “How are you ladies enjoying the game?” +Ted looked up at Betty as he spoke. + +“It is a wonderful game,” sighed Betty, “but I can’t feel easy about our +beating yet!” + +Ted laughed, drew a package of peppermint “life savers” from his pocket +and handed it up toward the feminine fingers. “Perhaps these will do you +some good,” said he. “As to feeling easy, nobody does, though some would +say so. But take it from me, girls, and keep it under your hat, +something is going to happen.” + +“Oh, tell us, Ted!” exclaimed Peggy. + +Ted shook his head in the negative. “Official secret. I happened to get +hold of it. Sh‐sh!” + +Betty, with both dimples showing this time, for she really had two, +exchanged an amused glance with the merry Ted, who now whirled around as +several boys returned to take seats beside him, and one, looking up from +below to see no room there, hopped into another vacancy lower down. + +“You’ll not have to fight for your seat, Ted,” remarked Carolyn. “Aren’t +you seniors proud of Freddy?” + +“Yeah. But I wish this was a game where the coach could put in a few +substitutes. However, the other team is as bad off.” + +As he spoke, the attention of all centered on the gridiron once more; +but Betty was handing Ted the little package of “life savers,” and as he +took it, he leaned back to whisper near her ear as she stooped, “Watch +the Don!” + +Inquiring eyes met Ted’s with interest. He nodded. “Do as I said,” he +said jokingly, as he, too, turned to give his full attention to the +field. + +Betty wondered. The “Don” was noted for his good interference. Were they +going to let him do something else? Anyhow she would watch him, as Ted +directed. How nice it was of Ted to tell her! But Carolyn had given her +an amused glance just after Ted had turned away. She must be careful or +those ridiculous girls would keep on teasing her. Not that she cared. + +Very conservative, indeed, were the plays of the third quarter. Very +watchful were both teams. But the Eagles must score if possible, of +course, since the only score had been made by the Lions. Hard they +fought. Alas–the Lions were penalized for some breach of the rules by +Don, nothing serious, Ted said, just some little regulation about +“time”! + +“That old heathen!” exclaimed Ted, looking back at Betty, who wanted to +ask Ted if this were what she was to watch Don for. “But just wait. +We’ll show them!” + +Next in excitement came a fifteen‐yard holding penalty imposed on the +Eagles. But as if in desperation, toward the last part of the quarter, a +forward pass by the Eagles was successful, and Jim Pickett, clearing all +interference, made a seventy‐five‐yard run and a touchdown. + +“_Now_ hear the Eagle scream!” exclaimed Ted. “What’s the matter with +our team that they let Jim get away with that? But it was a pretty run. +Jehoshaphat, we’re even now! No–they’ve lost the kick! Hooray, we’re one +ahead!” + +Ted was either talking to himself or to the boys around him, but the +girls followed his boyish discourse with interest. And the next calamity +was even worse. In the next play one of the fiercest Lions was hurt. +They walked him off, but one arm hung limp and Ted, who again rushed +away to find out the damage, returned with the information that “Skimp’s +arm was broken!” + +“Oh, will that let them beat us, do you think?” asked Betty, leaning +forward. + +“Not necessarily,” replied Ted, “but it’s a big loss,” and Ted looked a +little grim. “Besides that, Freddy’s twisted his ankle, mind you!” + +“But we mustn’t give up, Betty,” urged Carolyn. “We have to root all the +harder to encourage the team!” + +What had become of the play Don was to make, Betty wondered–if that was +what Ted had meant? + +The play of the third quarter, interrupted by much time out, went on to +the finish, the Lions discouraged and not doing their best, Ted said. +The Eagles made apparently easy gains and took every advantage, until +after a rapid advance toward their goal and in the last few minutes of +the quarter Jim Pickett made another touchdown by catching the ball +punted to his position and running free to the goal. In the excitement +the final point to be gained by the kick was again lost. But now the +Eagles’ score stood ahead! Where were the brave Lions? + +“Well,” said Carolyn, “now comes the tug of war. It’s the last quarter +and everybody is tired out, and Freddy is limping off the field and it +doesn’t look so good!” + +“Never say die, Carolyn,” Peggy cheerfully put in. “The boys aren’t +going to lose the championship without a fight!” + +Ted had disappeared again. The Eagles were having a snake dance and +their band was parading, the forty pieces blaring triumphantly. “My, +they do play well,” said Betty. “It’s grand that the high schools are +big enough to have such music!” + +“I can’t say that I appreciate the Eagles’ band right now, Betty,” said +Peggy, “and you won’t either, when you’ve been here a little longer.” + +A gleam of hope seemed to arrive with bright Ted, who came jumping up to +his seat just below the girls and smiled as he sat down. “We’ll lick ’em +yet, girls,” he cried. “Freddy is resting a little and getting his ankle +bound up, and he’s going to play all right. They’ve a pretty good +substitute for Skimp; at least I think that Bunty will play a good game. +So all is not lost. Cheer up!” + +The Eagles’ heroes were just as glad for a short rest as Freddy or any +of the weary Lions. Recumbent forms lay about the field, presumably +drawing strength from Mother Earth. Then, as the immense audience began +to grow restless over delay, heads were bent together, in conference +over coming plays, and the formation was made, while encouraging though +brief cheers came from the rooters. After all the singing, cheering and +rooting in every known way and the expenditure of considerable energy +and enthusiasm, the band, the cheer leaders and the occupants of the +seats in the stadium were tired enough to long for the close of the +game. Yet tensity marked the opening of the quarter. + +“Let’s go,” suggested one of the teachers next to the girls. Carolyn +looked around in surprise, to see if it could be Miss Heath, usually so +loyal to the Lions. But possibly with the teacher from the other school +she rather hated to see the finish. + +But no, it was not Miss Heath who had suggested going. “If you like, +certainly,” she was saying, “though it may be a little difficult to get +through the crowd.” + +“That is so,” replied the other, “but I think the game is practically +over. Your big runner is injured and I scarcely think that the Lions can +do much, with the substitute that they have for that other boy. I saw +him play once before and he lost advantage once by fumbling when he +might have done something.” + +“Oh, _can’t_ we ‘do much’!” said Carolyn, in a voice low enough not to +be heard by Miss Heath or her friend. “She thinks she’s so sure of the +Eagles!” + +Peggy and Betty grinned back at Carolyn, but settled themselves to watch +the fray. + +Again the struggle was on. Good! Freddy Fisher was running about as +actively as ever, watched by the Eagles. Twice the ball was given to +him, but although he did not appear to be lame as he ran, he could make +little headway before he was downed. The Eagles “screamed” again, +rooting loudly, and hoarse encouragement came from the ranks of the Lyon +High rooters. “Atta‐boy! Freddy, rah! Fight, fight, fight, fight!” + +Then came the surprise. Betty had forgotten to follow Ted’s advice in +regard to watch “Don.” + +Who had the ball this time? Betty was as surprised as any one to see +“Don” with the ball, freeing himself from immediate interference and +starting off. Oh, could he do it! + +The surprised Eagles pounded after the mysterious foreigner while from +the Eagles’ rooters cries of “get that man! Get that man!” were wildly +repeated. + +Betty’s heart was in her mouth. “What did I tell you!” Ted was shouting +to the boy next him, as the Lion rooters stood up in a body and cheered. +“Run for it, Don! Watch out for Matt! Look out there, Don! Hooray, they +didn’t get you that time!” In these and like phrases, the boys in front +of Betty and others expressed their feelings, while the lad on his way +was trying to escape his enemies, all too ready to recover from their +surprise and take measures to stop him. + +Betty’s view was unimpeded. Now a tackler launched himself at Don. Oh! +Don stumbled a little! No, he got away and the tackle clutched the air. +“He’s free! he’s free!” cried Carolyn, jumping up and down. + +Gaining a little on the pursuit, running with more confidence, the “Don” +sped down the long path toward the goal, the ball held tightly. Cheers +arose and the fierce roar of Lyon High in rejoicing followed the running +lad. A few Eagles still followed–but Don had escaped! The “mysterious” +player was to divide honors with Freddy in the championship game and +equal the number of yards won by the Eagles’ quarterback, Jim Pickett. + +“He’s made it! He’s made it!” shouted Ted, embracing the boy next to +him, as Don completed his spectacular play and won his touchdown. +“Girls–what did I tell you, Betty! _Now_ watch the Lions do a snake +dance!” + +The Lions’ second touchdown put them ahead and after that there was +nothing but grim effort, defence, blocking and wary play on both sides +until the quarter ended. The Eagles, indeed, tried one or two desperate +chances in the hope of scoring, but the Lions, with equal determination, +blocked their every attempt, while an almost silent stadium of +spectators watched closely every play. + +Miss Heath was behind her friend as they climbed the steps of the +stadium, but happening to pass Betty and Carolyn, she gave Carolyn a +meaning smile and reached for Betty’s hand to give it a squeeze. + +“She can’t _say_ anything, to gloat over our victory, of course,” said +Carolyn, “but I can’t help be mean enough to be gladder because that +other teacher was so _sure_ we were defeated!” + +“What about the Don now, Betty?” asked Peggy. “If he isn’t so ‘slick’ as +some of the boys in dressing up, he was ‘slick’ in winning the game for +us, wasn’t he?” + +“Oh, the Don’s all right!” said Betty. And just then she felt a hand at +her elbow. It was Ted, who thus boosted her up a few steps, telling her +that the plan was to make “them” feel secure and then “spring Don.” “So +long, girls–good game, wasn’t it?” Ted finally inquired, leaping up the +rest of the way and again joining the boys. + +A tired but happy Betty clung to the straps of the crowded street car on +the way home. Doris was riding home in an automobile, with the little +daughter of a neighbor, but Dick grinned at Betty from the far end of +the car and joined her when they left it at their corner. + +“Say, did you ever see a fellow as heavy as that foreign fellow looks +run like that? But he isn’t quite as slippery as Freddy. They might have +caught him if they hadn’t been so surprised. What became of Doris? I +didn’t see her there at all. I hope she didn’t miss it.” + +“No; Marie’s folks were there, with her and Marie, and I saw Doris +getting into their car while we were waiting for the street car.” + +“Just to think! We’re the champions of the scholastic what‐you‐call it. +Didn’t I _yell_, though at the last shot, when the last quarter was over +and the game ours!” + + + + +CHAPTER IX: SHOWING OFF LYON HIGH + + +The game that won the championship for the Lyon High team passed into +history without much effect upon Betty’s relations to any one. It must +be said that the Lyon High boys and girls could not always forbear to +mention their victory in the presence of their rivals from the other +school and were immediately dubbed too “cocky” over the “accident” or +“trick” which permitted the result. But argument died out in the +interest of other things and the football season closed at the usual +time. + +The next bit of excitement for Betty was the visit of her friends from +home. “_Please_ arrange,” she wrote to Janet, “to come in time to visit +the school on Wednesday at least. Of course, I could take you to see the +buildings; but it will be so much more interesting for you to see them +full of all of us. And I can introduce you to the girls and everything. + +“You must meet Carolyn and Peggy, that I’ve told you about, and then +there are such a lot of other nice girls; and we’ll probably have an +auditorium session Wednesday morning with something or other that you +would enjoy seeing go on. It isn’t going to hurt you to miss a day or +two of school–_please!_ Get the teachers to let you make it up and tell +’em why.” + +In consequence, two bright‐eyed and inwardly excited girls descended +from their car at the railway station, to find Mr. Lee meeting the +crowds that were hurrying along with their bags inside by the long +train; and Betty was close to the iron gates, watching with eager look +to catch the first glimpse. + +Betty had not known Sue as intimately as Janet, but she had always liked +her and Sue belonged to her Sunday school class as well as to her class +in school. At any rate Sue was as warmly received as Janet and tongues +went rapidly indeed on the way home. + +“Tell me everything,” Betty had said, and in reply Janet had suggested +that Betty “show them everything.” But the sights had already begun, for +Mr. Lee went home by a roundabout way to drive through one of the most +beautiful parks, from which they could see the river and its scenery and +villages on the other side. He also drove past the high school which +Betty attended and Betty was quite satisfied with the exclamations of +her friends. + +“I met Father down town,” Betty explained, “for I went right down after +school, with some of the girls, and we had a soda. Then I went to +Father’s office and waited for him to be ready. Did you girls miss much +school?” + +“Only this afternoon, and tomorrow, of course,” Sue answered. “Janet’s +father drove us to Columbus, so we caught this train.” + +“It’s pretty yet, isn’t it?” remarked Janet, looking about at the trees +and bushes in the park, “and not a bit of snow.” + +“We had a wee bit one day; but you can notice quite a difference, one of +the girls said, between the climate here and where we used to live.” + +“Doesn’t that sound awful, Janet?” asked Sue, “where she _used_ to +live!” + +“But then you couldn’t visit me here, you know,” Betty hastened to say, +and Janet smilingly replied “Sure enough.” + +“Anyhow, you still _own_ your house and the lot next to it, don’t you?” +queried Sue. + +“I guess so–don’t we, Father?” answered Betty, who did not pay much +attention to business affairs, and Mr. Lee nodded assent as he drove +rapidly along the boulevard, now homeward bound. + +“Do you know, Betty,” said Janet a little later, when they were almost +home, “I never was inside of an apartment house!” + +“I never either,” laughed Betty, “till I came here; but we don’t live in +a real apartment house. Ours is what they call a ‘St. Louis.’ And don’t +you know when one of the girls called it that–her own place, I mean–I +thought she said she lived in St. Louis! I didn’t like to ask her to +explain how she lived in St. Louis and went to school here, so I kept +still and afterwards heard somebody else speak of a St. Louis flat!” + +“I’m going to keep still, too,” said Janet, with some firmness. “You +shan’t be ashamed of your friends from the ‘country.’” + +Mr. Lee spoke now, with a kind smile. “Betty isn’t one to be ashamed of +two such nice girls, and moreover, girls, I think that you may vote for +the country, or at least the lovely little village that is still home to +us, when you see how every one except the wealthy must live in the city. +I own to my wife that there are some conveniences and advantages. She +rather likes it now. But it’s pretty crowded and unless you like that, +the small town is better. Fortunately we live away from the street cars, +a few squares, so you may be able to sleep at night.” + +“Mer_cee_,” exclaimed Janet. “But I shan’t mind not sleeping–I’m not +sure I could anyway. Just to think of being here with you, Betty!” and +Janet squeezed Betty’s arm in anticipation. + +“Here we are,” cried Betty just then, and Mr. Lee, driving in, ordered +them facetiously to “pile out.” + +They “piled,” while Dick and Doris, still disappointed that they, too, +had not been permitted to meet Janet and Sue, came running out, followed +by Amy Lou, whose mother was trying to hold her back or at least to +throw something around her to protect her from the frosty air. “O, +Janet, it’s going to be such a glorious Thanksgiving!” exclaimed Sue in +Janet’s ear, as she followed her up the steps and into the house. And +Betty was crying to the welcoming mother, “O, Mother, they can stay over +Sunday and don’t care if they miss school on Monday!” + +“Well, isn’t that fine,” warmly responded the hostess. “I’m glad, too, +to see the girls from the old home and thankful to have room enough to +tuck you away. Take the girls back to your room, Betty, and have them +get ready for dinner. Doris, you may set the table if you will, and +Betty will help me take up the dinner presently.” + +This was the beginning. On Wednesday morning, Betty took her guests to +school with her, for Janet, particularly, wanted to visit a few of the +classes. Sue told Betty that she could “dump her any place” if she +liked. Impressed with the numbers and the apparent complexity of the +system, the girls visited one or two classes, met Betty’s home room +teacher and the others, in a hasty way between classes, and then waited +for Betty in the auditorium or the library, where there was much to +interest them. + +There was an auditorium session, with a few exercises appropriate to the +Thanksgiving season and then a brief organ recital by a visiting +organist, whom the principal had secured for a real treat to the entire +school. + +“Oh, I’m _so_ glad that you heard our big organ,” said Betty as she took +them to the library to leave them there while she went to her last class +before lunch. + +“And it was great to see that immense room filled with nobody but high +school pupils, and their teachers, of course,” added Janet, “only–only, +I believe, Betty, that I’d be too confused. Some way, I like the little +old high school at home, and we have such a pretty building, even if it +is small.” + +“Oh, you’d get used to it,” Betty assured Janet. “I have, and still, +there’s something in what you say, of course. Now I’ll be right up to +take you to lunch; it’s on the floor just above the library, you know, +and I’m going to bring Carolyn and Peggy along so we’ll sit together at +lunch and talk. Don’t you think they’re sweet?” + +“Peggy’s a perfect dear,” promptly Sue replied, “and Carolyn is too nice +for words, simply adorable.” + +After this tribute, the girls followed Betty into the library, where +Betty spoke to the librarian in charge and took them to a seat at one of +the tables. “You can look at the books, if you want to,” she whispered. +“I spoke to Miss Hunt, so it will be all right.” + +The time did not drag, for boys and girls were coming and going, or +sitting at the tables to read or examine books. The girls felt a little +timid about investigating any of the shelves, but the pleasant librarian +came to speak to them and to suggest where they might find books of some +interest. Accordingly, each with a book spent a little while in reading, +though, it was hard to put their minds on anything requiring consecutive +thought. + +And now bright faces peeped in, for Janet and Sue sat not far from the +door. Betty was beckoning and leaving the books upon the table, the two +guests joined Betty, Carolyn, Peggy and Kathryn Allen, whom they had not +met. + +“This is Kathryn Allen, girls,” said Betty in the breezy, hurried way +made necessary by the rapid movement of events. “I’ve told her who you +are. Let’s hurry in and see if we can get places together. Mary Emma +Howl and said she’d try to save places for us at that table by the +window that we like. She’s in line now. Look at that long line already! +I’m glad we happened to have first lunch, Janet, since you’re here.” + +“What is ‘first lunch,’ Betty? Do you have to take turns?” + +“Yes. There are several periods. Father says that that is the only thing +he doesn’t like about this school, that there isn’t enough time to eat +without swallowing things whole. But it isn’t as bad as that, really; +and most generally we don’t try to eat a big meal. Still, things are so +good, and you get so hungry, you know, especially if you can’t eat a big +breakfast.” + +“I don’t like all your stairs,” said Sue, “but I suppose it can’t be +helped. I guess your mother’s right–you need wings.” + +“Oh, you get used to where rooms are and it isn’t so bad. Of course, the +building does spread out awfully and up the three stories and basement. +And by the way, we can eat all we want to this time, for I saw Miss +Heath and told her that I had company, and if I was a little late to the +first class would she give me a chance to make it up–and she was in an +awful hurry and said, maybe without thinking, that I could.” + +The tables did look tempting. “First lunch” saw the whole array of +pretty salads and desserts, the chief temptations to the pupils, the +steaming meats and vegetables, so good in cold weather. Cafeteria +fashion, the long line passed, choosing what to put on their trays, and +oh, the noise, within the concrete floors and walls! Sue said to Janet, +as they walked along, that she was fairly deafened; but she had no +sooner sat down with the other girls at the table where places had been +successfully held for them by Mary Emma, then she began “shouting” with +the rest to be heard. + +Betty saw to it that her guests had a good selection of viands, for +neither Sue nor Janet were inclined to take enough, not wanting to run +up the price for their young hostess. “Mer_cee_, Betty, do you want to +kill us?” asked Janet as Betty placed a particularly toothsome looking +fruit dessert in her tray, in addition to the modest piece of pie which +she had herself selected. + +“Oh, no, not yet, Janet. Remember the turkey we’re going to have +tomorrow; but you must have nourishment!” + +Carolyn’s tray was slimly furnished, Janet thought, and she wondered if +she could not afford to get more; or did she just like desserts? Peggy +had meat, dressing and gravy and a fruit salad, of which she began to +dispose with some haste, though daintily enough. Sue and Janet concluded +that they must not look around too much, though the surroundings were so +interesting, but apply themselves to the contents of their trays, not a +difficult task, since everything was so good. + +“Is there anything else you’d like, girls? I can go back as easily as +not,” said Betty, pouring milk from a bottle into her glass. + +“No, indeed,” answered both the girls together. “We have too much now,” +added Janet. + +“If you can hear what I say,” called Carolyn across the table, around +whose end the girls had gathered, “will you, Janet and Sue, come with +Betty to our house Friday evening after dinner? Say about half‐past +seven or eight o’clock? I’ll call up, too, Friday some time. I’m going +to have a few of the boys and girls to meet your cousins, Betty.” + +“Oh, how lovely, Carolyn, but I should have the little party myself. I +can’t let you do it. I was going to ask you and Peggy and Mary Emma and +several other girls for Saturday. I had to wait to make sure that the +girls really got here, you know.” + +“Well, that would be just as nice as can be, Betty. I’d love to come, +but I know such a lot of the boys and girls, so please come to our +house.” + +“We could do both, then,” said Betty. + +“All right, we’ll see about it, then,” assented Carolyn. “Oh, yes, Chet, +see you right after school!” + +Carolyn had turned to answer Chet Dorrance, who spoke to her, tipping +his chair and leaning back from the next table. A crowd of boys there +were not uninterested in the little group of girls, whose demure glances +had been cast in their direction occasionally. + +“That’s Budd, Janet, next to Chet,” Betty was saying, “and Kathryn’s +brother Chauncey is right across at that other table, the boy that just +sat down there with his tray. They’re all sophomores. But there’s a +freshman bunch at the next table. I told you about Budd and Chauncey and +some of the rest when I wrote you about Carolyn’s house party, didn’t +I?” + +“Maybe you did, Betty, but I can’t remember, only about those you ‘rave’ +about, like Carolyn.” + +“I imagine that you’ll meet a lot of them at Carolyn’s. Isn’t it +wonderful of her to entertain for us? I think I did say to her not to +have too much planned for Saturday and that I was hoping that nothing +would happen to keep you girls from coming. I was pretty scared about it +when I heard from Sue that her mother was half sick; but you did come, +thank fortune!” + +It was more easily possible for bits of conversation with one person to +be held, since when more were included it was necessary to raise the +voice. The general conversation and laughter, the jingle of silver and +the clatter of trays and dishes seemed to be louder than the numbers +served would justify, although there was no special carelessness among +the boys and girls, and oversight made rude scuffling or trick playing +impossible, had there been any temptation or time for it. “It’s just +this big, echoing room, Sue,” said Janet, for both visitors noticed it. +“But it’s lots of fun, and such good eats for next to nothing, according +to what Betty says.” + +“They just charge enough to cover expenses, of food and help and so on,” +said Betty, who had turned back from talking to Kathryn in time to hear +this last. “How was the pie, Janet?” + +“Grand; good as home‐made.” + +“It _is_ ‘home‐made.’ I wish we had time to go back and see all the +place they have to cook and bake. Well, we can’t do everything in one +day, can we?” + +“We are doing enough,” replied Janet. “My brain is whirling as it is, +going from one thing to another and trying to remember who is who and +what is what.” + +“Don’t try,” said smiling Betty. “I’ll tell you again, or remind you. I +felt the same way at first, and remember that I had to learn to live it +and do it–them–everything!” + +On the way out Betty had a chance to point out, figuratively speaking, +both Freddy Fisher and the “Don” of football fame, and she almost ran +into Ted Dorrance in the hall. “Say,” said he, catching Betty’s shoulder +for a moment, “we seem to run each other down, don’t we? Oh, beg +pardon!” The last expression was addressed to Janet, whom he had brushed +against in avoiding Betty and a crowd of teachers that were coming from +the opposite dining hall, sacred to the instructors of youth. + +“Please stop a second and meet my friends that are visiting me–Miss +Light and Miss Miller, Mr. Dorrance, a prominent junior, girls.” + +Betty smiled up at Ted as she added the last in complimentary fashion, +but he shook his head at her, pleasantly acknowledging the introduction. +“She doesn’t say what I’m prominent for, you notice,” but with a salute +from his hatless forehead, Ted was gone. There was no standing on +ceremony when school hours were on and everything, even lunch, ran on +schedule. + +“I’ll not have to hurry as much as I thought, girls, since it was first +lunch. I’m about crazy today, I suppose, with delight at your being here +and wanting you to know about everything and everybody. What would you +like to do while I’m in class and study hall? Want to visit both of +them?” + +“How many periods have you this afternoon, Betty?” + +“Three, but one of them’s in gym.” + +“All right, we’ll visit study hall and gym and stay in the library or +auditorium during your class.” + +So it was decided. “Gym” proved most interesting. Study hall was full of +possibilities, Sue said, for it was interesting to see whether this one +or that one studied or not, to guess who they were and to recognize +those whom they met. And after the last gong had rung, how odd it was to +pass through those crowded halls, where pupils were putting away their +books in their lockers, getting their wraps from them, and going to +their home rooms until dismissed. It was all on a bigger scale than in +their home school. And the crowded street car was another feature, not +so pleasant, perhaps. + +But Betty looked out for the girls, to see that they had each a strap, +until Chet and Budd and a freshman boy Betty knew, who were, happily, +near, caught Betty’s eye and signaled the girls to come where they were +sitting, half rising, yet holding the seats until the girls should be +ready to slide into them. + +“Now, then,” said Chet, hanging to a strap in the aisle, after a brief +introduction to Janet and Sue, “what do you think of our school? I +noticed you had company, Betty.” + +“We’re quite overwhelmed by the school, really,” answered Janet, +politely, and smiling up at the boy whose seat she was occupying. “But +we have a good school, too, and I think you can learn anywhere.” + +“I suppose you can,” said Chet, “if you work at it. Did you see the +stadium?” + +“Yes, and it’s just marvelous. I don’t wonder Betty raves over +everything!” + +This satisfied Chet, who did not much care for the remark about learning +anywhere. “I’m invited to meet you at Carolyn’s Saturday, no, Friday +night, so I’ll see you there. Yep, coming,” and Chet moved down toward a +boy who had beckoned him. + +Gradually the jam lessened, as one after another reached a stopping +place. By the time Betty and her friends had reached their own stop, +every one was seated. Budd was the last one to swing off, and like Chet +he parted from them with a “So long, girls, I’ll see you Friday night.” + +“Those boys must know you pretty well Betty,” said Janet. + +“They do. Ever since Carolyn’s party.” + + + + +CHAPTER X: MORE FESTIVITIES + + +“Thanksgiving always means turkey and mince pie to me,” frankly said +Dick, as he sniffed savory odors and executed a clog dance on the +kitchen floor to the detriment of its bright linoleum. + +“Scat!” said an unappreciative sister at the close of the brief effort. +“This kitchen isn’t big enough for any antics.” But Betty was grinning +and Janet, who was wiping dishes, tapped a toe in time. “We’re clearing +the deck for Mother’s greatest efforts,” Betty continued. “Nobody can +have the roast turkey just right as she can. Thanks, Janet. There’s the +place to hang the towel. Now you girls get ready, while I peel the +potatoes and do a few other things. Mother, shall I wash celery now?” + +“Why, that will be very nice. You are bound to leave me nothing to do, I +see.” + +“That, my dear Mother, is your imagination and a beautiful dream. When +we come home from church and find the turkey cooked and the potatoes +ready to mash and the mince pie sizzling hot–yum, yum!” Betty was +hanging up the dish pan and hurrying to put the celery in cold water. + +“Church!” sniffed Dick, still hanging around. + +“Just for that,” grinned Betty, “I believe I’ll urge Father to take you +with us.” + +“If you _do_,” threatened Dick, shaking a fist, though, grinning, as he +disappeared altogether from his position in the kitchen door, and they +heard him scampering down the hall. + +“Now he’ll get out a book or something,” said Betty to Janet, “and +settle down for awhile. The point is, we really think it better to have +Doris, at least, at home, to amuse Amy Lou and keep her out of Mother’s +way a little; and since they didn’t want to go to church with us, it’s +all right. Oh, you are going to enjoy the service, I think. One of our +very best preachers is to give the sermon at the sort of union service +of the churches; and it’s in one of the very prettiest churches, too, +with a big vested choir and everything! There will probably be some +grand solo, or quartette, or something special, and we want to get there +early enough to hear the chimes.” + +“Sue and I will get ready, then, right away–shall we?” + +“Please, and I’ll whisk into something and we’ll be off in a jiffy, when +Father’s ready to go.” + +In such active fashion Thanksgiving Day began for this household and its +guests, with everybody in fine spirits. The air was cold and Dick was +hoping for snow. “Gee, I bet the boys are skating up home,” said he as +he followed his father to the garage. + +“I doubt it,” replied his father, “but you’re not going to get as much +snow and ice as you want here, I suppose.” + +Three happy girls, warmly clad, climbed into the machine with Mr. Lee +and they were soon whirling on their way toward the church, whose +service was almost as new to Betty as to her guests, with beautiful +music and an impressive message. And then came the return to the warm +house, the smiling mother with her face a little flushed from frequent +bastings of the turkey, and the good old‐fashioned Thanksgiving dinner, +which makes every one thankful whether he was in that mood before or +not. + +As usual, Mr. Lee stopped to let his passengers enter by the front door, +while he drove to the garage, and Betty was rather surprised to have her +mother open the door for them, though probably the night latch was on. +Mother kept things locked up as a rule, since coming to the city. + +“Hang up your wraps here in the closet, girls,” breezily directed Mrs. +Lee, “and go into the living room to meet our guest.” + +“Guest!” thought Betty as she gave her mother an inquiring look. Who in +the world had come? + +“It is one of the boys that your Father knows, Betty,” replied Mrs. Lee, +speaking softly in reply to Betty’s unspoken question. “It seems he +asked him to come for Thanksgiving dinner and forgot to tell me–so by +all means make him welcome. I think he goes to one of the high schools +and works in between times.” + +Betty, wondering, and guessing at the cordiality which her mother must +have used to cover up her ignorance and make the boy feel at home, +followed her mother from the hall to see a tall, rather heavy boy rise +and stand a little awkwardly to be introduced. Dark eyes, unsure of a +welcome, met Betty’s. Why–why, it was the “Don!” + +From the rather sober, polite girl who was ready to make a stranger +welcome, Betty became a wide‐awake, welcoming friend. Her mother, in a +low but cordial voice, was mentioning a name that Betty had heard but +never remembered, and then she was giving the girls’ names to the guest. + +“Why, Mother, _this_ is the hero of our championship game!” Betty was +stretching her hand out with a smile. “Does Father know it? And where is +Dick? He ought to be worshipping at your shrine!” Betty hardly knew what +she was saying in her surprise. The other girls, following Betty’s +example, shook hands with the tall lad, who seemed to lose a little of +his shy attitude under this complimentary greeting. It was nothing so +unusual, to be sure, for the Lees to have some lonesome body to share +their Thanksgiving dinner, yet her father’s forgetfulness and the +surprise of his acquaintance with the “Don” were two unexpected features +of the situation. But trust Mother to handle it! + +“Dick went off somewhere almost as soon as you went to church, Betty,” +Mrs. Lee was saying. “I’m glad to know that he will find a friend in Mr. +Balinsky. Please excuse us all for a few minutes. I’m going to ask the +girls to help me take up our dinner. Mr. Lee will be in shortly and Amy +Lou will keep you company, I suppose.” + +Amy Louise, who had reached the point of showing one of her picture +books to the “big boy,” soberly nodded assent. Doris was nowhere to be +seen, but she was found cracking nuts for the top of the salad and +announced to Betty, “We have everything ready now, I think.” + +“Well, you certainly have been a help to Mother,” said Betty warmly, +“and did you know that Ramon Balinsky is the ‘Don’?” + +“Why Betty Lee! How wonderful! No, I never saw him close enough at +school; and then you couldn’t tell, on the field, in his football +clothes! My, won’t Dick be simply stunned? I’m going to see where he is +and call him!” + +“His name has been in the school papers, but we’ve always called him the +‘Don’, so for a minute I didn’t know him, all dressed up, too, in his +Sunday clothes, I suppose. He usually looks so dingy at school, but +Mother says he works, so of course, poor kid!” + +“Maybe he doesn’t have enough neckties and shirts, Betty,” added Doris, +in a sepulchral whisper. “Bet he’ll like our dinner all right!” + +Dick needed no rounding up, for he breezed into the back door just then, +to be told by Doris to, “just go into the front room and see who’s going +to be here for dinner!” And the girls busy with trips back and forth, +from kitchen to dining room and dining room to kitchen, smiled to hear +the whoop with which Dick welcomed the older boy. It was not loud, but +enthusiastic, and an immediate sound of conversation in Dick’s boyish +treble and Ramon’s deeper tones indicated, so Betty whispered, that Dick +was finding out everything that they “wanted to know but wouldn’t ask.” + +Mr. Lee came in from the garage and held up his hands as he heard +Ramon’s voice. Then he pretended to be frightened and whipped outside +again into the little back hallway where the refrigerator stood. “You +are forgiven, sir,” laughed his wife. “Come and carry the platter with +the turkey to the biggest place I’ve prepared, and do not drop it on +pain of dire consequences!” + +“Honestly, Mother, I forgot all about it, but you don’t mind, do you?” + +“Not a bit. I supposed he was some lonesome youngster that you had +found, but you can tell me all about it later.” + +“I knew you would have a big dinner as usual”–but Mr. Lee now accepted +the hot platter with the turkey and reserved further remarks for the +future. And soon both young and older heads were bowed around the long +table while Mr. Lee said grace. + +“Our heavenly Father, we thank Thee for these evidences of Thy goodness +and bounty and for all the mercies of the year–for health and strength +and work and human love and friendship. Bless us all as we offer our +gratitude. Forgive us if we have not served Thee well, strengthen us for +the future, and keep us in Thy care, for Jesus’ sake. Amen.” + +Ramon’s solemn black eyes looked respectfully at Mr. Lee as he raised +his head after the blessing; but Amy Lou made them all smile by a long +sigh and a little leap in her high chair as her father picked up the +carving knife and fork There was plenty of conversation at once, in +which Ramon could take part if he liked; but no one expected anything, +it was evident, and the chief interest, it must be said, centered in the +good dinner, with compliments to the cook. Never was there such good +dressing, or a turkey so well done and juicy at the same time. The +cranberry jelly was a success and Betty’s mashed potato was a marvel of +whiteness. It was fortunate that there was plenty of gravy. Janet had +brought the spiced peaches from the home town and felt much honored that +Ramon liked them better than the cranberry jelly with his turkey, not +that he said so, of course. + +As usual, there were too many things, but there would be other meals, as +Mrs. Lee said when her husband told her that nobody was eating “the +other vegetables” and that dressing and mashed potato would have been +enough. Ramon cast a look at the great dish of grapes, oranges and other +fruit on the buffet, with a little bowl of cracked nuts and a plate of +fudge, and then viewed the hot mince pie before him. “You must have a +piece of Mother’s pumpkin pie, too, Ramon,” said Betty. “She always +bakes pies for the suppers and things at home, church suppers, I mean. +And do you remember, Mother, the time we had the dining hall at the +fair?” + +“Do I?” smiled Mrs. Lee. “Our aid society made enough money to buy new +dishes and carpet the church, but oh, how we worked!” + +“I think that it is cake where your Mother excels,” said Mr. Lee, “but I +suppose we shall not have any this noon.” + +“If you want it, Father,” said Betty. + +“We shall reserve that for our supper lunch, Betty,” said Mrs. Lee, “and +we want you to stay for that, Ramon.” + +“Thank you, madam–that would be too much, I’m sure. I expect one of the +boys, I think. I–I ought to call him up, I suppose, for he was to come +for me at three‐thirty or four and I may not be able to get back to +where I board by that time.” + +“Call from here, Ramon,” said Betty. “Oh, Mother, I’m glad you did put +those fat raisins in the mince meat!” + +But all the conversation did not center upon the food. Mr. Lee drew out +in the course of the dinner some facts from Ramon in which the girls +were very much interested. He had, indeed, come to America directly from +Spain, but his father was Polish and Ramon had seen Paderewski in +Poland. He had attended school for several years in a small eastern town +where he studied “English and American,” he said. + +“I was so behind in everything English, you see, that I had to be put in +a lower grade at first than I would have been in in my own country; but +I made three grades in one year because I could do the mathematics and +such things; and so when I learned to read and speak your language +pretty well, it was not so hard. A friend of my father’s brought me +here, but he died.” + +“Oh, do you understand all the football language now?” asked Dick. + +“He certainly must, Dicky, or he wouldn’t have done what he did,” +suggested Betty, who did not think that Dick should have asked that +question. But Ramon only laughed a little. + +“I know most of it now, Dick,” Ramon replied, “and I can stand being +punched or kicked without wanting to knock the player down. Is that what +you call ‘good sport’?” + +“Yep,” said Dick. “That’s good football.” + +“Do you expect to finish high school here?” kindly asked Mrs. Lee. + +“If I can,” answered Ramon. + +After dinner all but Betty and her mother went into the living room to +visit; but the two made short work of putting away the food and making +neat piles of the soiled dishes, and soon they joined the rest. Amy Lou +was sleepy but would not leave the scene without a fuss. Consequently +she was permitted to stay. Ramon called up the “boy,” who proved to be +Ted Dorrance. + +A little music and a few quiet games were all that the time afforded +before Ted alighted from a big car and ran into the yard and up the +steps to ring the doorbell. Betty answered the ring and friendly Ted +strode in. “Can’t stay a minute,” said he, “the ‘Don’ here?” + +“Yes, come in.” + +“In a moment. Say, Betty, I’d like to have a hand in giving the girls a +good time. How about a little fun tonight? Chet has an idea.” + +“I’m sure we are free for anything, Ted, and it is good of you. Father +and Mother say that Ramon must be brought back here for supper tonight, +so why can’t you come, too? Or, I tell you what–would some of you come +for a taffy pull? Come to supper, too, of course.” + +“I couldn’t do that, Betty–had such a big dinner and all the folks are +around at home. But do you give me leave to bring whom I can tonight?” + +“I _think so!_ Bring Louise and somebody else for Ramon.” + +“Great idea. Let’s see, three of you, all freshmen?” + +“Yes. The girls were in my class.” + +“All right. It’s a surprise party, then, just as Chet had the nerve to +suggest. Tell your mother and surprise the girls.” + +“Glorious. I’m delighted that he though of it. Do get Carolyn and Peggy +if you can.” + +“They already know about it, in case it is decided.” + +“Oh, then you really meant to do something!” + +“She doubts my word! Listen–don’t get refreshments ready, unless you +have the stuff to make the taffy. I don’t know whether the girls could +bring that or not and the stores are closed. We were just going to order +ice‐cream sent around, and what else we could get.” + +“Listen, Ted, yourself. Mother has the most delicious cake, extra big, +because we baked up for company, you know. Have the ice‐cream if you +must, but not another thing, please.” + +What fun it was to plan something with Ted! Betty felt quite grown up. +First they had a senior to dinner, now here was a junior, with probably +Louise coming and loads of fun ahead! + +The girls and Ramon were both wondering what could detain Ted and Betty +in the hall, but Ramon hesitated to rise until Ted should appear. That +he did at once, however, with a last word to Betty. He was properly +respectful in meeting Betty’s father and mother and bowed a friendly +greeting to the girls, Dick, Doris and little Amy Lou, who had wakened +and was sleepily arranging a row of tiny dolls on the window sill. + +“The boys have something on hand and want the ‘Don’ this afternoon. I’ll +deliver him in two or three hours or so. Supper will not be too early, +will it?” + +“Not after a late dinner,” Mrs. Lee assured Ted, “but it would be better +to ‘deliver’ our guest by seven at least.” + +“Before that, I promise you,” answered Ted. “Don’t forget, Betty, our +little scheme.” + +“How could I?” replied Betty. + + + + +CHAPTER XI: THE “SURPRISE” PARTY + + +“What is the great scheme, Betty?” asked Doris. + +“I’m not telling, Dodie,” said Betty, “but you will know before long +perhaps. It’s just something the boys and girls are going to do. By the +way, Mother, may I consult you about something? I need permission for +something not to be divulged as yet.” + +“You are making us curious, Betty,” lightly said Janet. “Come on, Sue, +try that new tune of yours on Betty’s piano.” + +Mr. Lee had left the room and Dick followed him to ask that the car be +gotten out for a ride. “All right, son. Perhaps the girls and Mother +will like to go.” + +Betty and her Mother escaped to the kitchen, where they started on the +dishes, hoping that the sounds of china would not be noticeable in the +front room. The visitors were only too good about offering their +services. “You must go, Mother, with Amy Lou, because you’ve been in +working all day,” said Betty, with decision, “and that will never do on +Thanksgiving. Besides, there’s something else on hand and I don’t know +what you’ll think of it!” + +“Confess, Betty,” said Mrs. Lee, smiling and making a fine suds for her +glasses and silver. + +“First tell me that you’ll go, Mother, for I’ll stay and finish these up +and begin to fix things for our supper.” + +“All right, child. I’ll go. Now what?” + +Betty at once told about the surprise party “all rather on the spur of +the moment, Mother, at least as far as having it tonight is concerned. +And I think Ted is in it only because he found Ramon here and thought it +would be good for him to stay.” + +“Why do you think so–because Ted is older?” + +“Yes. But it gives him a chance to take Louise to something different, +you see. I think that Ted has a sort of ‘case’ on Louise Madison.” + +“I see. Yes, Betty, I think we can manage it. Haven’t you any idea how +many are coming?” + +“No–that’s the mischief, but I suppose not a great many.” + +“We are well prepared for things to eat. If the cake does not last as +long as we thought, it does not matter. Your friends will be welcome. +There is that fruit cake that I baked for Christmas, too, and we can use +that if we run short. We’ll make a hot drink and the cake and ice‐cream, +with taffy, ought to be enough in all conscience, especially on +Thanksgiving. If your father is ready before we finish, whisk off the +tablecloth, Betty, and use the lunch things for supper. But don’t +concern yourself about the meal. Just get your room ready for the girls +to take their wraps to and look around to pick up anything that is out +of order. Fortunately, Amy Lou will want to go to bed before they come.” + +“Yes, and everything is all fixed up for company, even if it doesn’t +exactly stay put with all of us. Oh, you’re so nice, Mother! It’s such a +relief!” + +At this point, Janet and Sue ran out to the kitchen and took aprons from +the hooks upon the wall. “Did you think that we wouldn’t want to help?” +asked Sue, reproachfully. “Let me wipe and you put away, Betty, for I +don’t know where things go.” + +“Well, since you insist,” laughed Betty, pulling a dry towel from a +drawer. “Come help me take off and fold up the big tablecloth, Janet, +and a lot of the dishes and nearly all of the silver can go back on the +table. Where are the other linen things, Mother?” + +“Same drawer as usual. After lunch we’ll take out the leaves and,”–but +Mrs. Lee did not finish, for she had nearly told the reason for making +more room in the dining room. The two large rooms ought to hold quite a +number of boys and girls, she thought. But Mother was tired, as Betty +had surmised, and she knew that she needed to get away for a few minutes +at least. + +Mr. Lee had been obliged to do something to the car, or change a tire, +though no one inquired what, when, after just time enough to get the +main part of the dishes done, they heard a honking in front. “That +couldn’t be Ted back with Ramon, could it?” thought Betty, rather +panicky. But it was only the family car honking for passengers. All was +well! + +“Aren’t you coming Betty?” asked Janet, surprised. + +“No, Janet, I want to start things and some one ought to be here in case +Ramon comes back early. He has to come when they bring him, you know. +Moreover, if you all go, it is just as well not to be too crowded.” + +Betty was glad to be by herself for a little while. She finished putting +the kitchen in order, washing the last pan. Then she flew back to the +bedroom to see that dresser and all were neat and to hang away a few +things that she and the girls had left out. She decided that there was a +prettier set of lace covers for the little dressing table and put them +out. She hoped that the girls would not notice particularly and she +looked up some embroidered guest towels, ready to whisk them into place +when the guest should first arrive. Or her mother could put on the +finishing touches in the bath room if she were welcoming the crowd. +Betty felt a little excited, wanting her friends to like her home and +knowing that some of them, Carolyn among others, had so much more room. +It was hard to be so crowded. No, it wasn’t. It was all right when they +were by themselves, and she was sure that anybody that _was_ anybody +would like her for herself! It was Betty’s first feeling of +responsibility for the appearance of a house, a temporary one, to be +sure. She had been accustomed to do what she was told, but the roomy old +place “at home” had no such problems as this apartment. + +There was a ring of the bell before Betty had thought about the light +supper, though to be sure her mother had said she was to feel no +responsibility for that. Betty rushed to the door, to find Ramon there. +Again he looked apologetic and hesitatingly said, “I’m afraid I’m too +early, but Ted and the boys brought me on. Ted is driving around to see +one or two of the girls.” + +“Come right in,” cordially Betty invited. “Sit down and read the paper +or something till I start things a little in the kitchen. I think the +earlier we get our supper, or lunch of a sort, out of the way the +better, don’t you? Or did Ted tell you what is going on?” + +“Yes, he did,” replied Ramon, as he obediently walked into the living +room after having divested himself of his overcoat and hat. “Say, Miss +Betty, we had such a wonderful dinner that you surely won’t do much for +supper, will you? I feel as if it’s an imposition for me to come back, +and yet,—” + +“And yet what would be the use of going home and then coming right back +to a party?” finished Betty. + +“Well, that was it, of course; and then it is so homelike here and so +different from what I have all the time.” + +“Do you really like it, then?” asked Betty, pleased. + +“Who could help it? And now why couldn’t I help be _chef_? It would be +what you call fun. I could tell you of so many things that I have done +since I came to your country, and I earned my meals one time in a +restaurant. I do not always tell that to the boys and girls, for they do +not understand, and yet my people in Spain and Hungary and Poland are of +the best.” + +“Father thinks it is what you are, inside, that makes you,” said Betty, +nodding a determined little head. They were still standing just within +the living room door. + +“Oh, your father! He is a big man! I fix his car at the garage where I +work after school, and before school, too. And he forgot to tell your +sweet mother and yet she made me welcome.” Ramon was smiling in +amusement as well as appreciation. + +“Oh, could you tell that?” Betty chuckled. “Mother thought that she had +successfully concealed her surprise. But she was glad to have you come, +you understand that, don’t you?” + +“Yes, and all of you helped.” + +“Well, now let’s see, Ramon. Come on into the kitchen and help me decide +what we want. We’ve got a lot of that salad fixed and if you will crack +a few more English walnuts we’ll fix a pretty big glass bowl of it and +pass it instead of putting salad around at each place. Nobody could +finish his salad at dinner time. And I’ll put on the lunch cloth or +what‐you‐call‐it–and you can set down all that fruit and the bowl of +nuts on the buffet. My, imagine me bossing the gr‐reat football hero of +Lyon High, and a senior at that!” + +Ramon only laughed at that and took the large apron, soberly offered him +by a Betty with twinkling eyes, and tried to fasten it around himself. +But he was not used to tying a bow in the back, Betty told him, so she +would finish the operation. “Now see what an artist you are in the +dining room first, Ramon.” + +Thus Betty, while she arranged the linen pieces on the table, waved a +hand at the buffet and flew into the kitchen herself. “Won’t they be +surprised when they come back?” she called, appearing in the door with a +whole head of lettuce in her hands. “And it will be fine to have you to +help us make the table small after supper. Father always has to help +with that because the table sticks and we can hardly push it together. +Do you think you would be strong enough?” + +Ramon gave Betty an amused look. “Yes, Miss Betty, I think I’m strong +enough and I’d do anything for any of you!” + +“Well,” sighed Betty, “I really don’t believe in having your company +work, but under the circumstances it is a great help! You see Mother had +been doing so much cooking, so I made her promise to go out for a ride.” +With this Betty disappeared from view, to wash the lettuce under the +faucet and run into the pantry for the big glass dish or bowl. + +Ramon finished arranging the fruit and nuts and went out into the +kitchen declaring that he was no artist and that she could change +anything that he had done. Betty managed to keep him busy, but it was +only about fifteen minutes before the whole family arrived, Dick to +utter another whoop at seeing his hero in an apron, and the girls to +join the activities with much fun and lively conversation. Mrs. Lee was +allowed only to supervise and make the coffee and Mr. Lee declared that +he would not think of being underfoot in such a busy kitchen and dining +room. + +“The boy looks happy,” he said to his wife. “I’m glad I asked him to +come. He’s a very sober, lonely chap, so far as home is concerned. He +probably has a good enough time at school, especially since he made such +a hit in football, as you tell me.” + +“I wonder how he gets his lessons, if he works so hard,” said Mrs. Lee. + +“How do any of them get their lessons?” asked Mr. Lee in return, “with +all that is going on. It hasn’t hit Betty yet, thanks to our +management.” + +Young appetites were ready for the supper that spread so invitingly on +the pretty table; for it was decided to set everything conveniently +near, since they were their own servants. Then afterwards the girls +quickly cleared the table, and Ramon, without remark and under Betty’s +direction, took out the leaves and made the table small. Betty and Janet +together at one end pushed against Ramon on the other. “It will give us +more room and look better,” explained Betty to the girls, who were still +ignorant of what was to come. Betty, too, was ignorant in regard to +_who_ was to come. She was as uneasy and restless as a girl could be and +not show that something was on her mind. Ramon was wondering what excuse +he could offer for staying so long, but it took some time to clear away +the supper and while Mrs. Lee told Betty to “go and entertain her guests +and she would finish up the dishes,” Betty, by way of camouflage, said, +“we _could_ leave them till morning of course; but it will be nicer in +the morning not to have them before us.” Sue rather wondered at Betty’s +easy compliance. + +At last the bell rang, not a steady ring with perhaps another, but a +series of rings in rhythm. Janet and Sue looked up surprised from a +puzzle that Betty had given them and Ramon to work out. But Ramon +grinned and Betty laughed, running to the door. “_Something’s up_,” said +Sue. “I _suspected_ it!” + +Laughter and greetings filled the hall. “S’prise Party!” called Peggy’s +voice. + +“Ted again!” exclaimed Janet, rising, “and Peggy Pollard and Carolyn +Gwynne!” + +And now they thronged in, bringing the cold air with them from the open +hall door. The girls entered first, surrounding Janet and Sue, to shake +hands in the spirit of fun and surprise, while Carolyn saw that the +names of the girls were understood by Janet and Sue who might not have +met them all or had not remembered their names. Carolyn was always +thoughtful. + +Betty, after telling the boys to leave their hats, caps and coats in the +hall, came to the group of girls and led them back to the room where +they could take off their wraps and powder their noses if they liked. +Mother, bless her, had swiftly put on the finishing touches and the +guest towels in the bath room after Amy Lou was in bed and the various +washings up after supper were completed. + +“Yes, Betty,” Carolyn excitedly told Betty, “we had thought of doing it +and then pretty nearly gave it up because we weren’t sure of your liking +it; and I hadn’t been in this ducky apartment before and wasn’t sure +that you had room for a party. But when old Ted called up and told me +what boys he’d rounded up, I telephoned then to the girls and we all met +at Louise’s.” + +So it was a “ducky apartment,” was it? Trust Carolyn’s generous soul. +Betty was sure that Carolyn liked her for herself! + +Naturally Ted had a “few souls” old enough for himself and Ramon. There +was Louise Madison and a pretty junior named Roberta Ayers. The Harry +Norris whom Betty had first seen with Ted Dorrance was there, a good +friend, evidently, of a small, fair sophomore girl, Daisy Richards. It +was rather unusual, of course, this mingling of ages or classes at a +small party, but the invitation to Ramon was the cause of it all, and +Betty was so glad to have Ted, who had been so “nice” to her, she +thought, at a party in her house. Yet, of course, she had not given the +invitations. Where would she have stopped if she had? For not all the +girls and boys that she would have wanted were here. + +Of the younger boys there was Chet Dorrance, Chauncey Allen, Brad +Warren, Budd LeRoy, James Simmonds and two freshmen boys whom Betty +scarcely knew, Andy Sanford and Michael Carlin, whom the boys called +Mickey or Mike according to their fancy. + +Janet and Sue found themselves surrounded by the group of boys when they +came in from the hall and Betty had escorted the girls back to the +bedroom. Ted did the honors of introduction, but it was only a few +minutes before Betty was back and acting as hostess. + +Mr. Lee had disappeared long since. Mrs. Lee was putting Amy Lou to bed +at last accounts and the door of bedroom and dressing room was shut. +Dick and Doris, feeling rather out of it, had moved into the kitchen +till Betty, at last seeing everything started, thought of them and +looked them up. + +“No, Betty,” said Dick, “I don’t want to be introduced all around! But +I’ll come into the dining room, if you want us, and talk to some of the +boys, if it happens that way.” + +“I’d like to have you at least see the fun and of course when the +refreshments are served you must be with us. I’ll probably need you. +Would you mind?” + +“I’ll help,” said Doris. “It would look better.” + +“So it would. And will you, Dick?” + +“Yes.” + +“And you can help pull the taffy. I do hope Mother will know how to cook +it, though perhaps Louise knows.” + +“I’ll tell her,” said Dick, and Betty felt relieved about the family. +Everything was just all right! And Mother did know, she said. + +Ted and Louise were good at starting games. Brad, however, was prevailed +upon to play some lively tunes upon Betty’s piano and the rest hummed to +tunes or sang when there were words to the melodies. + +Pencils and paper were called for by Louise Madison, who announced that +five minutes, or less, would be given for every one to make words out of +what would be given them when they were ready to commence. Betty hurried +to get paper and as many pencils as the family could command. +Fortunately, most of the boys carried pencils in their pockets, Dick and +Doris had a supply of stubs among their school things, and with much +whirling of the pencil sharpener in the kitchen, they were soon ready. + +“And, O, Mother, won’t you please start the candy to cooking? It has to +cool and be pulled after that, you know.” + +“Yes, I know,” said Mrs. Lee, who rather regretted sacrificing the +excellent syrup from the home town, so much better than that she bought +in the city. But it was worth while, for Betty’s pleasure, and to +entertain her friends, after all. “I will see to it and call you when it +is ready. Luckily Amy Lou is sound asleep.” + +But no sooner had Betty remarked to Louise, as she handed her the +supplies, that her mother was starting the syrup than Louise cried, “Oh, +I have to learn how to do that. I never pulled candy but once and it was +such fun. Would your mother mind having me around?” + +“I’m sure she wouldn’t.” + +Immediately the kitchen was invaded by several of the girls, but all +except Louise came back for the game. Ted, thereupon, told the “Don” to +“call time,” and he vanished in the direction of the kitchen, while a +few smiles were exchanged among those that were left. “Ted will know how +to boil candy for taffy after this,” said Kathryn Allen. + +“Well, somebody has to try and taste it.” smiled Betty. + +“Everybody ready!” called the “Don,” quite at his ease by this time and +with a real home atmosphere back of him. Had he not been the only one of +them invited to the Thanksgiving dinner? And Mr. Lee had not known then +that he was a football player, either. “Don” was not aware that that +fact would have made no difference to Mr. Lee, one way or another, +though he was not opposed to the game. + +“Five minutes, Louise Madison said,” he continued. “I will now announce +the words. No proper names, or foreign words, Louise says. It’s ‘Lyon +High School.’” + +The scribbling began. “Can you use slang?” inquired Brad. + +“Better not.” + +“Why isn’t there an ‘e’ or a ‘t’ in it?” remarked Janet. “I could make +so many more.” + +Carolyn was writing fast and furiously. “Oh, give us five minutes more, +so we can really _think_ on each letter!” she begged. + +“Of course a girl will beat,” said Chauncey. “They’re so much better in +English!” Chauncey was pretending to scratch his head and think. In +reality he was too lazy to bother with a game he did not enjoy, though +too polite to beg off. He had sixteen words and that was enough. He bet +nobody else had “solo.” + +But Chauncey was right on the girls’ having the most words. Several boys +had twenty words in the five minutes, but the girls made a business of +it and Kathryn Allen had the largest number, though Andy Sanford, who +was on the staff of the school paper, came within two of her number, +forty‐five. + +“How did you do it so fast, Kathryn?” asked Mary Emma. + +“I just went lickity‐cut in any old order till I got through the letters +that way. Then I went back again and did a little thinking that time and +had the other few minutes to do it in. I took _ly_ and _li_ and _lo_, +and did the same way with all the letters.” + +“Did anybody else get _solo_?” asked Chauncey. + +Alas, Kathryn had that, also _holy_, of which Chauncey had not thought. + +A delicious odor of boiling syrup was commented upon by several. Louise, +carrying the glass in which she had just tested the candy, came in to +inquire who had the most words and how many. “All right, Kathryn gets +the prize. Ted, _where’s_ that prize?” + +From the kitchen Ted appeared, hunting in his pocket for something. + +“Nobody said there was to be any prize. That’s not fair,” said Sim, +grinning. + +“Would you have worked harder, Sim?” Ted inquired. “Here it is, +Kathryn,” and he handed her a long, slim package tied with a blue +ribbon. They all watched while Kathryn took the ribbon and tissue paper +from what was so evidently a gift “of pencils. Two five centers, +Kathryn,” said Ted. “May they bring you to fame.” + +“You did well, Kathryn,” said Louise. “Somebody got fifty at a senior +party the other day, but I’m not sure but we had more time.” + +“Help me, Andy,” said Kathryn, “and let’s see how many we can get. +Please give me all the papers, so we can compare.” Consequently, while +Ted, accused of “licking his chops” over all the candy he was tasting, +followed Louise out to the kitchen, and somebody started up the music +again, Kathryn and Andy, helped by Betty, who gathered up all the other +efforts, made a fairly full list. “I had just started on the s‐h’s,” +said Andy. A little later, after working as much out themselves as they +felt like doing and comparing their papers, they announced that they +could read what they had if any one wanted to hear. + +_“Let’s_ hear them, Andy,” called Chauncey from near the piano. “How +many words can the experts make out of the old school name?” + +“Leaving out abbreviations, plurals, and odd words, here they are: +_lying_, _lingo_, _lion_, _lo_, _log_, _loch_, _loo_, _loon_, _loin_; +_yon_, _yo‐ho_; _O_, _oh_, _on_, _oil_, _oily_, _only_; _no_, _nigh_, +_noisy_; _high_, _ho_, _hog_, _hill_, _hilly_, _holy_, _his_, _hollo_, +_holly_; _I_, _is_, _in_, _ill_, _illy_, _inch_, _inly_; _go_, _gill_, +_gin_; _scion_, _shiny_, _shin_, _shy_, _si_, _sigh_, _sign_, _silo_, +_silly_, _sill_, _sin_, _sing_, _sling_, _soil_, _solo_, _soon_, _song_, +_son_, _sol_, _so_; _chic_, _chill_, _chilly_, _chin_, _cling_, _clog_, +_cog_, _coil_, _coin_, _colon_, _con_, _colony_, _coo_, _cool_, +_coolly_, _coon_, _cosy_, _coy_–and we forgot _lynch, shoo_ and +_shooing_, and Andy says that _colin_ is another word for _quail_ and +that _shoon_ is in the dictionary. So that’s over eighty and pretty +good, we think.” + +Chauncey started a mild applause and remarked that Andy and Kathryn +would probably teach English some day. + +“Not on your life,” said Andy, “though I may run a paper at that!” + +Mrs. Lee could not help wondering if every one would be careful not to +drop his candy while it was in the process of being pulled, but she said +nothing and provided plenty of greased receptacles. Ted and Louise +started several other quiet games while the candy was getting to the +proper temperature. Then they began to try a small portion. + +“How many want to pull?” asked Ted. Every one wanted to try “just a +little bit,” which was well, or the supply would not have been +sufficient. Those who had never pulled candy before were instructed, +that there should be no sticky or slippery masses clinging more +unhappily than wet dough to the greased hands–after a great performance +of hand‐washing in the kitchen. + +All this made much laughter and general merriment, not to mention +certain antics of Ted and Harry and a few of the younger boys. But no +one tried any “sticky” tricks, as Betty put it; for once upon a time, +Dick had come home from a party with his hair full of taffy, horrible +dictu! + +In various stages of whiteness, the separate pieces of taffy were +carefully laid upon the owner’s saucer or plate, with a clean white +label bearing the “name of the author,” said Betty. Much had been eaten +during the pulling, for some “preferred their taffy hot,” they claimed; +but each was to take a little home, to prove that they had pulled it, +Ted said. Oiled paper would be in demand, thought Mrs. Lee, who hunted +up a roll to have ready. + +But the ice‐cream had arrived. The big white cake was cut, also a loaf +of fruit cake; and in the chairs which had been gathered up and brought +to the front of the house with the appearance of the guests, the girls +and boys sat to eat slowly the cold cream, enjoy their cake and lay the +foundations of future friendships or cement those already formed. The +high school “case” between Ted Dorrance and Louise Madison was not +particularly serious in its outlook; for Ted, like many boys, was +admiring a girl older than himself just now, but some demure young miss +of a younger class, or not in his school at all, was likely to take his +later attention. + + + + +CHAPTER XII: A CHANGE OF PLAN + + +“Is this Mr. Gwynne’s residence?” asked Betty, a little timid, for a +deep masculine voice had answered her ring at the telephone. + +“Yes,” the response came, pleasantly. + +“May I speak to Carolyn, please? It is Betty Lee.” + +“I’ll call Carolyn.” There was a few moments of waiting. + +“’Lo, Bettykins. I was just going to call you.” + +“Were you? What were you going to tell me?” + +“You say what _you_ were going to first.” + +“I’d rather not.” + +“Please.” + +“Well, though I just hate so to tell you what I’m going to.” + +“So do I hate to tell you!” + +Betty’s little laugh, came to Carolyn over the wire. + +“Wouldn’t it be funny if it is about the same thing! Why Carolyn, I’m +just sick about it, but I don’t see how we can come to your house +tonight. Father has to have a conference or something tonight down town +and can’t drive us out to your place. He’s staying down for dinner +somewhere, you know. So there’s no one to take us and Mother doesn’t +think it’s safe for us to go on the car and then walk as far as we’d +have to, especially coming home.” + +“That would be all right with our putting you on the car here. But +really, Betty, it is a sort of relief, because I was wondering how to +tell you that I can’t have the party at all! Sister’s having the house +both nights, and besides, I was going to have you at least taken back +home, so your father wouldn’t have to come for you, but the cars will be +in use, too. It was too bad of my sister not to tell me and Mother did +not happen to say anything till this morning when she was asking my +sister what she wanted for decorations. I said, ‘Why, Mother, didn’t you +tell me I could have a party?’ and Mother looked startled. ‘Why so I +did! I hope you haven’t everybody invited!’ + +“So then I made it as nice for her as I could and said I thought I could +change it to an afternoon one, and Betty, since you had that gorgeous +party at your house, won’t you let me have you and some of the other +girls at our house Saturday, tomorrow afternoon? Please. I’ve telephoned +the _boys_ that my party had to be postponed, so this will be a ‘hen +party.’ I’ll have some sort of a party in the Christmas vacation, +perhaps, to make it up to the boys, not to mention liking the fun +myself. + +“Will you mind _awfully_, Betty?” Carolyn’s voice was both regretful and +persuasive. + +“Why–no, Carolyn–only it isn’t necessary for you to have us at all, you +know, and I’ve invited all the other girls.” + +“I know how we can fix that, easy as pie, Betty. I’ll call all of them +up–I know whom you were going to have, you know, and I’ll tell them that +you and I are entertaining together at our house!” + +“We‐ll, but you’ll have to let me really help, you know, get the +refreshments and everything.” + +“I’ll see about that–there will be such oodles around, with Sister’s two +parties, and we’ll have all the benefits of her spuzzy decorations and +won’t hurt a thing, you know. Let’s have it a thimble party. Didn’t I +see you making something for Christmas?” + +“Yes. I brought a hanky I’m hemstitching for Mother in school and worked +on it a little while in between lunch and class. It’s so hard to get a +chance without her catching me at it at home.” + +“Bring it along and finish it up, then, Betty. Is it settled, then?” + +“Are you _sure_ you want it that way?” + +“Sure; and Mother will feel better about it, too.” + +“Very well, Carolyn. I’m sure Janet and Sue will be delighted to come, +and of course I shall.” + +Thus it happened that Betty and her guests enjoyed an excellent moving +picture, censored by Mrs. Lee, on Friday afternoon, with attendant +pleasure of favorite sundaes and shopping in the big stores; and they +had the evening quietly at home, early to bed this time, to catch up for +the night before. “It is a good deal of fun with those boys,” said +Janet, “but I think that it will be more _restful_ tomorrow at Carolyn’s +without them.” + +“And you will love Carolyn’s home, Janet,” replied Betty, though +laughing at Janet’s expression. + +A soft snow fell that night. In the morning the girls looked out upon a +beautiful world of white, soon to be spoiled in the city by the traffic +and the soot from the good furnace fires that kept the people warm. But +at Carolyn’s that afternoon little had occurred to lessen the loveliness +of the snow scene. Beautiful evergreens drooped a little with the weight +upon their branches. Drifts piled here and there by bushes that seemed +to bear feathery blossoms. It was the first “real snow,” Dick said, and +welcome, particularly to the children. + +Betty had not expected so many girls, but here were not only those whom +she had invited to her expected party but a number of others. It was +very satisfactory. Now Janet and Sue would know just about all the girls +that she wanted them to meet. + +Opinions might differ about the afternoon’s being “restful.” But it was +as restful as girls of high school age would be likely to want it to +prove. Janet and Sue were impressed with Carolyn’s lovely home, inside +and out, and declared that seeing it with the snow must be almost as +good as seeing it with its flowers. Carolyn brought all the girls whom +they had not met to each of them and although they did settle down with +their bits of fancy‐work or Christmas presents, Carolyn had them change +their seats in order that groups of different girls might be together. +Some things made in the arts and crafts department of the school could +be brought to be worked on and Betty saw articles that she “longed to +make,” she said. Janet was always a little quiet when she was first with +girls strange to her, but her lack of conversation was not noticeable in +the babel of voices after the girls were fairly launched upon various +topics that interested them. + +“Yes,” replied Betty to one, “I’ve met the mysterious ‘Don.’ His real +name is Ramon, but the boys all call him ‘Don’ now, I’ve noticed, so I +suppose we might as well. He doesn’t mind, he said.” + +“Did you hear that, Lucille? Betty Lee knows the ‘Don.’ Well, what is +he, anyhow? Spanish, as they say. I always think that the boys may be +‘kiddin’ us, you know.” + +“He really is part Spanish and part Polish and some of his people were +Hungarian, at least they lived in Hungary for a while and he said they +were ‘nice people.’” + +“How did you know so much? Is there anything mysterious about him?” + +“I was just talking to him one time. He doesn’t seem the least bit +mysterious to me, but I don’t think that he has anybody related to him +in this country. He just boards somewhere, I suppose.” + +“Then that isn’t a bit interesting.” + +“Oh, yes, it is, Lucille,” spoke Peggy Pollard. “Chet Dorrance said that +the Don told Ted a little bit one time and there’s somebody that’s +either after him or that he’s after, I think.” + +“My, isn’t that news for you?” laughed Lucille. “Peggy, you’re always so +clear!” + +“Well, do you suppose that Ted would tell what the boy told him in +confidence?” + +“Ted must have told something.” + +“Couldn’t Chet overhear it, maybe?” + +“Then he is really mysterious, you think, Peggy.” + +“Yes. I asked him last night if he _was_ mysterious and he said he was!” + +There was a general laugh at this. “Peggy’s drawing on her imagination,” +said Mary Emma. + +“Where did the Don take you last night, Peggy?” queried Lucille, “to a +picture show?” + +“No, but he was at the same surprise party I went to,” and Peggy gave a +mirthful glance in Carolyn’s direction. + +“Well, if Don as the boys call him isn’t mysterious, you are, so let’s +change the subject.” + +Peggy had thought that with so many other girls, about twenty in all, +Betty might not like to have the surprise party talked over; or it might +be that some one would feel hurt at not having been included in the +sudden affair. For these reasons she was quite willing to have the +subject changed. + +“Wouldn’t this be a delicious night to go sledding, girls?” she asked, +looking out from the large window near which she sat toward the broad +expanse of snow that covered the lawn and stretched beyond the clumps of +bushes and trees over the spacious grounds. + +“Too soft, I’m afraid, Peggy,” said Mary Emma Howland. “It didn’t melt, +though, when the sun came out. I wonder if it would pack and make +enough. The wind had swept the ground pretty bare at our house, but +hasn’t out here.” + +“Perhaps it didn’t snow everywhere alike,” brightly suggested Kathryn +Allen. “Sometimes it rains out in our suburb when my father says there +isn’t a particle of rain down town.” + +“The paper says that there is a blizzard out West,” said Carolyn. +“Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we did have sledding, next week anyhow?” + +Betty explained to Janet and Sue what she had mentioned before, that the +winters were considerably more mild here than their own and that +everybody rejoiced when there were winter sports, making the most of +them; but none of the three thought of any particular good time as on +its way to them because of this unexpected snow. Soon came the pretty +refreshments, when all the girls laid aside their work to enjoy them. + +They were asked to go into another room, apparently a breakfast room, or +a dining room on a small scale, Betty thought, where a round table was +set for them. There a tiny turkey, which was a container for candy or +nuts, stood at each place, connected with the central lights overhead by +a gay ribbon. Betty’s place card bore an Indian on snowshoes, a wild +turkey over one shoulder and a bow in one hand. + +“I ’spect there’s some turkey in this ‘chicken salad,’ don’t you, +Betty?” said Janet next to her. + +“Carolyn _always_ has such lovely things,” replied Betty, though she had +been entertained there but once before. But this was perfect for an +“afternoon tea.” Instead of tea they drank cocoa, however, and last they +were served to tiny ice‐cream roses and delicious little cakes with +pink, white or chocolate frosting. + +“I’ve done nothing but eat good things since I came to this city,” Sue +declared after they came home, “and we’ve had enough different kinds of +fun to last all winter! No, thank you, Mrs. Lee, I don’t believe we can +eat a speck of supper, or dinner, whichever you call it here.” + +“We might sit down with them, girls,” Betty suggested, “for we didn’t +really have a heavy meal at Carolyn’s!” + +But Betty had scarcely gotten seated at the home dinner table than she +rose to answer the telephone. “Oh, who is it? I can’t quite understand. +The telephone buzzes a little. Now I get it–oh, yes, Chet! Honestly? +Why, yes, that would be great fun. I don’t know, though.” + +Betty listened a little. “Wait a minute. I’ll have to ask Mother and see +what the girls say. Please hold the ’phone a minute.” + +The telephone was in the hall and Betty rushed around through the living +room to where the family were. “Mother!” she began excitedly, “that was +Chet Dorrance and he wants to know if we girls can go bob‐sled riding +tonight. It’s freezing like everything and the boys have got water +poured on some hill–this afternoon, you know, and the snow all packed +down!” + +“What boys are going and what hill is it, Betty?” inquired her father. + +“Chet said that he and Chauncey Allen and Budd LeRoy would come after +us. We can take the car, the street‐car, he said, and get off almost +right at the hill, anyhow the place where it is, one of the houses, I +suppose, maybe a place like Carolyn’s.” + +“Betty, I can’t have you start in to go out with the boys in the +evening.” + +“But this isn’t like that, Mother. It’s a big crowd, not so very big +perhaps, but at least two bob‐sleds and we take turns.” + +“Sure the hill doesn’t deposit you near some car line or shoot you +across one? I saw a kiddie nearly killed this afternoon shooting across +a road, down hill, on his sled.” Mr. Lee was interposing this remark. + +Betty looked worried. “Chet is waiting on the line, Mother. Oh, I do +want to go!” + +“Suppose I talk to him, then, Betty,” suggested Mrs. Lee. “I don’t want +to keep you from any pleasure, but I want to make sure that it is safe, +you know. Yes, a crowd to enjoy the sport is all right if they are +careful boys, not reckless.” + +“You met them all here, Mother.” + +“Yes.” Mrs. Lee was on her way to the hall. + +“This is Betty’s mother speaking,” she said, taking the receiver. “Betty +is anxious to accept your kind invitation, but I want to inquire about +the safety of the sport. Where is the hill located and just what are you +going to do?” + +“Aw, Mother’ll spoil it all, Betty,” said Dick, who was listening, while +Betty stood half‐way between hall and the dining room double doors. +Betty frowned and shook her head at her brother, who passed his plate +for a second helping of meat and potato. Dick was going out himself with +his sled and the hill had been passed upon by his father, though Dick in +his peregrinations did not always ask permission. That was one of Mr. +Lee’s little worries for fear that in a city he could not so easily know +just where his son was spending his leisure hours or whether his company +was all that it should be. In the country town there was just as much +danger of contamination, but they knew so well what was to be avoided +and what companions were safe and who were unsafe. + +Mother, however, had not “spoiled it all.” She came back smiling and put +her arm about Betty to lead her in the room with her. “Chet explained it +all satisfactorily, and I am rather glad to know that Ted Dorrance and a +group of the older high school boys and girls will be there. There is a +‘sled load,’ I understand, though that used to mean a different sort of +sled, in the country. Moreover, it is on the Dorrance place, and it may +be that you can be called for. I think myself that the street car is +safer, however, and so I told him.” + +“Mother!” exclaimed Betty, half embarrassed. + +“Don’t worry, child. Parents have to manage some of these things. I +liked Chet and he is not offended. It is most likely that his own +parents have a few remarks to make occasionally. Chet is not old enough +to drive a car, Betty.” + +“Well, I’m obliged to you anyway, Mother, for letting us go. Did you +ring off?” + +“Yes, I never thought that Chet might like to speak to you again.” + +“Your mother isn’t yet used to having young men ring up and talk to her +daughter,” mischievously said Mr. Lee. + +“And I hope that I shall _not_ get used to it for some time,” firmly +replied his wife. “Betty’s not going to run around regardless; and I’m +so sure of her that I know she does not want to do it either.” + +“I’m perfectly willing to wait until I grow up a little more,” said +Betty. “But this is different.” + +“Yes, this is different.” + +It was different. Betty never forgot this first winter fun of her +freshman year, the night so beautiful, the snow so white, the little +company so gay. Moonlight made the most of the scene. It was the first +time that Betty had seen the Dorrance place, rather the house, which +stood back, facing a road which was marked “Private” and wound around a +short ascent to where two houses were built, some distance apart, upon a +hill in a thick grove of trees. But the hill began to descend where the +houses were and only the trees and chimneys could be seen from the main +road where ran the street cars. A path had been well cleared and +machines had gone over the road since the snow had fallen. Escorted by +the three boys, the three girls ascended the hill after leaving the +street car and heard, while they talked, the merry laughter of a group +just preceding them. + +“So this is where you live, Chet,” said Janet, by this time well +acquainted, for she and Chet had pulled taffy together and joked each +other while they did it. + +“Yes; it’s a bit of a climb for some folks, but my mother uses the car +most of the time and I suppose it isn’t more than a good square’s walk +to the house. The hill we’re going to slide on is the other side of the +house. You see there’s really a ravine there, but this hill is wide and +the way the ground slopes and humps around it makes a good long hill of +it. We’ve got it as slick as can be and we’ll shoot across a narrow +brook at the foot. It’s good and frozen tonight and getting colder. +You’ll all come in the house and meet Mother first. But we’re going to +make a big bonfire to get warm by and Louise, Ted’s girl, you know, says +we can roast marshmallows the same as if it were summer.” + +“So this is Betty Lee,” said pretty Mrs. Dorrance, holding Betty’s hand +a trifle longer, as she was the last girl of the group. “Both Ted and +Chet have spoken of you. I am glad to meet you and I hope that my boys +can give all you girls a good time tonight. I’ve cautioned them to be +careful of you.” + +“Now, Mother!” cried Chet. “You don’t understand. Of course we’ll take +care of them, but they’re pretty independent, too, and they’ll tell us +if they don’t want to do anything, at least Louise will tell Ted!” + +“I hope so.” + +“We want to do what everybody does,” gently said Betty, “and I’m sure +the boys know about the hill and everything, don’t they, Mrs. Dorrance?” + +“I hope so,” whimsically replied Mrs. Dorrance, who was timid about +sports of all sorts, though she rather liked this confidence in her +boys. + +Then the fun began. The girls and boys in warm sweaters and woollen caps +gathered about the bob sleds at the top of the hill. One with Ted +guiding and full of the older ones went first, down, down around, up a +little, swooping down till it was lost to view and only the little +squeals and shrieks of excitement or a whoop from some boy reached +Betty’s ears. + +“I’ll let you take this one down, Budd,” said Chet. “Budd’s an expert, +girls. Now not too many. We’ve another right here and I’ll take that +first. Chauncey, watch how I take that curve and you can take it down +next time. Come on, Betty, as soon as Budd’s sled goes and rounds the +curve all right we’ll start, I think.” + +Shortly Betty found herself flying among the shadows, through patches of +moonlight, around the breath‐taking curve, shooting down a straight, +steep descent, holding tight, breathing in the fresh, frosty air, happy +as a bird. Again and again they climbed and descended till they were +tired and lit the great pile prepared by the boys in an open space. The +flames shot up, lighting the gay colors of the sweaters and coats, the +bright young faces and the snow man that some one started to build while +marshmallows were really being toasted. A snowball fight or two livened +the scene for a little, and oh, how surprised they all were, when some +one looked at a watch in the firelight and announced that it was getting +late. + +“Don’t put on any more wood, boys,” said Louise Madison. “I’ve only been +able to toast anything in this one corner as it is; and if it is as late +as that we’ll go in, for Mrs. Dorrance will be calling us.” + +As if the hour had been noted at just the right time, some one came +running out of the house to tell the company that refreshments were +ready–and such funny ones, ordered by the boys, no doubt, the two +Dorrance boys that were hosts. There were hot tea and bottles of pop, +hot “wieners” and fresh buns to put them in, hot beans in tomato sauce, +pickles, real spiced home‐made ones, and for dessert what Dick always +called “Wiggle,” jello or a kindred article, this time holding an +assortment of fresh fruit together and served on a plate with an immense +piece of frosted spice cake. + +Somebody, the cook, Betty supposed, stood behind a long table by which +they were to pass in cafeteria style, each taking, as the cook +indicated, plate and silver and being served to the variety of foods by +Chet and Ted, who with laughing faces had put on a white paper cap and a +white apron. These the two boys kept on as they followed the rest into +the dining room, to which a maid beckoned them. But all helpers +disappeared at once. Mrs. Dorrance only looked in upon them to see that +they were happy, and perhaps to assure Louise that the chaperon was +doing her duty in being about. Jokes and fun and more hot things offered +by Chet and Ted completed the evening’s enjoyment. + +“It’s too much for you to go home with us, boys,” said Betty, rather +thinking that she made a “social blunder” by saying so, but feeling that +if they put her on the car she could see herself and her friends home. + +“Couldn’t think of anything else,” replied Chet, guiding Janet down the +rather slippery hill at the front. “You don’t know how late and dark it +will be when we get off the car near your house. The moon’s setting now, +or else there’s a cloud or two. Wouldn’t it be great if we kept on +having snow!” + +“But dear sakes,” said Betty, “we’ll be in school and have to study!” + +“Not to _hurt_,” remarked Chauncey Allen. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII: BETTY MEETS TROUBLE + + +There are degrees of satisfaction or of disappointment, but Betty Lee +had never met what she would consider real trouble connected with her +school life until after Christmas in her freshman year. + +The happy Thanksgiving vacation with Janet and Sue as her guests came +duly to a close after a pleasant Sabbath during which they went to +Sabbath school and church and spent part of the afternoon in wandering +around the main art gallery of the city, open to visitors. The girls +took an early morning train on Monday and Betty, more or less upset by +too many good times, went back to school not feeling much like study. +But neither did any one else and the teachers in the main, having had a +good rest themselves, seemed not to be too hard on any one. + +Betty, however, buckled down to the work of what is always the hardest +term of the year, that before Christmas, and had many delightful +anticipations of that beautiful celebration. They could not “go to +Grandma’s” this year, but they could and did enjoy Christmas day +together. Accustomed, now, to the demands of the city school, she felt a +real satisfaction in the fact that her work was being well done and her +grades upon the cards such that she need not feel ashamed. + +There were many interesting distractions toward Christmas and Betty +joined the Girl Reserves, the group that included freshmen in her high +school, in time to help with the Christmas basket which was to go to +make some one’s Christmas brighter. The stores, with their fascinating +windows, the hurrying crowds of shoppers, the entertainments and the +Christmas music, all had their accustomed charm; but Betty’s vacation of +only the one week, with an extra week‐end, was spent largely at home, +for none of the girls whom she knew well entertained and were absorbed +in home affairs. + +Again it was hard to settle down to work, but Betty was anxious to do +well in the semester examinations and worked particularly hard on her +Latin and mathematics. By some shifting of pupils, Betty was now in the +adorable Miss Heath’s Latin class, though she had not begun the year +with her. Betty was always very shy with her teachers and although Miss +Heath was most “human,” as Carolyn said, and friendly with the girls and +boys there was a certain bound over which none of them stepped and Betty +never presumed even upon the privileges which she might have enjoyed, in +a chat or talk or consultation. It was characteristic of her family, +perhaps, to be independent. Even at home she always wanted to “get +everything herself” if she could, preferring to spend much more time +upon a problem rather than ask any one for light upon it. + +And now Miss Heath, gave them an examination which they all felt was +important. Indeed she told them so. “It is going to help me find out +whether you have gotten the important things that I have tried to teach +you,” she said. “As you know, I have emphasized some things. Some things +we have gone over again and again. I see you smile, for you think that +we have gone over _everything_ again and again. So we have. But this may +help you, too, in reviewing for your semester finals. The questions for +those I do not make out, except in some line assigned to me by the head +of the department. This I call a review examination and its results will +be most interesting to me. This is not to ‘scare’ you at all, and it +will be recorded in my grade book as an ordinary test, but I want you to +_use your brains_ to the best of your ability. Day after tomorrow, +Thursday, at this hour, come prepared for a test.” + +The next day a strange teacher was at the desk, a “substitute,” young +and worried. The boys who were in the habit of “acting up” performed as +far as they dared, Betty reported at home; and the girls giggled, +“because they couldn’t help it. It was so funny.” + +“You have to know how to manage the freshmen in this school,” said +Carolyn to Betty on their way from the room. “I wonder if Miss Heath +will be back tomorrow. She looked half sick yesterday and took some +medicine as we went out.” + +“Did she? I didn’t notice. That is too bad. I wonder if we’ll have the +test, then.” + +“Oh, of course. That would be the easiest thing for a substitute to give +and she wouldn’t miss doing it, I should think. But perhaps,” Carolyn +hopefully added, “perhaps Miss Heath couldn’t make out the questions.” + +“She talked as if she had them already made out,” thoughtfully returned +Betty, determined to go over all the vocabulary and the paradigms +hardest for her to remember. “I’m going to put all the time I can on +Latin tonight.” + +“I’m not,” laughed a boy behind Betty, who had caught her last words. +“We have basketball practice and I’m invited to a good show tonight. Oh +boy!” + +Betty smilingly remarked that he’d better not miss a little study even +if he did know everything, but the lad grinned and shook his head as he +passed her. + +“I don’t like Jakey,” said Carolyn, as her eyes followed him and the +confused group of boys and girls, passing and repassing in the hall. +“He’s smart as can be and gets along in Latin better than I do, but +there’s something tricky about him once in awhile and he’s so terribly +conceited. He can’t stand it when you can answer a question that he has +missed or can’t put up his hand for. I know. I’ve watched him. Did you +see those boys change their seats? _She_ didn’t know any better and they +did it for fun I suppose, just to do something.” + +“Do you mean during class?” + +“No. Just before class began. Jakey slid into that one just behind you.” + +“I didn’t notice.” + +“_She_ may, if they are in different seats tomorrow.” + + ———— + +The zero hour came. Betty looked at the questions on the board. Oh, they +weren’t so bad. It was fair. There were the special things that Miss +Heath had emphasized, some of the hardest to get, to be sure, but Betty +had studied hard and she had freshened up on the vocabulary lists and +some of the rules of syntax, for she dreaded the translations, sentences +that Miss Heath would make up, some of them at least. + +Betty’s cheeks were hot, but she worked away. Mercy, her fountain pen +had given out. She took a pencil and found its point blunt. Hastily she +traveled to the pencil sharpener and put on it as sharp a point as +possible. Miss Heath did not want them to use pencil for examinations if +it were not necessary; but this wasn’t the semester final, when Carolyn +said you _had_ to use ink, they said. But she’d better sharpen two +pencils, perhaps. + +Betty scarcely saw the rest of the scholars as she returned to her desk +for another pencil, so absorbed was she in thoughts of the examination +questions. There was a whisking of something on several desks as she and +some one else passed down parallel aisles at the same time, she to +return, the other to go to the pencil sharpener. As she sat down and +looked off thoughtfully at the board, the teacher was looking in her +direction and two of the boys were chuckling behind her. + +The teacher rapped for order and Betty, turning, caught a glimpse of +Peggy, who was looking daggers at somebody behind Betty. But Betty was +finishing her paper. The time was nearly up. She read over what she had, +put in a long mark over a vowel in one of the declensions, looked for +other omissions or mistakes, and puzzled over her last English to Latin +sentence. She hoped it was right. There went the bell. Betty made ready +her paper. Now it was handed in. Now they were in the hall. The test was +over. What a relief! + +“Did you see what those boys were doing?” asked Peggy, as Betty and +Carolyn caught up with her at the door of the room where they were +entering for another class. + +“No, what was it?” questioned Carolyn, but the teacher just then +beckoned Betty, to give her back a paper that she had failed to return +with the rest given out to the class, and Betty missed Peggy’s reply. + +“That was a very good paper, Betty,” said her teacher. “I found it with +some sophomore papers where it had gotten by mistake.” + +Betty was disappointed to find only an eighty‐eight for her grade, but +she knew that anything over eighty was good with Miss Smith. Tests were +popular just now at Lyon High. All too soon would come the semester +finals! + + ———— + +The busy week ended and Monday came again. The same young substitute was +in Miss Heath’s place. She was “terribly cross” with the boys, Peggy +said, but she didn’t blame her. Four or five of the freshman boys tried +to see how far they could go and went a little too far for their own +good, for when there was some chalk throwing at the blackboard, during +written exercises there, the teacher called several boys by name to take +their seats and see her after class. “If any one else longs to be sent +to detention, he or she may just keep on with the fun as these have +done!” + +There was an immediate cessation of performances, for D. T., as it was +called, was not popular. + +“By the way,” the teacher added, “I should like to see after class for a +moment Betty Lee and Peggy Pollard.” + +Betty, who was at the board, pausing in her work to listen to the +startling interruptions, was surprised to hear her own name. What could +the teacher want with her? But after a surprised look at the somewhat +grim face of an otherwise attractive young woman, Betty turned again to +the board and finished the verb synopsis on which she was engaged. The +class work went on as usual, with correction and assignments by the +teacher, recitation and occasional question on the part of the class. + +The boys who had been told to stay remained in their seats at the close +of class and Betty, raising her eyebrows at Peggy, gathered up her books +and went to one of the front seats to wait the teacher’s pleasure. She +felt in a hurry, for she was due at study hall on this day and it was on +the third floor, quite a climb from the basement floor. + +With eyes demurely on her books, she listened to a brief and sharp +rebuke delivered to the boys, who scurried out of the room as soon as +they were ordered to “detention” that evening, immediately after the +close of school. At “detention” some victim among the teachers, who took +turns at the disagreeable task, was in charge of a room devoted to the +derelicts from duty who had from one cause or another been assigned to +an extra hour in study after their classmates and others had gone. How +long that extra hour! And when there was “doubly D. T.” or detention for +several days, alas! + +That Betty was to receive any rebuke was the last thing that she +expected, though she was nervously wondering for what she was asked to +stay. She looked inquiringly, and in Betty’s unconsciously sweet way, as +the boys disappeared, and was beckoned to a seat in front of the desk. +“Come also, Peggy Pollard,” said the teacher, Miss Masterman. “I believe +this is Peggy, isn’t it?” + +“Yes’m, and that’s Betty Lee.” + +“Peggy, did you exchange papers with any one Thursday?” + +“No’m,” replied Peggy, looking surprised. + +“Did you communicate with any one?” + +“No’m.” + +“Think a minute. Are you sure that you did not say anything?” + +“No’m–oh, yes, I did say something, but it wasn’t anything about the +examination. One of the boys was acting smarty and I told him to stop +it.” + +“Just what did you say?” + +“It wasn’t very polite,” said Peggy, her face very red, but her lips +curving into a smile. “I told him to mind his own affairs and leave me +alone. I was mad for a moment.” + +“Are you sure that was all of the communication?” + +“Yes’m, perfectly sure. I was too _busy_!” + +“Very well. You may go, Peggy. That is all.” + +The teacher’s face was calm and cold as she turned to Betty. Peggy had +flown from the room in relief and Betty heard her unlocking her locker +outside in the hall. She wondered if Peggy would wait. + +“Please wait here a few minutes, Betty Lee,” said Miss Masterman. Betty, +wondering, waited. She didn’t like the way the teacher looked at her. +What _could_ she have done to offend her. It couldn’t be anything like +what Peggy was kept for. Why, she’d been “busy,” too, and had scarcely +noticed anything except the questions and her paper. Besides, this +teacher hadn’t walked around like Miss Heath, to go to the rear +sometimes and know just what everybody was doing. She hadn’t seemed to +be a bit suspicious that day. Miss Masterman now left the room. + +In the next room her voice was to be heard. Why, she was telephoning–the +office, Betty supposed. Mer_cee_! what in the world was the matter? +Betty’s hands were cold. She grew more scared every minute. Perhaps +something was wrong at home and Miss Masterman had gotten word. No, she +had looked at her as if she had done something. Perhaps she’d have to go +to detention, if not tonight, then tomorrow! + +Betty unpiled her books and piled them up again. She would leave all but +her algebra in her locker tonight. There! Miss Masterman was coming +back. She walked to her desk, took up a book, looked at it, put it down, +gathered up some papers and put them inside the desk, went after her +wraps and laid them across one of the desks. She was almost as uneasy as +Betty felt. Probably she wanted to get home, though it was still the +last period. + +At last she said, “I suppose you are anxious to know why I am keeping +you. You are to go to the office of the assistant principal and he is +busy with some other pupils still. He or someone will telephone me when +he is ready for you. He seems to have a good deal of business tonight.” +Miss Masterman smiled disagreeably. “It is in connection with cheating +at examination that he wants to see you,” and Miss Masterman looked +keenly at Betty as she made this statement quickly in a sharp tone. + +Betty gasped. “Why, Miss Masterman! I don’t know anything about any +cheating in the examination!” + +“So?” coolly replied Miss Masterman. “Tell that to the assistant +principal, then.” + +“Do–do you mean that you think I _cheated_?” vigorously asked Betty. + +“I think that very thing.” + +“Then you are mistaken, Miss Masterman,” said Betty, firmly and with +some dignity. “I hope to be able to prove it.” + +The telephone bell rang just then and Miss Masterman answered it, +saying, “at last,” as she crossed to the room. + +Betty, too, thought “at last.” She was trembling from head to foot; but +a little anger at the injustice of the charge sustained her and she +remembered the kind face of the assistant principal. He had some +children. Maybe he would listen to her. But what could she say, only +tell him that she did not cheat. How did they think she could? Miss +Heath would have called the assistant principal by his name in speaking +of him–oh, if only Miss Heath had been there at that examination! + + + + +CHAPTER XIV: SENT TO THE PRINCIPAL + + +Betty went to her locker, put away all her books and took out her wraps. +She would _never_ come back if they thought she cheated! As in a dream +she mounted the stairs and rounded the hall toward the office of the +assistant principal. Several pupils were about the central hall, some of +them leaving the office toward which she was making her way. Jakey +Bechstein was slapping a cap upon his quite good‐looking head and +starting for the big outer doors with two companions. His big dark eyes +were upon the nearest boy and he did not see Betty, though he closely +passed her. + +“What did he say to you, Jakey?” the boys was asking. It was one of the +other freshman boys. + +“’Lo, Betty, going home?” asked a girl behind her. Betty turned and +waved pleasantly to the girl, whom she knew slightly. “Not now, +Adelaide–sorry. I have to stop at the office a minute.” + +“Been into mischief, I suppose,” laughed Adelaide. + +“Of course,” returned Betty, knowing that Adelaide was only in fun. But +alas, it was only too true that something was wrong. + +As Betty entered the office a boy was just leaving the desk, going out +with tense mouth and a frown. But the assistant principal looked up in a +friendly way at Betty, whose face showed plainly her troubled mind. + +“Sit down, Betty. This is Betty Lee, I suppose.” Mr. Franklin, who as +assistant principal usually saw all the offenders in school discipline +before his chief, now came from behind his desk and drew up a chair not +far from Betty’s. He looked tired as he stretched out a pair of long +legs, crossed his feet and leaned back, one hand reaching the desk, the +other dropped in his lap. Here was only an innocent‐looking child, whom +he did not recall meeting. + +“Yes, sir; I am Betty Lee. Miss Masterman told me that I was to come +here.” + +“M‐m. Tell you why you were to come?” + +“She said that she thought I–I cheated in examination.” + +The tears which Betty thought she would be able to keep back sprang +quickly to her eyes, but she set her lips, wiped her eyes hastily, and +continued. “But I did not cheat and I did not see it if the whole room +cheated. I tried to make a good paper for Miss Heath!” + +“You like Miss Heath, do you?” + +“Oh, yes sir! If she had only–” Betty stopped, for she would not imply +anything against the substitute. + +“Sometimes it is a temptation to try to do well for some one.” Mr. +Franklin was looking at her kindly, but soberly. + +“I’ve been taught that it is wrong to cheat, sir; and I don’t believe it +pays in the long run. Father says that the teacher usually finds out +what you know or don’t know.” + +“Usually, but not always when there are so many. Tell me about it, +Betty.” + +“But there isn’t anything to tell! I can’t think why anybody _thinks_ I +cheated. I worked hard on the review and went over the things I was +weakest on, I thought, and ran over the vocabulary we’ve had, the night +before. But I’m pretty good on vocabulary.” + +“Girls sometimes are,” joked Mr. Franklin, at which Betty took heart. + +“Won’t you tell me what happened, Mr. Franklin, to make her think I +cheated?” + +“Not yet. Near whom did you sit, Betty?” + +“Why, Dora Jenkins sits in front of me; and on the aisle next, to the +right, Mickey Carlin is across from Dora and Sim, James Simmonds, I +mean, sits across from me and on the other aisle, across from me, +there’s Sally Wright, a colored girl, and Peggy Pollard back of her. The +alphabet is all mixed up in this class.” + +“Who is back of you?” + +“Andy–oh, no, Mr. Franklin, it was all different that day. I remember +the boys changed–but I shouldn’t tell you!” + +“Go on. One of the boys told me that they changed seats for fun on the +day you had a substitute and it was not an exactly criminal act, though +I don’t stand for it. Then they didn’t change back?” + +“I suppose they thought they’d better not since she had seen them there, +though I imagine Miss Heath’s roll is made out that way.” + +“Never mind. Haven’t you the least remembrance who sat behind you or to +the side back?” + +“Seems to me it was Jakey Bechstein behind me and the boys seemed to be +all mixed up around there. But I wasn’t thinking about it.” + +“Did you leave your seat at any time?” + +Betty thought. “Yes sir. I have an extra fountain pen and I thought I’d +better fill it when I was partly through. But the ink at the desk was +out. Then the ink in my pen that I was using gave out and I went up, +twice, to sharpen pencils, thinking that I would need sharp points to +make it legible enough for Miss Heath. She is always talking about our +making our test papers especially legible.” + +Mr. Franklin smiled. “Sensible woman. Well, Betty, I will tell you that +there are three papers almost exactly alike and one of them is yours. Do +you suspect any one of copying from you?” + +“No, sir. If Jakey was where he could do it, he would never have to +because he is as smart as any one in the class and almost never doesn’t +have his lesson.” + +“In other words, he almost always does,” smiled Mr. Franklin. “I am +afraid we can not go by the usual order of seats, but I am finding out +where the persons involved sat. You will admit that where papers are so +alike there is room for suspicion.” + +“Yes, sir. Is Miss Masterson correcting, or will Miss Heath do it?” + +“Miss Masterson has read the papers carefully and discovered the +similarity. Miss Heath will be back tomorrow. Every one has denied +copying.” + +Betty looked at Mr. Franklin and shook her head soberly. “Of course,” +she said, “and I’m only one of them, I suppose. Well, Mr. Franklin, I’m +not going to stay in school if any one thinks I’m that kind of a girl!” + +“Do you think that you would be allowed to drop out, Betty? Think this +over tonight and come to see me tomorrow at the same time. I may have +more light on it–and you may think of something to tell me.” + +Betty flushed at this. He meant if she had some confession to make! But +Mr. Franklin was rising. She was dismissed, she saw. “I will come,” she +said and went out, out of the main doors, too, down the steps, on to +catch a street car home. + +All the way Betty sat almost unconscious of the other people on the car, +for at the first glance she saw no one whom she knew. From the first the +incidents of the last few hours and those of the examination went +through her mind. She tried to gather up a few fleeting impressions. +Yes, it was Jakey who sat behind her, though it was unusual to see him +there. That was why she could recall it, she supposed. He had grinned at +her as she came back from the pencil sharpener. And there had been some +whisking of something somewhere, just before Peggy had been seen to +glare at one of the boys. That was probably what he was doing, taking +something from her desk or teasing her in some way. My, it was a puzzle. +But it was simply terrible to be under suspicion. Could it really be +Betty Lee that was going through this? And the old nursery rhyme ran +through her head: + + “But when the old woman got home in the dark, + Up jumped the little dog and he began to bark! + He began to bark + And she began to cry, + ’Goodness, mercy on me, this is none of I!’” + +When she reached home she tried to say this to her dear mother, who was +sitting by the window mending an almost hopeless stocking of Amy Lou’s. +But when she got to the “this is none of I,” her lips quivered and she +ran to bury her head in the comfortable lap and sob out the story as +soon as she could control herself sufficiently. Here was some one who +would take her word! + +“Dear child, dear child!” soothingly said her mother. “Don’t take it too +seriously. I know how hard it is when a young person cannot justify +herself to schoolmates or friends, but surely you have already made a +good impression on your teachers. Don’t you think that when Miss Heath +comes back tomorrow she will handle the matter? You said that the +assistant principal is well liked and that the pupils think him fair. I +think that they will probe the matter a little farther.” + +“But what more can they _do_?” asked Betty from the floor, her head +against her mother’s knee. “There are those three papers just alike!” + +“And you wrote yours out of your own head. Stick to that. Besides, your +father and I believe in you. Haven’t we seen your lips moving in all the +declensions and conjugations so far, while you committed them, and +haven’t I asked you more than once the Latin or English words of your +vocabularies?” + +“You have, sweetest mother that there is!” Betty drew a long sigh. +“Anyhow it doesn’t do any good to weep and wail, does it? I believe I’ll +call up Peggy and see what she knows and tell her my tale of woe. I +didn’t tell you that she had to stay after school, too, and got asked +questions.” + +“Are you sure that you’d better, child?” + +“Call Peggy? oh, yes, Mother. Peggy would be sure to ask me tomorrow +morning what Miss Masterson said. I’ll bet she’s aching to call me up +right now!” + +Mrs. Lee’s face grew serious as soon as Betty left her to call up her +friend. She was more disturbed by Betty’s news than she would have +admitted to the child herself. Betty was so comparatively new to the +school with no background of long acquaintance as in the old school. She +had more than half a mind to go to school with her tomorrow. But she +thought better of that. Let them work it out first. If necessary, she or +Betty’s father would go to see the principal. + +Betty was laughing now over something funny exchanged between the girls. +“But it’s really very serious,” she heard Betty say next. “I dread to go +to school tomorrow. Tell me ev’rything that you can remember about that +examination. You wouldn’t mind telling the principal what you just told +me, would you?” + +The answer must have been satisfactory, for Betty chuckled. The subject +must have changed then, for Betty made some remark not connected with +this recent affair and shortly the telephone conversation closed. + + + + +CHAPTER XV: DETECTIVE WORK + + +In the good, steadfast atmosphere of a sensible home, whose heads were +not easily stampeded, Betty felt better. Father was told quietly by +Mother. But Betty’s sleep was troubled that night and it was with many +an inward qualm that she started to school the next morning. She +intended to go on through the day, as her mother advised her, with as +much quiet dignity as she could command, discussing the matter with no +one. + +Peggy, however, referred to the conversation of the day before when she +met her by her locker, next to Betty’s. “The boys _were_ up to +something, as I told you. It wasn’t Jakey but the boy behind him, Sam, +that I was glaring at, as you said. He tried to snatch a piece of paper +off my desk, a blank sheet, it was, and I thought the boys were doing +that just to be smart, taking things off the girls’ desks and seeing +what they could do without being caught. I mean that bunch of boys, you +know, not Mickey or Andy. So maybe somebody got hold of part of your +paper.” + +“The wind from that open window blew some paper off my desk once,” mused +Betty. “I believe it must have been Jakey that handed it to me, but I +didn’t think it was part of my paper that was written on. I stuck it +under the rest. I did write out my translations on an extra paper first, +for I didn’t want to make any erasures and have a messy paper. But Jakey +knows as much as I do. It certainly wasn’t Jakey whose paper was like +mine.” + +“Time will tell,” said Peggy. “Don’t worry too much, Betty. Whatever +happens, your friends among us girls will believe what you say.” + +“Thanks, Peggy. You’re a comfort. Please don’t say anything to Carolyn +yet.” + +“She might know something.” + +“How could she?” + +“I don’t know. But at least I can tell her how I was questioned, and +everybody knew that you had to stay after school, so how can you help +telling her?” + +“I’ll tell her that I was questioned, too.” + +Betty however, had started to school as late as she dared. In +consequence lessons and the day’s program were upon them. At lunch she +remained in the room until after Carolyn and the rest of those going up +to lunch had gone, and pretended to be detained by some notes she was +writing. Perhaps it was not a pretense either, she thought, for she +needed the notes. But she would not have taken them then if she had not +wanted to avoid being with the rest of the girls. A few who were not +going to lunch were nibbling crackers or chocolate bars and stirring +about the room a little. The colored girl in her Latin class was there +and Betty wondered if she had enough money for the lunch, little as some +of it cost. + +Sure enough, there were some chocolate bars and an apple in her locker! +She had the chocolate bars in her sweater pocket and the apple had been +presented to her in the hall by no less a friend than Budd LeRoy. She, +too, would miss lunch and divide with Sally. Quickly she ran out to her +locker, rifled the pocket of her sweater, discarded since the early cold +morning, and brought her apple and her pocket knife. + +“Have a bar with me, Sally,” she said, “if you are not going to lunch +either, and I’ll cut this apple in two.” + +“Why–thanks, Betty. That looks good. No, I thought I wouldn’t go to +lunch today. But you’d better keep all of your apple.” + +“It’s too big and it looks awfully juicy,” added Betty as she cut the +apple in halves. “With my compliments, Miss Sally,” and Betty assumed +quite an air as she handed the fruit to Sally, who laughed and thanked +Betty again. + +“Have you always lived in this city?” asked Betty for something to say, +as Sally sat down in her own seat which was opposite Betty’s, by chance, +just as in the Latin class. + +In the soft voice and accent peculiar to her race at its best, Sally +answered this question and asked Betty how she liked this and that +teacher, Miss Heath among others. Miss Heath had not met her class that +morning, to Betty’s deep disappointment. + +“I saw Miss Heath come in the uppah hall,” said Sally, “jus’ befo’ the +last class. She hurried into the office and I suppose she couldn’t get +here this mawnin.’” + +“Oh, is she here?” asked Betty brightening. + +“Yes. Say, Betty, did you see Jakey Bechstein take some of your papers +off your desk at the test?” + +“No; did he?” + +“Yes, while you were sharpening your pencils. The boys were having fun +behind Miss Masterson’s back when she was pulling down one window and +putting up another for ventilation, though she didn’t know I suppose +that they’re not supposed to do that with the system they’ve got here. +They were pretendin’ to look at each other’s papers and grab a few off +the desks and Jakey grabbed yours. But he kept them a while, and I saw +him sneak them back just before you started for your seat.” + +“I didn’t notice. But Jakey knows as much about Latin as I do. What +would be the point?” + +“Keeping you from getting ahead of him,” said Sally, taking a large bite +of the apple and being obliged to catch some of the juice in her +handkerchief. “Jakey’s not studying so much, I reckon, since he started +basketball.” + +Betty listened soberly and remembered the remark Jakey had made about +not studying for the test. _Could_ it be that he had copied anything +from her paper? + +It was worth while staying from lunch and sharing with Sally to hear +this. Yet could she use the information to help herself out? + +“If anything should come up about Jakey, Sally, or anybody, would you be +willing to tell Miss Heath what you saw?” + +“I sure would. I guess the teacher kept you and Peggy about something +like that yesterday, didn’t she? I saw her look at Peggy when I heard +Peggy snap off the kid that snatched at her paper.” + +“Miss Masterson did ask some questions, Sally.” + +Betty was deep in her lesson for the next hour when the girls came back +from lunch. “Where _were_ you, Betty?” asked Carolyn. + +“Oh, I just decided that I didn’t want to go up, and I happened to have +some chocolate bars and an apple. I’ll fill up when I get home after +school.” + +“I always do, and eat lunch, too,” said Peggy. “Miss Heath was upstairs +for lunch. I saw her go into the teachers’ lunch room. It was funny for +her to come in the middle of the day, wasn’t it?” + +The girls wondered, but Miss Heath, though not feeling equal to a day of +teaching, had come over for something else, as she had an idea which she +wanted to share with the assistant principal. When Betty depressed, went +into the office of the assistant principal after school, Miss Heath was +there and looked like a fountain in the desert, or the sun shining +through clouds, to Betty. + +“Good afternoon, Betty,” she said pleasantly, though with dignity. “I +came over to see about the little matter of the test. As soon as your +principal is at liberty, I want to go over the questions with you.” + +This was surprising–did she mean the real _principal_? Evidently not, +for when Mr. Franklin came into the office, stopped on the way by +several people, both teachers and pupils, she drew out a paper. “I am +ready to go over the questions with Betty, Mr. Franklin,” she said. + +“Very well,” said he, closing the door. + +“Do you remember the questions, pretty well, Betty?” asked Miss Heath. + +“I would know them if I saw them.” + +“Have you looked up anything you did not know?” + +“Yes–I wasn’t sure about several things that I wrote down; but I have +forgotten what they were now.” + +“Perhaps you will recall them as I go through the questions. I have your +paper here,” and Miss Heath took out what Betty recognized as her own +paper. + +What was the point of doing all this! Betty felt confused, but she would +answer all the questions if that would help establish her innocence of +the cheating. + +One by one the examination questions, or directions in regard to what +was desired, were read. Betty replied slowly, saying in several places, +“I didn’t put that all down on my paper, I think, Miss Heath. I thought +afterward that I had omitted it, though I went all over it so +carefully.” + +Later, when they came to the translation, she said, “I couldn’t think of +the name of that Dative, so I just put Indirect Object, because you said +that in a way all Datives were indirect objects. But I looked it up and +I could tell you now.” + +“Take a piece of paper, Betty, and write again the English to Latin +sentences.” + +Mr. Franklin indicated by a nod some paper on his desk. Betty took the +list of questions, thought a moment and wrote, slowly. “I always Have to +take plenty of time on the English to Latin,” she said, “and there is +one that I wrote two ways, but I wasn’t sure that either were right. +It’s the one that has the accusative of place to which in it.” + +Miss Heath nodded and her eyes twinkled. Whatever idea she had was +turning out successfully, it seemed. But Betty was very busy with the +sentences. She handed over the paper saying “It did not take so long, +because I’d thought it out before.” + +“I see. Betty, why did you use _appello_ instead of _voco_ here?” + +“Because it is calling in the sense of naming, as you told us in such +sentences.” + +“Good. Why did you use the Ablative in the second sentence?” + +“Because it specifies that in respect to which”–Betty got no farther +because Miss Heath interrupted her. + +“That is enough, Betty. Mr. Franklin, I’m satisfied, are you? The other +person did not know, and the third youngster plainly copied the whole +thing from him.” + +Mr. Franklin nodded assent. “Betty,” he said, “you are cleared from all +suspicion of copying and cheating. We know which ones of these papers +were copied. You may thank Miss Heath for her little scheme to find out. +We have already met with the others, but we can not tell you their +names.” + +“Oh, I don’t want to know!” exclaimed Betty. “Thank you so much!” + +It was another Betty that ran down the steps, to find both Peggy and +Carolyn waiting for her. Her face must have told them the story. “O, +Betty! Is is all right?” eagerly asked Carolyn. “Peggy told me, when I +asked her why she was waiting for you. Oh, you should have told me and +let me worry with you! Was that why you wouldn’t come up to lunch?” + +“Yes.” + +“Please tell us how they found out that you didn’t—” Carolyn would not +finish. + +“Well, you saw Miss Heath, that darling woman! She came over on purpose +to see all about it and she had the scheme to bring the questions and +find out how much each of us really knew about things. I really don’t +see how she told, but it must be that whoever copied couldn’t give good +reasons for what he would have missed on or something. She’s a regular +Sherlock Holmes!” + +“And now, if you’ll never tell a soul, I’ll tell you what Sally Wright +told me during lunch. I learned a lot by staying down and giving Sally +an old chocolate bar!” + +The girls promised, and the three, Betty in the middle, walked slowly +toward the street, heads together, arms about each other. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI: SOME FRESHMAN CONCLUSIONS + + +What had happened between the teachers and the pupils who had cheated in +the test was, naturally, not known, except that every one knew the +penalty of losing a grade. The boys that had changed seats and generally +“acted up” during the presence of the substitute were well rebuked and +had to endure some penalty, the girls understood; but only those who had +behaved ever mentioned the occurrence. The guilty carried it off with +bland ignorance or nonchalance and pretended not to understand any jokes +at their expense. Jakey Bechstein was out of school for several days, +but came back as lively as ever and making good recitations. His +basketball team lacked his presence. + +At Betty Jakey never looked, but as she had never known him very well +and as he did not ordinarily sit near her in any of her classes, she +scarcely noticed that he avoided her till Peggy called her attention to +it. + +But the year went on and Betty had many more interesting things to take +up her mind. The semester examinations were a nightmare, Carolyn +claimed, but they managed to live through them, as they usually do. Miss +Heath was particularly fond of Betty, she told her mother when Mrs. Lee, +without Amy Lou, came to visit Betty’s classes one day. “Betty is a very +charming little girl, Mrs. Lee, and very bright. She is a friend of some +of our best freshman girls, too, as I imagine you’d like to know. It is +rather important, you know, what sort of friends the children like.” + +The winter passed. Betty for the most part worked at her lessons, with +pleasant Saturday afternoons, sometimes with the girls, sometimes on +expeditions with the family. Her father was greatly absorbed in business +affairs, but as spring approached he often drove his family to find the +first spring flowers at some spot outside of the city, or to observe the +coming of bud and blossom. + +On one warm April day, rather in advance of the season, they thought, +Mr. Lee and Betty were alone and the machine was parked by the roadside +near a little stream where some violets were growing. As the ground was +dry upon the sloping bank, Betty sat down with her bunch of violets in +her hand and her father decided to join her. “What do you think of this +place, Betty? You’d hardly expect it so near the city, would you?” + +“No, but there are lots of places in this town that are what you might +call unexpected, because there are the hills and ravines, you know.” + +“Yes, that is so.” + +“Father,” Betty spoke again after a pause during which she picked a +flower within reach. “Father, don’t you think that a girl ought to take +advantage of her opportunities?” + +“Seems to me I’ve heard something like that, Betty.” + +“Well, I’m serious, Father.” + +“To just what advantages do you refer?” + +“I’m thinking about school, you know, and it does seem as if there are +so many things to do in these high school years, especially here in the +city, that you’ll never have a chance to do again!” + +“Things that you are not doing now, you mean?” + +“Yes, Father. Unless you see it, you can’t realize what lovely things go +on at school and you can’t help wanting to be in them!” + +“What, for instance?” + +“Well, there’s the music for one thing. If you get your lessons, you +haven’t so much time for other things, but to be trained right here, +where there’s a Symphony Orchestra and everybody knowing the best music +and singing and playing it–it doesn’t seem right not to do it if you +have any music in you at all. Ted Dorrance was talking about it the +other day. He’s a junior this year, you know. He was with some of the +girls and boys in a bunch of us, talking after school. + +“I imagine that Ted gets his lessons, for he’s smart looking. I heard +him talking to a boy the very first day I was in school, standing in +line to sign up. He said he didn’t know what he was going to do, not +much athletics only ‘swimming, of course.’ You ought to see Ted swim at +a swimming meet. And dive! He can turn a somersault backwards and +everything. + +“He said that his mother wanted him to be in the orchestra and sure +enough he is. Father, he plays the violin and he’s the very first violin +in the orchestra, the one that does little solo parts sometimes, or +whatever they do.” + +“And do you want to be in the orchestra, too?” + +“Mer_cee_, no! What would I play? But I’d like to go on with my piano +lessons, and at the Conservatory, too, and then I’d like to be in the +Glee Club. Carolyn says she’s going to try to be in it next year. But +you see all the practice takes a lot of time.” + +“I see. Anything else, little daughter?” + +Betty laughed. Father was so nice to talk to. “Yes, a lot of things, but +I like the athletics, gym, you know, and swimming. I think maybe I’ll +get honors in swimming. Some of the girls are more than half afraid of +the water, but I feel–I feel just like a fish!” + +It was Mr. Lee’s turn to laugh. “I used to feel that way, too, Betty, +and I had a lake to swim in from the time I was knee‐high to a duck.” + +“Then I suppose I inherit it from you,” Betty declared. “I’m much, +obliged for the trick of it! But that’s another thing, Father. If you do +a thing, you like to do it well and I suppose it’s Louise Madison, who +is president of the G. A. A., that has made me so crazy about athletics. +Why, they even have riding horseback, beside tennis and everything you +can think of.” + +“And everything you can’t think of, I suppose.” + +“Aren’t you funny–who’d ever say that but you?” + +“Have you thought out, Betty, just what you’d like to take up?” + +“No, Father, not exactly. I’m just–ruminating, and trying to think it +out.” + +“Then I’m glad you are willing to do it with me, Betty. Perhaps we can +come to some conclusion.” + +“Perhaps. I’m sure I need help. It’s just this way. I hate to miss it +all, but I can never get my lessons and do too much. Would you care +awfully, Father, if I didn’t stand at the head of my class? I did at +home, I mean where we did live, but I don’t believe a body ever could +even _know_ who is the head in the big high schools. I guess it’s only +in some line or other that they get prizes and things. + +“And then, Father, I believe that it’s better not to be so–keyed up, as +Mother says, and wanting to beat.” + +“The habit of success is a good thing, Betty.” + +Betty pondered a moment. “I see what you mean. It’s only too easy to let +down.” + +“Yes, and when one studies a subject there is more satisfaction in +really covering the ground, being accurate, I mean, not just having a +sort of hazy idea.” + +“Father, there’s too much! You just can’t get it all.” + +“You have done pretty well so far, my child. I am satisfied with your +grades. Isn’t there always an honor roll?” + +“Yes, and I’m on it, so far.” + +“Then that is enough. You need not try to beat anybody. Wasn’t that the +trouble with your friend that copied your answers?” + +“Yes. I wouldn’t do that, of course, but there is a sort of nervousness +about reciting well and making an impression on the teacher, whether you +have your lesson or haven’t had a chance to get it real well. And +sometimes you recite when you don’t know much.” + +“I see. It is a problem, Betty. I see nothing for it but to make a good +general plan, not including too much, then work it out every day the +best you can. But it’s the little decisions every day that count in +anything. I have it in business too. And I wouldn’t let down altogether +in the ideals of hard work and getting lessons. It’s chiefly in putting +your mind on it when you are working, isn’t it?” + +“A good deal.” + +“You would really like to be in that orchestra, wouldn’t you, Betty?” + +Betty looked up at the smiling face of her father, who wasn’t so very +old, after all. He had a fellow feeling! + +“Didn’t you take a few violin lessons once?” + +“Yes, when that college girl taught a class for a while, but I can’t +_play_, Father. They wouldn’t _look_ at me for the orchestra!” + +“Probably not now; but if you took more lessons, and of a proper teacher +this summer–how about it?” + +“I might,” said Betty, dropping her flowers in her lap to clap her +hands. “Would you _let_ me?” + +“Would you like it as much as that?” + +“I’d love it!” + +“Then we shall see about it at once. I’m going to send your Mother and +Amy Lou to your grandmother’s this summer, but not all of you could go +there. Dick and Doris might take turns. And how would you like to keep +house for me, practice violin, and get taken on rides to give you an +occasional breath of the country?” + +“That would be great. I’m not a good housekeeper, though.” + +“We’ll never tell anybody how we keep house, Betty, and I’ll be ‘boss.’ +We’ll drive over to the Conservatory, Saturday, sign you up for violin +with somebody–come on child. Gather up your flowers. We must go home.” + +Mr. Lee sprang to his feet, gave a hand to Betty, who did not need it, +but accepted it. + +“But _Father_, I don’t know how good the old violin is and the bow is +terrible. It never did do what it ought to! How _can_ I begin?” + +“The trouble with the ‘old violin’ is not that it is ‘old,’ Betty,” +laughed Mr. Lee, as Betty ran after him on his way to the car. “It +simply isn’t much good at all. You shall have a better one. You used to +play some sweet little tunes. Here’s for a Stradivarius or ‘whatever it +is,’ as you say. And you shall see how I keep you at hard work this +summer! We’ll have some of the school extras or perish in the attempt.” + +Betty chuckled as she climbed into the car. “All right, my dear Daddy. +The neighbors will hate me, but _I’ll practice_, and it can’t be any +worse than that horn across the street. How did you read my mind and +know that I’d rather be in an orchestra than take piano lessons?” + +“It was just instinct, Betty,” replied Mr. Lee, as he started the car, +“with perhaps a few deductions and putting two and two together.” + +“Really, Father, can you afford to get me a good violin and let me take +lessons?” + +“Yes. It is necessary to do things _when_ they ought to be done, and we +shall do this. But I’m counting on my girl to make good.” + +“Oh, I will try! But you know me!” + +“I’m not expecting too much, Betty, only the same effort that you always +make in everything. I shall watch to keep you well and safe. Perhaps the +athletics that you like so much will help to keep you well. But don’t +get reckless in ‘gym.’ We’ll see about the riding some other year, +perhaps.” + + + + +CHAPTER XVII: SPRING AT LYON HIGH + + +If the autumn, with its excitement of football and the starting of +school activities, was thrilling to Betty Lee, what should be said of +the springtime, with those same activities matured and new interests of +the season? It was baseball among the boys now. Seniors were thinking of +their graduation. Freshmen had nearly completed their first year of high +school and had changed by contact with the older classes and with their +own new ambitions. + +Betty could not keep up with it all, nor attend all of the +entertainments offered by the different organizations. In some of them +she had a part, as when the Girl Reserves did something special with a +good program, or when the swimming contests took place, for then not +alone the best swimmers took part, but those of modest attainments. In +this Betty had occasion to take a little pride in winning points. + +Her mother accompanied her to attend the great musical affair of the +year, when all the musical organizations, orchestra and glee clubs, +combined to show their parents what they could do. Mrs. Lee exclaimed +over the ability of the orchestra and Betty explained. “In the first +place, Mother, they have a wonderful leader. He’s a foreigner and hasn’t +much patience with anybody, Ted says, but it isn’t a bad thing for the +way things turn out, you see. Then the boys and girls are used to +hearing good music.” + +“They hear some very terrible jazz, too,” remarked Mrs. Lee. + +“I’ll have to admit it,” laughed Betty, “but not in school, except, +perhaps, at the minstrel show they had. I wasn’t there, so I can’t +state.” + +The school grounds were more attractive than in the fall. The garden +club worked under the direction of the botany teacher. First came the +forsythia, in welcome yellow delicacy all over the city, and here and +there about the grounds. Then other flowers came on, with magnolia and +Japanese cherry trees in blossom, and in their time gay tulips, and +purple iris lining some of the walks. With the windows of class rooms, +study halls and library open, the pupils and teachers could hear the +songs of birds, more free than they were, to be sure, but with their +daily bread and nesting entailing much hunting and work on the part of +the little creatures. Betty never failed to visit a part of the grounds +devoted to wild flowers, including May‐apples and jack‐in‐the‐pulpit. + +She was occasionally out at the Gwynne place, when Carolyn carried her +off in a car which sometimes came for her, or accompanied her as far as +the street car went, to take the rest of the way in a strolling hike, +enlivened with much discourse, after the manner of girls. They saw very +little of the boys, by the way, for baseball and other active, outdoor +affairs engaged their attention; but the girls, with so many of their +own, did not notice it. Of these girl activities, Color Day, the annual +track meet of the girls was of importance. + +This was held on the last of April in the stadium and the competition +was between classes. The freshmen girls were quite excited over it, for +they had some very athletic girls in their various teams this year, and +while they did not expect to win the meet they expected to make a good +showing. Both Betty and Carolyn were in this, though Betty was not +allowed to do competitive running. But there was the throwing, baseball +and hurl‐ball, and some other events. Numbers told for your class, it +seemed. And when it finally came off it was great fun, Betty reported. + +“You ought to have been there, Mother!” she cried when she came home. +“You simply _must_ come more next year. We’ll get somebody to stay with +Amy Lou, though she would think anything like this just wonderful, +wouldn’t you, Amy Lou?” + +“Yes, Betty. Why can’t I go?” + +“You can next time. You ought to have seen the girls run and jump over +the hurdles and everything! We had a tug of war and the freshmen won +that. Then one of our freshman girls made a brand‐new record in the +sixty‐yard hurdles. I’ve forgotten just what it was, but it beat last +year’s record just a little bit. + +“I didn’t do so badly in the throwing, Mother, but I didn’t take first +place by any means; and the relay in overhead basketball was great!” + +“It seems to me that you make work of your playing, Betty.” + +“Yes, I suppose we do. But isn’t it better to have athletics watched +over and amounting to something?” + +“I suppose it is, unless you push it too far for your health.” + +“Well, I suppose it does hurt some of the boys and girls once in a +while, when they get reckless and try more than they ought to do; but +they are all examined, you know, and they have rules. The seniors beat, +by the way, so I suppose they’re satisfied. It would be hard to be +beaten when it was your last year. And, Mother, may I go to the G. A. A. +banquet with Carolyn? And, won’t you think twice about going yourself? +Carolyn says that her mother is going and wants to entertain you and me. +I suppose we couldn’t get Father there, could we?” + +“Oh, no, Betty. He is too busy to take time now for a girls’ affair. +Perhaps I can go another year, but not now.” + +“Mrs. Gwynne was going to call you up, or come to see you if she could.” + +“That will be very kind,” said Mrs. Lee. “You may go, Betty, but I think +that you’d better pay for your own ticket. We shall see what seems +polite to do.” + +“You see, Mother, honors are distributed that night and we find out who +the honor girl is and get whatever we do get for our points.” + +This was one of the last events before the “finals” and Commencement. +Betty, in her “partiest frock,” came home full of enthusiasm to report +that the mystery was a mystery no longer and that Louise Madison “got +the honor ring.” That was the crowning honor and the last thing given. + +For the “first time in history” the freshmen received the baseball +chevrons. Betty declared that she wasn’t ashamed of being a freshman, +but oh, to think that her first year was nearly over! The banquet was +simply great, everything so good; and then after it came the speeches +and the presenting of awards, while the girls that had done things were +“all excited inside,” and the seniors, of course, all wondering which of +them would get the great honor. + +“I’ve decided that I’m going to ride in order to get one of those ducky +pins, a silver pin with a tiny black horse and rider, a girl, too, +jumping over a bar!” + +“Now, isn’t that just like a girl!” exclaimed Dick, who was listening +while some of this was being told at the breakfast table. + +“It ought to take a very strong motive, Dicky,” mischievously replied +his sister, “to induce one to make an art of riding! Still, I can stick +on a horse out at Grandma’s, can’t I?” + +“Yes–and how?” asked Dick scornfully. + +Examination week to some seemed long, indeed, with the longer time +allowed for the real tests that had so much to do with passing for those +who were obliged to take them. Fortunately, Betty had none to take, but +it seemed odd, indeed, to wait for grades during examination time and +the time given the teachers to correct the important papers. The weather +was hot, but it was a good opportunity for last visits or picnics. + +Peggy Pollard had one of these at her home, a pretty place in the same +suburb which boasted the Gwynne place, but Peggy’s home was closer in +toward town and not so large as that of the Gwynnes. The house was a +simple building, modern, set back among a few handsome trees in a large +lot. There was a pool on whose circular cement wall, Betty, Peggy and +their friends sat like so many mermaids one hot afternoon. Bathing suits +were the appropriate costume for this picnic, Peggy had said. In +consequence, the girls came in simple frocks, as cool as they could +muster, and brought their bathing suits, caps, slippers and all. + +The pool was retired, among the trees and thick bushes where it was cool +with shadows, and it was well known and favored among Peggy’s friends. +Betty’s eyes opened wide when she saw it. Good friends as they had been, +this was the first time that Peggy had entertained her. + +“How did you happen to have such a _big_ one, Peggy?” one of the girls +asked, voicing Betty’s thought. + +“Why, there were so many boys and they wanted it big enough for real +diving and swimming a bit; so, as they made it themselves, they had it +that way. This is fresh water, girls, just put in it. Betty, you haven’t +been here before, though I’ve tried to find a good chance to have folks +before this. Mother’s been in the hospital, as I guess I told you. + +“Why, Betty, I’m the last chick of a big family, or almost the last +chick. Jack is in the University still, my big brother, but the rest are +all married or away, six brothers–what do you think of that?” + +“How nice! Any sisters? but you practically told me you hadn’t any. And +here I’ve known you all year and never knew a word about your family.” + +“Life is like that, Betty,” laughed Peggy. “I guess we never told each +other our life history. I know your family because I’ve been at your +house and I saw them.” + +“I’ve known Peggy all my life,” said Mary Emma, “and I never knew she +had _six_ brothers. Are you _sure_, Peggy?” Mary Emma was grinning as +she touched the water with her toes. Then she slipped into it and lay +back, floating a little. + +It was the signal for a general descent into the pool whose waters, +cooler than the air, were so refreshing. Nobody seemed to care about +diving, but they swam a little, had mild races which, no one cared much +about beating, and sat on the steps that led down into the water or +perched again on the upper rim of cement. “What makes us so doleful?” +lazily asked Carolyn. + +“Oh, it’s the weather, and school’s being ’most out,” returned Kathryn +Allen, who looked like a little red gypsy in her scarlet bathing suit +and cap. “I feel just like splashing around and doing nothing unless to +keep from being drowned.” + +“I have enough energy for that,” said Betty, swimming off. + +“What do you suppose we’ll be doing this time next year?” asked Carolyn. + +“My, you’re looking ahead, Carolyn! By that time we’ll be through being +sophomores, or almost.” + +Betty curved around and drew herself up on the steps where Carolyn and +Kathryn were. “I’ve decided, to do something different every year,” she +said. “I can’t do it _all_ all the time, you see. I’ll keep up swimming, +and some music, and then one year I’ll take riding, and another year +something else–I _think_ I will, anyhow.” + +“What are you going to do this summer, Betty?” Carolyn asked. “We’re +going away for July and August, I think I told you.” + +“Yes. I heard you speak of it. It will be wonderful to be on the ocean +beach, Carolyn. But we’re going to have Mother go to my grandmother’s on +a big farm, where they have tenants to do the work, mostly. It will be +good for Amy Lou, whose been ‘peaked’ lately, since it grew so warm. +Dick and Doris are to take turns going, I think, and I’m to keep house +for Father. But that will mean lots of picnics and little trips out +places for our dinner and then something is to happen for me, he said, +when Mother comes back. But they won’t tell me what it is. So I have a +nice mystery to look forward to, or try to discover.” + +“Do you mean that either your brother or sister will stay with you?” + +“I think they’re going to try that, though they are twins and like to be +at least in the same town. But no telling. In our family we try +experiments and if they don’t work we do something else. Nobody carries +out anything just for meanness, or because they said they were going +to.” + +“I’ll tell that to Chauncey,” said Kathryn. “Chauncey hates to +acknowledge that anything’s wrong he starts, and blazes ahead no matter +what happens. You must have a nice family. I imagine you have a good +time with your father and mother.” + +“Oh, we do,” laughed Betty. “But we children do what they say–only we’re +‘reasoned with’,” and Betty pursed up her mouth. + +“Probably they think you have some brains,” said Kathryn. “I’m not sure +that my Dad thinks I have any. I’d better make a few more prominent, +don’t you think so, Carolyn?” + +“It wouldn’t hurt any.” + +The afternoon was going on wings, Peggy said, as some one from the house +looked out and Peggy called to ask the time. “That was only to know +about refreshments,” she explained. “Will the mermaids now turn +themselves into summer girls again and get their frocks on? We’ll go up +the back way to the bath room and take turns at the shower. Then we’ll +dress where we undressed, and have lunch in the arbor.” + +That was a pleasing outlook. The mermaids followed directions and +presently a cool arbor back of the pool was the scene of light +refreshments being served to the group of Peggy Pollard’s friends. Peggy +herself ladled out the iced lemonade from the punch bowl. “Please drink +all that you want, girls; I can’t seem to get enough myself.” + +A wood thrush sang from the thicket near them, and they heard a meadow +lark from out toward Carolyn’s. “Can you realize, girls, that tomorrow +we get our grade cards and won’t be freshmen any longer?” Kathryn waved +her pretty glass of lemonade as she spoke. + +“That is so,” said Betty. “I’ll not be Betty Lee, freshman, but Betty +Lee, SOPHOMORE! I presume that I _will_ receive a card since I escaped +examinations!” + +“It must be so,” dramatically cried Mary Emma in an exaggerated style, +reminiscent of a ridiculous skit made up by the Girl Reserves, almost +impromptu, when necessity called for a longer program. “Hail to the +Sophomores! I will meet you at the witching hour of school time, +tomorrow morning!” + +“Come down from the high horse, Mary Emma, dear,” said Peggy, “and +accept this plate of fudge.” + +“Thank you,” said Mary Emma, putting the plate down beside her as if she +thought it all for her. But she selected a piece and passed on the +plate. They must really start pretty soon, yet it was such fun to be +together. + +“Peggy, I’ve had a glorious time and I’m sorry that it’s over. See you +tomorrow morning at school. ’Bye, Peggy.” + +“’Bye, Betty.” + + “’Bye little Betty, don’t you cry, + You’ll be a Soph’more by and by!” + +So sang Kathryn, who followed Betty in farewells, and made room for +several others not quite so intimate with Peggy. “There is your car, +Betty,” she said a little later. “I’m going to be home a good deal this +summer. Let’s try to see each other.” + +“Let’s,” warmly returned Betty, as she prepared to catch the car. “We +can manage it, I’m sure. Goodbye, Kathryn, till I see you in the +morning.” + +THE END + + + + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BETTY LEE, FRESHMAN *** + +***** This file should be named 34605-0.txt or 34605-0.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/4/6/0/34605/ + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will +be renamed. + +Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright +law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, +so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the +United States without permission and without paying copyright +royalties. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part +of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm +concept and trademark. 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You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms +of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online +at <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. If you +are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the +country where you are located before using this eBook. +</div> +<div style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Title: Betty Lee, Freshman</div> +<div style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Author: Harriet Pyne Grove</div> +<div style='display:block;margin:1em 0'>Release Date: December 08, 2010 [eBook #34605]</div> +<div style='display:block;margin:1em 0'>Language: English</div> +<div style='display:block;margin:1em 0'>Character set encoding: UTF-8</div> +<div style='display:block; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Produced by: Roger Frank and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team</div> +<div style='margin-top:2em;margin-bottom:4em'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BETTY LEE, FRESHMAN ***</div> + +<div class="align-center line-block"> +<div class="line"><br/></div> +<div class="line"><br/></div> +</div> +<h1>BETTY LEE, FRESHMAN</h1> +<p class="align-center">By</p> +<p class="align-center">HARRIET PYNE GROVE</p> +<p> +<img alt="images/illus-emb.jpg" class="align-center" src="images/illus-emb.jpg"/> +</p> +<p class="align-center">THE WORLD SYNDICATE PUBLISHING CO.</p> +<p class="align-center">Cleveland, Ohio –– New York City</p> +<div class="align-center line-block"> +<div class="line"><br/></div> +<div class="line"><br/></div> +</div> +<p class="align-center">Copyright, 1931</p> +<p class="align-center">by</p> +<p class="align-center">THE WORLD SYNDICATE PUBLISHING CO.</p> +<p> +<img alt="images/illus-em2.jpg" class="align-center" src="images/illus-em2.jpg"/> +</p> +<p class="align-center"><em>Printed in the United States of America</em></p> +<div class="align-center line-block"> +<div class="line"><br/></div> +<div class="line"><br/></div> +</div> + +<hr class="pbr"/> + +<div class="section" id="contents"> +<h2 class="title section-title level-2">Table of Contents</h2> +<ul class="simple"> +<li class="toc-entry"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#chapter-i-betty-lees-most-moving-adventure" id="id1">CHAPTER I: BETTY LEE’S MOST MOVING ADVENTURE</a></li> +<li class="toc-entry"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#chapter-ii-betty-meets-responsibility-and-a-trial-of-patience" id="id2">CHAPTER II: BETTY MEETS RESPONSIBILITY AND A TRIAL OF PATIENCE</a></li> +<li class="toc-entry"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#chapter-iii-the-fateful-day" id="id3">CHAPTER III: “THE FATEFUL DAY”</a></li> +<li class="toc-entry"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#chapter-iv-a-real-freshman-at-last" id="id4">CHAPTER IV: A REAL FRESHMAN AT LAST</a></li> +<li class="toc-entry"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#chapter-v-janet-hears-from-betty" id="id5">CHAPTER V: JANET HEARS FROM BETTY</a></li> +<li class="toc-entry"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#chapter-vi-friends-and-fun" id="id6">CHAPTER VI: FRIENDS AND FUN</a></li> +<li class="toc-entry"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#chapter-vii-carolyns-garden-party" id="id7">CHAPTER VII: CAROLYN’S GARDEN PARTY</a></li> +<li class="toc-entry"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#chapter-viii-betty-hears-the-lions-roar" id="id8">CHAPTER VIII: BETTY HEARS THE LIONS ROAR</a></li> +<li class="toc-entry"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#chapter-ix-showing-off-lyon-high" id="id9">CHAPTER IX: SHOWING OFF LYON HIGH</a></li> +<li class="toc-entry"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#chapter-x-more-festivities" id="id10">CHAPTER X: MORE FESTIVITIES</a></li> +<li class="toc-entry"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#chapter-xi-the-surprise-party" id="id11">CHAPTER XI: THE “SURPRISE” PARTY</a></li> +<li class="toc-entry"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#chapter-xii-a-change-of-plan" id="id12">CHAPTER XII: A CHANGE OF PLAN</a></li> +<li class="toc-entry"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#chapter-xiii-betty-meets-trouble" id="id13">CHAPTER XIII: BETTY MEETS TROUBLE</a></li> +<li class="toc-entry"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#chapter-xiv-sent-to-the-principal" id="id14">CHAPTER XIV: SENT TO THE PRINCIPAL</a></li> +<li class="toc-entry"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#chapter-xv-detective-work" id="id15">CHAPTER XV: DETECTIVE WORK</a></li> +<li class="toc-entry"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#chapter-xvi-some-freshman-conclusions" id="id16">CHAPTER XVI: SOME FRESHMAN CONCLUSIONS</a></li> +<li class="toc-entry"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#chapter-xvii-spring-at-lyon-high" id="id17">CHAPTER XVII: SPRING AT LYON HIGH</a></li> +</ul> +</div> +<!-- --> +<blockquote><div> +<div class="line-block"> +<div class="line"><br/></div> +<div class="line"><br/></div> +</div> +</div></blockquote> +<div class="section" id="chapter-i-betty-lees-most-moving-adventure"> +<h2 class="title section-title level-2"><a class="toc-backref pginternal" href="#id1">CHAPTER I: BETTY LEE’S MOST MOVING ADVENTURE</a></h2> +<p>Betty Lee, aged almost fourteen, was dressing +for travel. She both dreaded and anticipated +the day and smiled at her reflection in +the mirror as it looked at her with eyes as bright +as stars, cheeks pink from excitement and lips a +little apart. That <em>was</em> a pretty and becoming +suit, “ducky,” her chum had called it. Now +for the new hat, to be put on over short, sunny, +wavy locks that didn’t have to have anything +done to them to make them so. That again was +what Janet Light said, pretending to be envious.</p> +<p>Betty’s hands trembled a little as she adjusted +the hat. She could not help hurrying, +though her aunt, Mrs. Royce, had told her to +take her time now. “Don’t get all fussed and +excited before you start,” Aunt Jo had said.</p> +<p>The twins, Dick and Doris, aged twelve, were +already downstairs eating breakfast. Betty had +helped Dick with his tie and rounded up several +articles for Doris before she could finish her +own toilet, but it was a comfort to be alone for +a little.</p> +<p>From the bathroom came the sounds of +splashing and the merry laugh of Amy Louise, +the little four-year-old. With the promise of +“going to see Mamma,” Amy Lou would let +anybody do anything this morning, though she +had been insisting upon Betty’s dressing her as +a rule, in this trying interim.</p> +<p>The cause of all this early morning excitement +was that Betty Lee’s family was moving +from the home and town in which they had +lived ever since Betty could remember. A new +home was being established in the city where an +unexpected business opportunity had developed +for her father.</p> +<p>Mrs. Lee had hurried to join her husband as +soon as the goods were ready to be moved by +truck. She must give the final word about such +locations as Mr. Lee was able to find. With +breath-taking swiftness, it seemed to Betty, her +old home had been stripped of its furniture and +seemed like a different place. Temporary headquarters +were made with Aunt Jo Royce, Mr. +Lee’s sister, and at her home the children were +staying in the absence of their mother.</p> +<p>But word had come by telegram. Mrs. Royce +could not accompany them to the city. It was +Betty’s responsibility to manage the most important +transfer of all, that of the Lee children; +and it loomed rather large to her, as she managed +to swallow the soft-boiled egg, all fixed +for her by Lucy Baxter, who lived with her +aunt. But she wished that Lucy would not say +again what she had said more than once already, +with a mournful air.</p> +<p>“It’s <em>just as well</em> that your house ain’t sold +yet, I say. Cities don’t always pan out, as I’ve +told your ma. You remember when Mel Haswell +went to Noo York, how quick he come back, +don’t you?”</p> +<p>“Yes, Lucy,” Betty replied pleasantly, though +she wished again that Lucy would not always +appeal to somebody for the truth of her remarks. +You had to say something. That was +expected of you. As if her father were anything +like Mel Haswell!</p> +<p>But Lucy’s cup of cocoa was just right and +the toast was golden. Betty felt ashamed of +her annoyance and told Lucy that she was a +dear to get them such a good breakfast at that +unearthly hour. “I ’spect we’ll be back in Buxton +many times, Lucy. You may get tired of +us.” Hurriedly she finished her breakfast, saying +that she had “promised to stop for the +girls;” and with rapid steps she ran upstairs +again, to gather up her coat, umbrella and +pocketbook, and to see if the last articles were +packed.</p> +<p>“Run along, Betty,” said Aunt Jo, as Betty +ran in to see if she were needed. “We’ll bring +the luggage. Amy Lou was such a good girl +and is almost ready. See, sister, I’m putting +on the dress she likes best!”</p> +<p>This was for the benefit of Amy Louise, who +might insist on accompanying Betty unless +diverted.</p> +<p>“Ought I?” asked Betty, hesitating. She did +not want her aunt to have it too hard at the +last. But Amy Lou was having the dress put +over her head and it was a good time to vanish. +Vanish Betty did at a nod from her aunt. +Stopping to say goodbye to Lucy, and seeing +that Dick and Doris were out for a farewell to +Aunt Jo’s private menagerie of a few chickens +and two handsome dogs, Betty ran out of the +front door to the street.</p> +<p>People at Buxton rose early. Milk bottles +were being taken in and screen doors were +opening or closing; but Betty met no one, as +she sped toward Janet’s home, except a boy +driving an old grocery wagon. Somebody might +want something for breakfast. Bill was on his +way to open up and start things at the store.</p> +<p>The faithful old horse was pulled up suddenly. +“Hello, Betty, going to leave this morning?”</p> +<p>Betty halted, though still moving slowly. +“Yes; the rest of us are going on the morning +train, Bill.” She smiled up at the big lad, who +was a junior in high school. Betty did not +know him very well, though to be sure all the +high school and grade pupils knew each other +and each other’s families more or less.</p> +<p>“Sorry you’re going, Betty. I s’pose you’re +in a hurry, though. So long, Betty. Don’t forget +the old town.” Bill started the horse with +a flap of the reins as he spoke.</p> +<p>“Never,” returned Betty, nodding a farewell +and hurrying on. Was she really going to leave–forever? +She looked down the quiet street +ahead of her. Trees beautiful and green allowed +their branches to meet over the unpaved road. +Homes with large yards displayed trees, shrubbery +and flowers, though so late for many of +them. It was all so familiar that she had forgotten +how it did look!</p> +<p>Betty almost felt like taking a turn around +the block for a last look at their own home; but +she thought of the curtainless windows, the +desolate yard and the empty swing under the +elm trees. No, thank you! Betty sniffed and +fumbled in her pocketbook for a handkerchief. +Was she going to cry now? Not a bit of it! +She had to keep up before the girls. Bounding +a corner, there she was at Janet’s. Janet had +cried last night. It wasn’t real. She was in a +dream!</p> +<p>And Betty had had her dreams, like all girls +of her age. The little town of Buxton was not +a rich one. It was not even in a good farming +center, nor was it a county seat. Two good +school buildings and some churches were its +chief ornaments, architecturally. Among the +people, as always, there were the good element +and the bad or shiftless element. Yet some very +fine people had found a home there and among +them were the friends of Betty Lee’s family. +It was quiet. It was fairly safe. Betty, protected +by the oversight of a sensible yet +idealistic mother, was a happy girl, interested +in everything and ambitious in school, whose +activities were always prominent and whose +teachers held the respect of the community. +Betty would probably marry one of the boys +some day, as she had seen older girls do, and +settle down. Perhaps she could go away to +school for a year or two. If she couldn’t, there +were always books and music and friends, nice +things to do and dear people to love. Vague +thoughts like this about the future were in her +mind when she thought about it at all. Her +father and mother were her standards of excellence; +and therein lay much safety, since those +two were wise and self-controlled.</p> +<p>And now, so unexpectedly, there was this +bewildering change to city life. It was exciting +to think about it and yet Betty could not foresee +the changes it was going to make in her whole +adventure of living. For in the new and in +many ways very superior school to which she +was going, new friends, with work, play, perplexity, +even mystery, perhaps, and a wider +choice of opportunity waited for this wholesome, +attractive Betty Lee. To say the least, +life was not going to be dull, and this Betty felt.</p> +<p>“No, there’s something about Betty Lee.” +Janet Light was saying to Sue Miller. “I don’t +believe that she ‘will be lost in the multitude,’ +as she says. Her teachers will <em>notice</em> her at +least. I’d pick Betty out in a thousand!”</p> +<p>“Oh, that’s natural. You’re her chum. But +isn’t she sort of scared to go to such a big +school?”</p> +<p>“No, I don’t think Betty’s scared. Of course–you +know Betty. She wouldn’t want to show +it if she were. I think that she’s really crazy +about going; but you can imagine how she’d +feel, dread it a little. I only wish I could go–that +is, if I could take everybody along!”</p> +<p>“Yes. It’s wonderful even to travel to a city; +but to live there!”</p> +<p>“Oh, I don’t know,” remarked Janet, taking +a new tack. “You couldn’t get into the country +so much.”</p> +<p>“You could if you had a car.”</p> +<p>“If is a big word, Sue. Betty said her father +had to have something different from the old +machine now, but he’ll be in business most of +the time.”</p> +<p>The two girls were sitting on the Light porch, +waiting for Betty and talking as fast as girls +can when there is some interesting subject. To +Janet the departure of her dearest chum was +more or less upsetting. Sue was not so intimate +and Betty had never had any suspicion of the +admiration with which Sue regarded her. She +was really surprised that Sue wanted to see her +off, with Janet.</p> +<p>“It’s pretty cool this morning,” Sue inserted, +throwing her light coat around her shoulders. +“I nearly melted yesterday when I came on the +train from Grandma’s. But it wasn’t much of +a ride.” Sue was thinking that her little trip +was nothing in comparison with Betty’s coming +day of travel.</p> +<p>“It was that big rain and the wind yesterday +that changed things. I was over with Betty till +late because it rained so hard all evening. +That’s why I could hardly wake up this morning. +It’s a good thing you were to stop for me, +for Mother didn’t call me. She forgot.”</p> +<p>“I just <em>happened</em> to telephone you before I +started, thought maybe you’d rather go down +to Mrs. Royce’s.”</p> +<p>“Lucky you did. But no, I thought there +would be so much confusion with everybody +hurrying perhaps, and Betty said she would be +sure to stop. It’s right on the way to the station +anyhow.” With this, Janet ran in for the second +time, to see if it were getting anywhere near +train time. “No, there’s loads of time,” she +reported.</p> +<p>“The rain was why I didn’t get to see Betty +at all,” Sue explained. “I had a headache and +lay down after I came home; and at supper–at +<em>supper</em>, mind you, Mother <em>happened to tell me</em> +about how the Lees were moving to the city! +It had all gone on while I was at Grandma’s and +nobody ever told me a word! Of course, I +wasn’t writing to anybody, not even Mother but +once. She and Grandma exchange letters every +week, though.”</p> +<p>“It was in the paper and I suppose everybody +thought you knew. Betty was in too much of +a whirl. Her mother’s only written cards, and +just a telegram came, saying which train they +were to take. Betty does not even know the +address of where she’s going!”</p> +<p>“How could the goods go down, then? Somebody +had to know.”</p> +<p>“I think the truckman was to telephone the +boarding house or office or some place after he +reached the city, to find out where to take the +goods.”</p> +<p>“I should think that Mrs. Lee would have +wanted Betty to help get settled.”</p> +<p>“She was going to hire some one to put it +through, in a hurry. Besides, Mrs. Royce +couldn’t manage Amy Louise without Betty. As +it was, she made a dreadful fuss.”</p> +<p>“I suppose so. But Betty spoils her, too.”</p> +<p>“Not so much. When Betty says, ‘Amy Louise +Lee’, in that way of hers. Amy Lou pays attention.”</p> +<p>“How old is Betty anyway?”</p> +<p>“She’ll be fourteen in December. Don’t you +remember her birthday party last year?”</p> +<p>“That’s so. Oh, here’s Betty! ’Lo there, +Betty Lee!”</p> +<p>Sue ran down to meet Betty, who walked +briskly around the corner and to the open gate; +for Janet’s home, like Betty’s, actually had a +fence! With a little squeeze and kiss, Sue led +Betty to the porch, where Janet, smiling, +waited. “I would have felt awful, Betty,” cried +Sue, “not to have had a glimpse of you! I +never knew a word about it.”</p> +<p>“It was a shame, Sue; but you can just +imagine how it’s been. I haven’t known whether +I was on my head or my feet.”</p> +<p>“Of course. What a pretty suit you have, all +blue, your color, Betty, and hat to match and +everything–even gloves, Janet!”</p> +<p>Betty laughed at that. “I’ll probably not +have them on much, with Amy Lou to take care +of. I’m glad you like my things. Auntie drove +me clear to Columbus to shop. You see I’ve +had to get ready for school, too, for it begins +almost as soon as I get there. Won’t it be +terrible to learn what street cars to take and +everything, unless Father can drive me to +school?”</p> +<p>“Aren’t you awfully excited, Betty?”</p> +<p>“I suppose I am. But all I can think of right +now is getting through this trip with Amy Lou. +She never was on a train before, if she is four +years old; so I don’t know what she will do. +But I’m hoping that she will be shy, the way +she is when strangers are around, and she may +sleep since we’ve been up so early. I think we’d +better walk along, girls. I’ll go in and say goodbye +to the folks, Janet.”</p> +<p>Betty was in the house a few minutes only. +Then they strolled toward the little railroad +station, only a short distance of a few blocks. +Several people came along, to see Betty and +stop, shaking hands and saying goodbye. Ahead +of them walked Aunt Jo with the littlest Lee, +while Doris was accompanied by three girls of +about her own age, and a freckled-faced boy +scampered on in advance, with Dick. “I wondered +what had become of Billy,” said Janet, +recognizing her brother.</p> +<p>Soon they stood in partly separated groups +on the small platform. Amy Lou started back +after the cat, but was rescued in time by her +aunt’s restraining hand. To permit Betty and +the other children last words with their friend, +capable Aunt Jo walked up and down now with +the child, showing her what little there was to +see and making up a story about the rails. Distracted +as Betty was, she kept in mind a picture +of these last details.</p> +<p>“Oh, dear, Betty,” said Sue, as train time +drew near at hand, “you are not going to forget +us, are you?”</p> +<p>“Forget you–I should say not! Forget the +girls I’ve been with since the first grade in +school!” Betty held out a warm hand to each, +as they stood closely now. She and Janet exchanged +a smiling look. They had been all over +that phase the night before.</p> +<p>“But it can never be the same,” mourned Sue.</p> +<p>“Maybe it will be better!” brightly suggested +Betty. “You’ll both come down to visit me in +vacations and I’ll take you all around–that is, +if I ever learn to get around everywhere myself.”</p> +<p>“That would be wonderful–if it could +happen. Maybe I wouldn’t be allowed to go, +though.”</p> +<p>“Oh, yes! We get older every year, you know.”</p> +<p>Sue looked doubtful. Money was scarce in +Sue’s home. It did not roll in at the village +store which her father kept.</p> +<p>“Brace up, Susie,” laughingly said Janet. +“We must send Betty off with nothing but good +wishes. Let’s not begin to mourn now. That’s +what Mother told me last night, and I pass it +on to you.”</p> +<p>“All right, Janet. You’re right. Good luck +and a grand time, Betty. Mercy! There’s the +train tooting now and I haven’t said goodbye +to the rest!”</p> +<p>Betty made a dash for Amy Louise, to hold +her hand firmly. Last goodbyes were said. +Dick and Doris gathered up the bags while the +train rounded the curve at a little distance. The +freckled lad soberly regarded Dick as he said, +“Well, so long, Dick. So long, Doris;” and Doris +was being embraced by the excited little girls, +who followed the travelers and tried not to get +in the way of various small trucks.</p> +<p>“Help Betty all you can, Dick,” advised Mrs. +Royce, handing an extra piece of baggage up +to Dick, who was last to board the train. “Remember +that I shall want a card mailed at once +to make sure of your safety. If anything goes +wrong, send a telegram.”</p> +<p>Dick, grinning, feeling not a little important +with his manly duties, nodded and disappeared +after his sisters. The group on the platform, +watching the windows, were presently rewarded +by seeing smiling faces. Dick was trying to +put up a window, but without success; or possibly +the others were too impatient to wait for +him to find out how to do it.</p> +<p>Amy Louise, her light hair and childish face +framed in a hat that was now pushed back in +the effort to see, smiled and threw kisses. She +had no regrets. She was on her way to her +mother. Betty’s face looked brightly out above +Amy Louise, and there were Doris and Dick, +the blessed twins! Aunt Jo tried not to show +the anxiety she felt. But Betty would see it +through!</p> +<p>There went the clanging bell. Now the train +started. Now they were gone; and the small +group on the platform turned away with that +odd, lost feeling that comes when something is +over.</p> +<p>The freckle-faced lad scampered away alone. +Mrs. Royce, after exchanging pleasant words +with the girls, hurried homeward with her +thoughts. The rest scattered. School was opening +for them, too. There would be plenty of +activities to take up their time and interest. +Janet and Sue would report to the other girls +how they saw Betty Lee off that early morning. +And they all would laugh over one quoted +speech of Betty’s when she said, “I imagine, +girls, that this is my most <em>moving</em> adventure!”</p> +</div> +<div class="section" id="chapter-ii-betty-meets-responsibility-and-a-trial-of-patience"> +<h2 class="title section-title level-2"><a class="toc-backref pginternal" href="#id2">CHAPTER II: BETTY MEETS RESPONSIBILITY AND A TRIAL OF PATIENCE</a></h2> +<p>Whatever puns, good or bad, Betty might +make on this unaccustomed adventure of hers, +she was more accustomed to the little responsibilities +that fall to the eldest child in a normal +family than only children could be; and these +in a measure had prepared her for this trip. As +soon as they were settled in their seats, it all +seemed natural enough. Proper conduct in +public was a matter of natural pride with this +family, with the possible exception of Amy +Louise, who had not reached the age of entire +self control! Dick was hoping that she would +not do anything to embarrass them, for she +sometimes howled when she could not do what +she wanted to do.</p> +<p>Betty, across the aisle from Dick and Doris, +gave Dick an understanding look and a smile +when he gave Doris the seat next to the window. +Dick appeared not to notice this, but he felt +that he was a pretty good protector of the girls +when necessary. Betty need not think that she +was the only one who could do things. And +Betty was thinking that Dick was going to be a +great help. The worst would be changing cars +at the first city.</p> +<p>Clutching the tickets, Betty had them ready +when the conductor came along. He lived in +their town and knew her father. It had been +a blow to the little town when a railroad line +took off all but one passenger train each way, +with a few freight trains.</p> +<p>“Oh, yes,” cheerily said the conductor, “you’re +going away for good now. Your father told me +to look after you when you came along.” The +tickets were being punched and given back to +Betty.</p> +<p>“Don’t lose your tickets and you’ll be all +right. No you don’t change stations. Anything +you want to know you can ask about at the +window marked ‘information.’ But outside you’ll +find the train notices, and a light come on when +the train is in. When you get off, you’d better +get a red-cap to take your bags up for you.”</p> +<p>Betty had a hazy notion of what was meant, +though she had visited the city where they were +to change cars, it was very different, however, +to follow some one else without noticing how +it was managed. She determined to keep her +eyes open on future trips. Well, there was no +use in worrying, but she wasn’t going to trust +the bags to any porter. They could carry what +they had. Also, they would stay together, as +Aunt Jo had advised, with no expeditions here +and there while they waited for their second +train. In this case ignorance was not bliss, for +what would have been perfectly simple to an +experienced traveler was a matter for serious +consideration to Betty.</p> +<p>Fortunately, Amy Lou was angelic. Fascinated +by the kaleidoscope of scenery, she +watched it happily; and when they left the train +she willingly clung to Betty’s hand, saying, “I +don’t want to get losted, do I?” She nearly +went to sleep in the station during their long +wait, but Dick came to the rescue with some +entertainment, just as Betty was having visions +of having to carry a heavy Amy Lou to the train.</p> +<p>At last they were established on the right +train for the city for which, they were bound and +Betty breathed a sigh of relief. Nothing but a +wreck could keep them from home now, she told +Dick.</p> +<p>“‘Home!’” repeated Dick, pursing his lips.</p> +<p>“Well,” argued Doris, “Betty’s right. It’ll +be home, even if we’ve never seen it.”</p> +<p>“Wherever Mother and Father are, it’s home, +isn’t it?” and Betty’s dimples showed as she +spoke.</p> +<p>“You win,” grinned Dick, suggesting that +Aunt Jo’s lunch be served.</p> +<p>They all did their best, but the last hours +were trying after little naps were over and +time was dragging for them all, unaccustomed +as they were to long train rides. When they +were feeling that they could not stand it any +longer and Amy Lou was beginning to be fractious, +they drew into the suburbs of the “city +of our dreams,” as Doris sarcastically remarked. +But interest revived and Dick told the +youngest sister to watch for the place where +they would find their mother. It was a happy +suggestion, particularly for Betty, who was +thinking that patience would cease to be a virtue +pretty soon, if she had to keep the child in check +much longer.</p> +<p>At last the crowds were in the aisles. The +train stopped with its accustomed jerk. The +tiresome day was almost over.</p> +<p>Which way should they go? The direction of +the crowd settled that question for them, but +where would they find Father? They avoided +little baggage trucks that ran about and looked +like hand-cars off the track. Here were iron +gates where Dick, at Betty’s suggestion, inquired +the way to the waiting room, where they +found “Information” again. By this time Betty +was worried. Where could her father be?</p> +<p>For the sake of the rest, she made herself +keep calm and cheerful and Dick suggested that +it was not easy to get around in a city. Probably +they would be there pretty soon.</p> +<p>“I hope they know the train we’re coming +on,” said Doris. “I <em>told</em> you, Betty, that we +ought to telegraph.”</p> +<p>“<em>They</em> told <em>us</em> the day and the train, Doris,” +firmly said Betty. But Betty looked apprehensively +at some of the people in the room. There +was a much better room upstairs, but Betty did +not know that and there was no one to tell her.</p> +<p>Finally Amy Lou began to cry. That was the +last straw. Betty hunted for what addresses +she had and made her way again to +“Information.” She wondered if she had enough +money to pay for a taxi. And did you pay for +everyone, or was it some other way? Dick was +scouting around outside now. He could find out +things. Boys always could.</p> +<p>Then all at once darkness changed to light, +figuratively speaking. Before she had made an +inquiry, she heard a squeal from Amy Lou and +turned to see if Doris were having trouble with +her. But it had been a happy squeal, not a +cross one. There was Father, with his baby +in his arms and Doris holding to one hand! A +very thankful girl ran back to her family.</p> +<p>“I’m so sorry, Betty,” said Mr. Lee, “that +you have had this wait and worry. I had expected +to meet you right at the train and take +you to our own car. Come on. We’ll talk after +we get started. It was an important business +conference and I could not leave early. Then +traffic was heavy and it was farther to the +station from our office that I thought. That was +all.”</p> +<p>Watching for trucks, street-cars and machines +of all sorts, they made their way to +where the new car was parked. Exclamations +of delight pleased Mr. Lee. Dick wanted to know +all about it. It was not of a highly expensive +make, but as their father said, it would hold +them all. “I almost need a smaller one, too,” +said he, explaining, “though I’m not on the sales +end of affairs. They’ve done me the honor to +put me among the executives, kiddies, and ask +me to tell how I managed to do so well in my +little factory. I told the president, that it was +nothing, only quality of goods and good management; +but he had me discuss products and +management at this conference.”</p> +<p>“Good for you, Pop!” said Dick.</p> +<p>“But I’m going to ask you all to help me, +children. To make this change and to live in a +city is going to draw heavily on what I had +saved. In fact, there isn’t any too much left, +except some property in the home town. So +don’t get any big ideas of what we can do here +in the way of living like some of the people you +will see.”</p> +<p>“Aren’t there any folks just like us, Papa?” +asked Doris, rather bewildered. They had +started now and slowly Mr. Lee was driving the +car, up a hill and behind an immense truck.</p> +<p>“Plenty of them, Doris, and thousands not +half so well off.”</p> +<p>The children were now too much interested +in their surroundings to ask questions. Their +father explained a little about some of the +streets through which they passed, and pointed +out some of the buildings, though he was not +yet familiar with the city and was compelled to +keep to well-known thoroughfares on his way +out to the suburb where they were to live. “This +is what they call ‘downtown,’” said he. “When +your mother and I considered locations near we +found nothing suitable. So we are out where +we can have a few flowers in the yard at least.”</p> +<p>Betty looked with “all her eyes,” as she said. +Streams of cars filled the streets. Her father +watched the lights carefully and was prepared +to get out of the way when a reckless driver +shot in front of him, almost shaving a street car. +“Hey, you!” exclaimed Dick, but the man could +not hear. “Why, if you hadn’t swerved to the +right that fellow would have hit us!”</p> +<p>“Yes, Dick. He was either intoxicated, or just +reckless. There are many such in the city.”</p> +<p>But in spite of what tired Betty considered +several narrow escapes, they successfully +reached the suburb desired, where rows of +houses, some of brick, some of frame, some of +stone, had a bit of yard in front and behind; +and on the porch of one there stood a slender +and familiar figure.</p> +<p>“Mamma!” cried Amy Lou, wiggling down +from between Betty and Doris. But Betty kept +a stout hold upon her little sister until the car +stopped in front. “I’ll let you girls out here,” +said Mr. Lee, “but Dick may come with me to +the garage.”</p> +<p>Amy Louise flew to her mother, while the +other two girls walked briskly up the short distance +from the barberry hedge to the porch. The +house was of brick, well-built and attractive. +“Why, this is real nice, Mother!” exclaimed +Betty, the last to be embraced, but as warmly +welcomed. Betty was trying to remember to +call her parents Father and Mother, since some +one had told her it was more dignified.</p> +<p>They entered a hall of fair size, then a large +front room with a big window in it, the piano +in the right spot, a fireplace–why, it would be +home after all! Familiar rugs and furniture +met Betty’s eyes. Of them her last view had +been what Betty called “ghastly,” all done up +ready to be moved in that horrid truck. But the +“horrid truck” had brought them unmarred to +their present position. Here were all of their +treasures–and each other.</p> +<p>“I don’t believe, after all, Mother,” said she, +looking around, “that <em>walls</em> make so, so <em>much</em> +difference!”</p> +<p>“Not with our own pictures on them,” replied +Mother, understanding. “I wish that all you +could have helped me decide where to put +things; but if you girls think of any good +changes, we shall make them.”</p> +<p>“Did you have a very dreadful time to find +a place?” asked Doris.</p> +<p>“It was not easy. An apartment house did not +seem to be the best place for children. This is +not one of the most modern houses, but there +are enough bedrooms, hard to find, and something +of a kitchen. I could not imagine myself +cooking for this family in some of the tiny +kitchenettes we saw. We shall be comfortable, +I think.</p> +<p>“We have the whole first floor. It is just a +big house made into two apartments or flats. +Only two people are above us. There are two +furnaces and we have our own gas and electricity. +We are to look after the yard. +Running the lawn mower will be Dick’s job.” Mrs. +Lee looked teasingly at Dick as she spoke.</p> +<p>“I thought I’d get out of that in a city,” returned +Dick; but he did not seem to mind the +proposition very much. He was still thinking +of the new car, though he had been content to +leave more detailed examinations until the next +day. “The thing that’s most like home,” continued +Dick, “is that good smell of cooking in +an oven somewhere. Is it a roast, Mother? +Yes, and I smell cookies!”</p> +<p>“Right, son,” and Mrs. Lee led the way to the +kitchen, where cookies still warm from the +baking were to be nibbled by hungry travelers. +They would still have things to eat in the city!</p> +<p>Still further investigation disclosed a “den,” +which had become a sleeping room for Dick; a +dressing room off the main bedroom, making +a safe and cosy place for Amy Lou’s bed, and a +good bedroom for Doris and Betty. A large +bathroom was at the end of the hall. “You +haven’t any idea, children, how thankful I was +to find this, with enough room, all on one floor, +and nice and clean, with new plumbing!”</p> +<p>Betty looked thoughtfully at her mother. It +was new to her to think about homes, which, +so far as she had ever thought, grew upon +bushes. And that rent was terrible. Wouldn’t +it take more than Papa earned? Her mother +assured her that it would not, but remarked that +the increase in income did not amount to as +much as they had supposed, because of increased +expenses.</p> +<p>“Let’s go back,” said Betty, reacting to her +first lesson in economic lines. But she was +laughing.</p> +<p>“You know you wouldn’t do it for anything, +Betty Lee,” cried Doris. “I’m just as glad as +I can be. Won’t it be great to go to all these +wonderful places?” This was after their mother +had suddenly left them in their room, to answer +a call from her husband.</p> +<p>“Yes,” sighed Betty, “but now listen, Doris–please +don’t begin by throwing your things all +around. We’ve a big closet, anyhow; but do +let’s keep things straight as we can!”</p> +<p>“You can, if you want to. I’m getting into +my bathrobe the quickest I can,” and Doris +kicked a shoe under the bed.</p> +<p>“I suppose you are tired,” and Betty sighed +again. “I don’t really care, either. It’s certainly +good to pass Amy Lou over to Mother.”</p> +<p>“She could have been worse coming down, but +I’m glad I’m not the oldest. She always gets +stubborn when <em>I</em> try to do anything with her.”</p> +<p>Betty felt like telling Doris that she did not +try the right way; but did not want to start +further argument and realized that her own disposition +was not in its best state after her day +of being “chief boss,” as Dick had put it several +times. Doris might take her hot bath first. +Then it would be tub for her and bed as soon +as possible after supper, which would be called +dinner now, Mother said. Happily it was the +week-end. There would be Saturday and Sunday +for getting settled, seeing the city and hearing +church music of the best. Then would come +Monday and school. What a vista for Betty +Lee! The future, though unknown, was enticing.</p> +</div> +<div class="section" id="chapter-iii-the-fateful-day"> +<h2 class="title section-title level-2"><a class="toc-backref pginternal" href="#id3">CHAPTER III: “THE FATEFUL DAY”</a></h2> +<p>The “fateful day,” as Betty’s father jokingly +called it, had arrived. On Monday morning +there were great stirrings in the Lee menage. +Betty’s mother was up early, getting everybody +else up on time, seeing that the school credentials +were at hand, ready to be taken by the +children and presented at the schools. Amy +Lou, fortunately, slept on, not waking until +everybody else was at the breakfast table.</p> +<p>Betty started to get up when a mournful wail +came from the bedroom. Amy Lou had been +Betty’s responsibility and she could not quite +realize that in school days now her first concern +was to be her lessons, as her mother’s custom +desired it to be, though in moments of stress, +Betty knew well, she was to be on the “relief +corps,” another of her father’s expressions.</p> +<p>“Not you this time, daughter,” said Mrs. Lee, +rising. “Finish your breakfast and be ready +when your father goes. You’d better take +charge of all the grades and give Doris and +Dick their papers when they get there.”</p> +<p>It was very exciting. What would the new +big school be like? Dick and Doris talked +steadily during breakfast. “If old Bill was just +here,” said Dick, “I’d give him the Merry Ha-ha +about our going to a junior high school!”</p> +<p>Doris settled her beads about her neck, looked +down at her neat frock, chosen as suitable by +her mother, then thrusting her napkin by her +plate, she scampered, unexcused, from the table, +to do last things.</p> +<p>Betty exchanged an amused glance with her +father, who rose and went out to bring up the +car. Betty hastily carried a few dishes, from +their places, to the kitchen, as Mrs. Lee came +out with a cross Amy Lou, and then ran off +herself to get ready.</p> +<p>It seemed no time at all before they were in +the car, driving to the school, which they had +seen only in passing. The morning traffic was +heavy and swift. Cars were making their rapid +way in the direction of “town.” Street cars +clattered. Trucks and buses avoided them by +inches only. Overhead there was the occasional +roar of a plane from the flying field.</p> +<p>At last they had reached the green campus of +the school. “I’m glad we go here,” said Doris, +“instead of to that school we saw where the +grounds are all gravel.”</p> +<p>“That was a new building, Doris,” said her +Dad, “the grounds are probably not finished.”</p> +<p>“I don’t think so, Papa,” returned Doris. +“You know how the school board man at home +said that there was no use in sodding our new +school grounds because the boys would spoil it +all playing ball and things. And they put gravel +on it, and every time you fell down running it +hurt like everything.”</p> +<p>Doris had no reply to this, for Mr. Lee was +stopping before the concrete sidewalk that bordered +the school grounds. “Hop out, children,” +said he. “I’m sorry that I can’t stop with you. +You know what the buildings are, however. Inquire +your way to the office of the principal, +you know. Sure you know what cars to take to +get home?”</p> +<p>“Yes, Father,” Betty answered. “Dick promised +to wait for Doris; so if they can’t find me +they’ll go home together. My, what a crowd!”</p> +<p>Mr. Lee glanced with some fatherly pride at +the little group of three that walked from the +car to the entrance of the grounds. There a +long walk, paved and lined with beautiful shrubbery, +led to the impressive front of the building +that spread so widely with its wings and corners. +Then he detached himself from the rest +of the cars that were either drawing up to discharge +pupils or were parked in a long row +along the curb. The Lee children were already +lost in the kaleidoscope of moving boys and +girls, of all ages, heights, and costumes, most +of them very nice-looking, Betty’s father +thought. He hoped that there would be no +trouble about their entrance papers. Mrs. Lee +could scarcely risk taking Amy Lou to the +school, and he had told her that the children +might just as well begin to depend on themselves, +even if the city was new to them.</p> +<p>Nevertheless, it would have been better if it +had been possible for a parent to accompany +them, and no one knew that better than Mr. Lee. +The hurry of their becoming settled had not +been easy for any of them and a city offered +many dangers, especially those of traffic. But +as the fever of hurry had not yet infected them, +it was likely that they would be careful in crossing +streets and would observe the traffic +regulations. He was glad to see that a traffic officer +had been stationed at the school crossing.</p> +<p>“We look as well as most of them,” said +Doris, though rather doubtfully, as she looked +admiringly at a tall girl who was strolling by +with a youth as tall as she. They were laughing +and talking and the girl was wearing a silk +dress as pretty and stylish, as light in color and +as good, as Betty’s “Sunday frock,” Doris said.</p> +<p>“Yes,” said Betty, “but there’s every sort, +and our pretty summer dresses that Mother +made look all right. There–see that awfully +pretty girl, Doris. Her green dress is trimmed +with white organdy exactly like your blue one!”</p> +<p>The two younger children left Betty to go +around to the entrance of their own separate +building. Betty handed each of them the envelope +with the respective credits and grades and +then went up the steps with her own in her hand. +Mercy, what a babel of voices! Betty stopped +still and looked around. Good! There were all +sorts of notices posted. She read them. That long +line of boys and girls must lead to the “office.”</p> +<p>“Freshmen go to Assembly Hall,” she read. +Now where was the “Assembly Hall?” Oh, that +must be it, where all those younger looking boys +and girls were going. She followed, joining the +stream of boys and girls that in groups or singly +entered the wide doors.</p> +<p>Oh, what a fine, big hall! Was this really a +public school? Facing her was the wide stage +with its handsome velvet curtains, and my, all +those pipes must be of a big pipe organ! Yes, +there was the place for the organist at the side.</p> +<p>Betty slipped into a seat. Some one was reading +names and telling them what to do. She +would sit there and listen. It was pleasantly +cool in the immense hall. Although it was morning, +the September day was already warm. +Betty felt a little confused, but soon concentrated +her attention upon what was going on. +Girls and boys were leaving the hall at times.</p> +<p>Finally she bethought herself of the fact that +her name could not possibly be read out, since +they had never heard of her. A girl who sat +beside her looked friendly. She would ask. Yes, +these were the names of all the freshmen who +were coming in from other schools or the junior +high right here. They had turned in their credits +and were assigned to “home rooms and so forth.”</p> +<p>Now what were “home rooms,” and what did +“and so forth” include? She could not ask the +person who was reading the names. She hated +to ask questions of any other pupil near her. +She would seem like such a “dummy.” But she +must find out what to do. She would go out and +see if she should go to the “office” first.</p> +<p>Quietly Betty slipped out of the seat and went +out into the noisy hall. She went near the door +and peeped into the office. Some one in the +line thought that she was going to get by and +nodded in the direction of the rear. It was a +“snippy” sort of a look, Betty thought, that this +girl directed toward her. Betty merely looked +at her with a contemplative gaze and nodded in +understanding. She would not say anything +either. She could see what was going on. That +was the principal, she supposed, busy with students. +There were several teachers or assistants +of some sort there. Yes, this must be what +she must do; besides, her father had told her +to go to the office. It was that sign that mislead +her. My, what a long line. Would she ever +get any attention from the principal? But Betty +walked back and took her place in line, intending +to ask some one in it what this line was “supposed +to be waiting for.”</p> +<p>But there were two or three boys, perfectly +strange to her, of course, just ahead of her. And +behold, two very tall lads walked up and took +their places behind her. The first one was such +a fine-looking boy, with a good face, indeed, +rather striking features, clear grey eyes, +“almost blue,” Betty thought, as she gave him +a quick glance. He was dressed suitably and +neatly, yet looked “very stylish,” Betty thought, +and a silk handkerchief peeped from his pocket. +The conversation of the two boys helped Betty +through the first part of her wearisome wait.</p> +<p>“Going in for athletics this year, Ted?” asked +the “other boy,” who was not quite so interesting, +Betty thought, though he had a pleasant +boyish, face, too. He was coatless and had his +shirt sleeves rolled up above his elbows. But +a neat tie finished his soft collar and he looked +as fresh and clean as possible.</p> +<p>“I don’t know what I’m going to do, Harry, +swimming, of course, and the usual gym work, +perhaps. But Mother wants me to be in the +orchestra this year and that takes a lot of time. +To tell the truth, I’d like to have a little time +for my lessons!”</p> +<p>“I’ve <em>got</em> to have,” assented Harry. “I worked +my freshman year, but last year wasn’t so good, +and Dad says he won’t stand for it. My grades +weren’t so bad, but you should have heard the +razzing I got! Dad took the card and went +through the grades out loud.</p> +<p>“‘That grade in English from the son of a +teacher!’</p> +<p>“‘Eighty in Latin, when you ought to have +had ninety at least!’</p> +<p>“I mustered up grit enough to tell him that +Latin was hard and that eighty was a pretty +good grade and that I hadn’t failed in anything. +But did that stop him? It did not.</p> +<p>“‘Fail! Fail? Hum! Mathematics, not so +bad. Pretty respectable showing in science,’–‘well, +make a better showing next year or I might +have to put you to work.’ He gave me a quizzical +smile, at least that is what Mother called +it, and handed me back my card. Gee, sometimes +I wish he <em>would</em> put me to work, but after +all, if you can get by with, your lessons, the old +place here looks pretty good.”</p> +<p>“I’ll say it does today. How long do you +suppose we’ll have to stand here?”</p> +<p>“Until after lunch time, that’s what.”</p> +<p>Betty, who had scarcely been able to keep +from laughing out when “Harry” had been +impersonating his father, so good and funny a +performance he had made of it, now sighed. +She was tired already. It was worse than waiting +in line at the one moving picture house +that their little town had boasted. She changed +her weight, a light one, from one foot to the +other. She fiddled with the long white envelope +in her hand and once opened it to peep inside +and make sure that its contents were still there.</p> +<p>But that was just the beginning. She held +her place in line, wondering what the two boys +to whose conversation she had listened were +there to do. Perhaps there had to be some +change in their work. But they talked about +everything else. Finally Betty thought she +would “just have to go and sit down somewhere +to rest,” but she kept standing in spite of her +real fatigue. She was toward the end of the +line and only two or three persons had followed +the boys at first; then a few scattered additions +had been made. A few in front had dropped out.</p> +<p>Finally some one came from the office to make +an announcement to the line. Only a few more +would be interviewed before lunch; and after +lunch, those who were new would be seen first. +Others need not take their place in line until +later, as all changes of schedule would be +handled later in the day.</p> +<p>Immediately the line ceased to be one, as its +components vanished. Betty again went into +the auditorium and sank into a seat to rest. +What was it that tired her so standing in line? +She was probably just sort of tired from everything, +all the change and excitement and the +responsibility of getting Amy Lou down on the +train, though, that hadn’t turned out to be so +bad. Luckily some one near her was discussing +lunch; for Betty was hungry and did not enjoy +the thought of going without what had always +been the family dinner. It had been easy enough +in the village for her father to come home from +his business and for the children to come from +school, returning in plenty of time for the afternoon +session. Now it would be different indeed. +Mother had said that dinner would be at night, +as Father would have his lunch down town; and +on the street car it would take the children +almost half an hour to reach home, to say +nothing of extra street-car fare. There was to +be lunch served at the school, they understood, +but would there be any today?</p> +<p>“No,” the girl behind her was saying in a low +tone, though the names had long since been read +out and the freshmen dismissed to the “home +rooms.” Only scattered groups of resting pupils +were here and there in the seats. Betty was in +the next to the last row and three girls had just +entered the last row together.</p> +<p>“I’m a wreck from standing in that line,” said +the first one, as she dropped into a seat. “Aren’t +they going to serve lunch today?”</p> +<p>Then came the answer, for which Betty +listened. “No; don’t you remember that we +never have lunch at first?”</p> +<p>“Well, I’ve only one year to remember, May, +and I never did get anything straight when I +was a freshman, at first anyhow.”</p> +<p>Betty’s heart warmed with a fellow feeling.</p> +<p>“I certainly wish that we could have one of +those good lunches, but I suppose it won’t kill +us to starve for once. Let’s go down to you +know where and get a Swiss chocolate sundae. +We can get back in time.”</p> +<p>“I’d rather not, May; besides I’ve only got +my street-car fare and ten cents, I think.”</p> +<p>“I’ll lend you some more,” suggested May.</p> +<p>“Can’t possible this time; too tired, besides. +There used to be a place opposite the school. +What’s become of that? I used to get chocolate +bars and sandwiches there.”</p> +<p>“New building across the street. Well, if you +aren’t going, I am. Shall I bring you something? +Maybe I’ll have a sandwich, too.”</p> +<p>“If you can get one for ten cents–no, here +are some coppers. Hurrah!”</p> +<p>Evidently the girl behind Betty was emptying +her store of small funds into the hand of the +other girl. There was giggling and a scrambling +after a copper that had dropped and +rolled. Then one girl left and the other strolled +over to join a group of girls by a window.</p> +<p>Betty wished that she had brought a chocolate +bar which by the irony of fate she had +taken out of her bag to leave it home! But +she could go without a meal if she had to do +it. She could get something to eat as soon as +she reached home.</p> +<p>Rested now, she thought she would go over +to the building which housed the junior high +school and see if Doris and Dick were also +waiting around. It was quite a little walk, or +seemed so to Betty, but it was interesting when +she reached the place and entered it. Scarcely +any children were to be seen. She walked +through vacant halls and decided that Doris and +Dick had already gone home. She hoped that +her mother would not be worried about her. +There was no way of getting her word, though +she had seen a telephone in the office. But of +course she could not use that.</p> +<p>Time slipped by in some fashion. She went +back to the auditorium, now about deserted. She +watched the time, determined to be one of the +first at the office door, and as all things come +to an end at last, she found herself talking to +a sober, dignified, yet kindly man in the office, +arranging her schedule or, more properly, +answering questions about the work she had +covered, and receiving a “slip” to present to her +“home room teacher” the next day.</p> +<p>It was all more or less puzzling to the young +freshman from away; but she understood the +next step and where she was to report on the +following day. That would have to be enough. +A somewhat breathless, excited, and very +hungry Betty reached home at about two o’clock +in the afternoon, welcomed by her mother as a +returning prodigal and directed to where she +would find the “fatted calf” or a more attractive +substitute.</p> +</div> +<div class="section" id="chapter-iv-a-real-freshman-at-last"> +<h2 class="title section-title level-2"><a class="toc-backref pginternal" href="#id4">CHAPTER IV: A REAL FRESHMAN AT LAST</a></h2> +<p>Mother suggested putting up a lunch for the +children on the second morning of school, but +Dick said that they would not need any. “One +of the kids said that we get out the same time +tomorrow,” said he. And Betty corroborated +Dick’s statement.</p> +<p>“I’ll not have to wait in line today, Mother,” +said Betty. “That’s all attended to. I know +just what to do. You go to your home room, +do whatever you are told to do and I guess you +report to your different teachers. We get out +at twelve-thirty. After we really have classes +and two sessions there will be a place to get +lunches, somewhere upstairs.”</p> +<p>Back again in the echoing halls of the school +building, Betty felt that the worst was over, yet +she was both lonely and a little timid in regard +to what was still before her. Oh for Janet or +some one of the girls she knew! Other girls, +who must have been in the eighth grade together, +were walking arm in arm, or with arms +around each other’s waist as they approached +the door of the same home room to which +Betty’s feet were carrying her. She wondered +if poor little Doris felt the same way. She went +into the school room with the others, finding its +back seats well filled already. Accordingly she +dropped into the nearest front seat, which was +on the outside row near the door.</p> +<p>As it was not polite to stare, she believed, she +did not look at the girls sitting around her except +for glances here and there; but it was perfectly +legitimate to gaze forward at the home +room teacher. Was she going to like her?</p> +<p>Two teachers were standing, near the large +desk in front and before the blackboard, which +covered its appropriate space on three walls. +The fourth side of the room was devoted to +windows. The teachers were laughing and talking +together, apparently in the best of spirits. +Then a gong rang, or something made a sound +in the halls and a corresponding ring in the +room. Immediately one of the ladies departed +and the other turned to face the class with a +great change of countenance, not exactly stern, +Betty thought, but it was quite obvious that her +home room teacher was ready to handle any +obstreperous little freshman who did not want +to keep order.</p> +<p>But no one was disorderly this morning. It +was an event to enter high school. The expectant +faces met the dignified survey of the +teacher. In due time she explained what was to +be done. Cards were there from the office. +Schedules had been made out for each one. +They were to report to their respective teachers +at the rooms whose numbers were given. +Lockers could not be given for some time. They +would be obliged to carry their books and take +them home, but it was remarked that they would +want to study at home in any event. Books +would be given out on the next day.</p> +<p>“Oh, then, you didn’t have to buy any books,” +Betty thought. She wondered if her mother +would like that. They would never buy any +second hand books and her mother had ideas +on germs. There were a number of questions +that Betty would have liked to ask as the teacher +talked, but she did not dare interrupt. There +seemed to be too many things to remember. Of +course, it was easier for the girls and boys that +lived in the city all the time.</p> +<p>“And now,” the teacher was saying, “I want +you to give your whole attention to one thing. +On these cards that I am giving you, you will +see what you are to write; and while I know +that this is all rather new to you, that fact is +not going to excuse you for making mistakes in +what is really important. Pay attention and do +not write until you are sure you know what to +write down.</p> +<p>“Perhaps you wonder why I am saying this, +but if you saw some of the cards that we have +had in past years, you would not wonder at all. +When you read that line saying the year of your +birth, don’t put down the present year. Girls +less than a year old are not admitted to the +freshman class!”</p> +<p>There was a subdued ripple of laughter at +this, though it was just possible that some of +the girls did not understand the joke. A few +looked worried. But Betty had never been +really afraid of teachers, having had no cause +to be afraid, and she did not intend to begin +now. Very carefully she read over the list of +what she was supposed to record; and then, +after the teacher was through with her explanation, +she started in. There was nothing very +bad about this. Of course they wanted to know +your address and who your father and mother +were and everything.</p> +<p>“Elizabeth Virginia Lee,” she wrote, her +name “in full,” in careful round and legible +hand. Writing was not hard for Betty, which +was fortunate and would make her entire school +life easier for her. Betty had been named for +two grandmothers. At present she “rather +hated it,” the long names, but she always added +that they were good, sensible names and that +her mother like them.</p> +<p>Betty remembered the year of her birth and +was not obliged to count back, as the teacher +had suggested might be necessary. Indeed, the +teacher had grown a little sarcastic while remarking +that “they” were “not particularly +interested in mere birthdays,” and that “birthday +presents were not given.”</p> +<p>A colored girl across the aisle from Betty +looked at the teacher with such a blank stare +at this that Betty’s amusement was increased. +My, the teacher was funny. She wasn’t so bad +and was rather pretty, too. Once Betty’s +intelligent and understanding look had caught the +eye of her teacher as she was in the midst of +one of the funny speeches and Betty was sure +that the twinkle and comical raising of the eyebrows +was for her.</p> +<p>“She shan’t have any reason to make fun of +<em>my</em> card,” thought Betty. “She looked at me as +if she thought I had some sense, anyhow.” But +teachers were accustomed to find response in +Betty Lee’s eyes and the mind back of them. +At this stage, however, and particularly when +the girls were dismissed, to find their respective +teachers and the rooms where they were to +recite, Betty was sure that she had no mind at +all. If she had only known some one! But +every one was busy with her own affairs, or +went off with some other girls. And that building! +Would she ever learn where to go? Luckily +her home room teacher taught one of the freshman +classes in which she had been placed and +in the same room. That was one off the list +very shortly.</p> +<p>The halls were full of wandering pupils on +the same errands that concerned Betty; but her +mind was too set upon her purpose to see them +individually until once, when she was almost +run over by a tall lad who came flying around +the corner from a run down a stairway, she +recognized the boy who had stood back of her +in line the day before.</p> +<p>“Oh, pardon me, <em>please</em>!” exclaimed the boy. +“I had no business to do that. I knocked your +purse out of your hand and everything!” Stooping +to pick up Betty’s purse and scattered notes +and slips, he added “I believe you were standing +in line just ahead of me yesterday. Did you get +all fixed up?”</p> +<p>“Yes; and I’m just finding my class rooms +now.”</p> +<p>“That’s fine. You’re not from one of our +schools–at least I couldn’t help seeing that the +envelope you had didn’t have a city address.”</p> +<p>“No; we just moved here and everything is +new.”</p> +<p>“Well, I hope you like it. This is a great +school.”</p> +<p>“Oh, isn’t it! I suppose you’re a senior and +know all about everything.”</p> +<p>The boy laughed. “Not exactly ‘everything,’” +said he, “and I’m a junior. I hope I meet you +again, but not to pretty nearly knock you over.”</p> +<p>“Oh, that was all right,” replied Betty. “You +didn’t hurt me any.”</p> +<p>The boy started on, then stopped. “By the +way, where are you living?”</p> +<p>Betty named the suburb and the street.</p> +<p>“I thought I saw you on the car yesterday. I +live out that way, too, and maybe I’ll come +around some time–that is, if it’s all right.”</p> +<p>“We should be glad to get acquainted,” said +Betty, who felt sure that she could safely be +friendly with this kind of a boy, who had looked +so distressed at the results of his haste and +had clutched her just in time to keep her from +falling. “We don’t know much of anybody yet, +for Mother and Father came down in a hurry +to find a house.”</p> +<p>“Oh, there’s the girl I was hurrying to catch,” +suddenly said the boy called Ted, as a girl came +from the direction from which Betty had been +coming. “Louise, come here and meet one of +the new freshmen. Probably I’d better know +your name, if I am to introduce you. Mine is +Ted Dorrance.”</p> +<p>“I am Betty Lee,” smiled Betty, looking up +at a tall, handsome girl whom she remembered to +have noticed before in the hall and whom she +found to be Louise Madison.</p> +<p>“Lou has a lot to do with one of the school +clubs and is always looking for good material,” +joked Ted. “I had my eye on this young lady +for you yesterday. Any relation to Robert E. +Lee?”</p> +<p>Betty shook her head. “We’re from the New +England Lees, but I suppose back in England +the two families were connected.”</p> +<p>“Well, the name Lee won’t hurt you any with +the Southern families in this town, and there +are a good many of them. But we’re keeping +you and I’ve got to see you, Lou, about a matter +of business.”</p> +<p>“All right,” said the older girl. “I’ll see you +again, Betty, and I’m real glad to have met +you.”</p> +<p>That was interesting, thought Betty, as she +climbed the same stairs down which Ted Dorrance +had been running. Louise Madison must +be a wonderful girl. She seemed to be perfectly +at home–perhaps she was a senior. Betty +wondered what sort of a club it could be that +freshmen could join. Louise had passed her a +few moments before Ted had come dashing +down. She must have finished whatever errand +she had and started back very soon. Well, she +now knew two pupils in this school, but not a +freshman!</p> +<p>This time Betty was ready at twelve-thirty to +start home with the rest. She just made the +same street-car with Dick and Doris and listened +to their accounts on the way home. Like Betty, +Doris did not know any one in her class, though +Doris said that they “smiled at each other;” but +Dick knew several of the boys and had found +out all sorts of facts, particularly those relating +to athletics. “There was a bunch of us talking +together,” said he, “and we’re going to have +some great gym work and everything. The +eighth grade boys said that they have great +games at Lyon High School. Did you take in +the size of that stadium, Betty? And a fellow +they called Joe said that he helped with a stunt +the junior high had at the faculty and senior +basketball game last winter. That’s a sort of +funny affair and the senior team usually beats, +though when the athletic teachers play with the +rest of the faculty it isn’t so dead easy, I guess, +from what they said. But first they have a sort +of athletic or gym show. I’d like to be on it.”</p> +<p>“Yes, and break your neck,” remarked Doris +with sisterly lack of being impressed.</p> +<p>“Never you mind. The girls do something or +other, too. Maybe you’ll <em>have</em> to, so far as I +know.”</p> +<p>“Oh, if that’s the case, I’ll never do a thing! +Couldn’t you get excused, Betty?”</p> +<p>“Don’t worry, Doris. It isn’t likely that +you’d have to do anything too hard for you. +And there’s always Mother, and Father, to decide +what is best for us.”</p> +<p>“But they always stand by anything school +does.”</p> +<p>“Of course, because there’s never anything +out of the way. But they wouldn’t let anything +happen to us if there <em>were</em> anything that wasn’t +fair or right. Gracious me, if I hadn’t anything +more to worry about than what may happen +next <em>winter</em> I’d be thankful. What are your +teachers like?”</p> +<p>That started the children on a new track and +Betty had amusing and detailed descriptions of +what had happened and what this teacher and +another were like. Doris was in a home room +for girls and Dick in one for boys. “There are +a great many of us boys,” said Dick with much +dignity. “I don’t know just how many but I +shall find out. Then when you write to Janet, +be sure to have her tell Bill.”</p> +<p>“Can’t you write to Bill yourself?”</p> +<p>“I don’t like to write letters,” calmly replied +Dick. “Besides, Bill might think I was getting +stuck up telling him such big stories as I’d have +to tell.”</p> +<p>“And I suppose Janet won’t think <em>I’m</em> stuck +up?”</p> +<p>“Janet will think that everything you do is +perfect, just as she always has.”</p> +<p>“That is news to me, Dick. Why we’ve had +some of the most–well, <em>disagreeing</em> arguments +over things that you ever heard of.”</p> +<p>“Of course. Janet has a mind of her own. +But all the same you needn’t worry over what +Janet would think. I know. Bill’s told me.”</p> +<p>“Then you think I’d dare write Janet everything +about Lyon High, do you? Of course, I’m +going to risk it, Dickie, anyway. And I think +it was nice of Bill to tell you that.”</p> +<p>“Oh, Bill didn’t do it to be nice. He thought +Janet was silly.”</p> +<p>This was not so flattering, but Betty laughed. +She had brought it out herself.</p> +</div> +<div class="section" id="chapter-v-janet-hears-from-betty"> +<h2 class="title section-title level-2"><a class="toc-backref pginternal" href="#id5">CHAPTER V: JANET HEARS FROM BETTY</a></h2> +<p>“Hello, hello; that you, Sue?”</p> +<p>“Yes–Janet?”</p> +<p>“Nobody else. Going to be at home for a +while?”</p> +<p>“Yes; can you come over?”</p> +<p>“That is what I’d like to do, for what do you +think?”</p> +<p>“Anything exciting going on?”</p> +<p>“Not exactly, but I’ve a letter from Betty Lee +at last!”</p> +<p>“Oh, then you will bring it over with you, +won’t you?”</p> +<p>“Of course. That’s what I’m coming for, +although we might just as well make plans for +the Sunday-school picnic while I’m over. This +is a real good long letter. I thought she’d never +write as she promised, to tell me about everything. +I’d almost begun to thing Betty <em>had</em> forgotten +us! But she hasn’t, at least she says +she hasn’t, and she’s been so busy, of course, +and everything new. She wrote this at several +different times. But there, I’d better let her +letter speak for itself. She said to tell you all +the news, and sent you her love and everything, +so I’ll just let you read all of it, even the more +or less private part if you want to. I’ll not +get to your house for a little while, for I have +to go down street for Mother first. She has +to have some soap and starch and other groceries. +She’s been doing up something extra. +But I thought I’d better call you up to see if +you’d be there.”</p> +<p>In due season Janet Light appeared at the +home of her friend, where the two girls repaired +to the big swing in the back yard. There an old +apple tree spread wide branches over them and +let the sunshine of late September come through +its leaves in fitful fashion, dancing with their +shadows on and about the slightly swaying lassies. +It was Saturday morning, hence their leisure +after early morning tasks were over.</p> +<p>“And see what I have to show you,” said +Janet, drawing from the envelope the letter and +something with it that fell on the floor of the +swing, almost going through its slats.</p> +<p>“Oh, a new picture of Betty!” exclaimed Sue, +reaching down carefully to pick up the unmounted +photograph, a small one. “Isn’t that +cute? And it’s good of Betty, too. Why, it +doesn’t look like a snap-shot.” Sue turned it +over to examine it.</p> +<p>“It isn’t. It was taken at some shop. Betty +tells about it in the letter.”</p> +<p>“That’s Betty’s smile, and what a good light +on her hair. Betty’s hair is a real gold, just like +what you read about in books. I always wished +I had hair like Betty’s. And I never saw such +dark blue eyes as Betty has. They look straight +at you here. I think Betty is a real pretty girl, +don’t you?”</p> +<p>“Yes, but she’s no doll. And I think Betty’s +‘gold’ on the inside, too. That letter didn’t +sound as if she’d forgotten us this soon. Read it.” +Janet held out the thick packet of folded sheets.</p> +<p>“Oh, you read it to me. It will sound twice as +well in your ‘mellifluous’ tones. Kate had to put +‘mellifluous’ in a sentence at school yesterday.”</p> +<p>Janet laughed. “I may leave out the messages +to me, then, but I’ll read it if you want +me to. Thank fortune, Betty writes so a body +can read it. And she says that we simply must +come down to see her at the Thanksgiving vacation. +I can’t wait to <em>read</em> you that. Her mother +says so, too, she wrote. Do you suppose we +could? I haven’t said anything to Mother yet.”</p> +<p>“Wouldn’t it be <em>wonderful</em>? But–clothes and +everything–I’m afraid not.”</p> +<p>“We have as good things as Betty has.”</p> +<p>“I haven’t anything that would do to travel +in, though, and I’m afraid I can’t have a new +winter coat. My old one’s a sight!”</p> +<p>“Why it looked good enough to me last winter. +But listen now. I’ll begin.”</p> +<p>“Dear Janet,” the letter commenced. “I’ll +have to begin with apologies, of course, and I’m +hoping that you’ve received the two picture post +cards I sent. I meant to send some to all the +girls and haven’t. But honestly, I’ve been so +busy and it’s all been so mixy, if you know what +I mean by that, that I just haven’t gotten at +a letter that would give you any idea of how +things are. It looks sort of hopeless now, to +tell the truth, but I’m going to start in anyhow, +even if I have to write at several different +times. The longer I put it off the more there +will be to tell. You haven’t any idea how much +I’ve missed you and how I’ve almost started to +tell you things; that is, I’d think ‘I must tell +Janet that,’ and then I’d think again that you +weren’t anywhere around!</p> +<p>“Talk about being lonesome! Of course I’ve +had the family, but not a single girl at first. I +have several friends now that I know more or +less, but nobody that takes the place of the girls +at home. You see I still call it home. I’m not +sure that the city will ever seem like home, but +it is very interesting and the place where we +live is ever so nice. It is all on one floor, which +makes it easy for Mother, and we have enough +room, though we wouldn’t have if we hadn’t gotten +rid of so much stuff before we moved. Still, +there is a little room on the third floor where +we can store some things, like our trunks and +boxes. Mother likes it, though she has been +lonesome, too, for all the friends. But of course +Mother and Father used to live in a city, so it +doesn’t seem so strange to them. Two people +live on the floor above us, but there is a separate +entrance and stairs and everything separate in +the basement.</p> +<p>“There is a good church near enough to walk +to it and Mother has been to some of the missionary +meetings and suppers and all, and we +have, too–to the suppers! So Mother and +Father are beginning to be acquainted. I’m in +a Sunday school class, but I haven’t had time +to go to anything besides just Sunday morning, +for there are too many lessons and school +things that take my time. I just have to get a +good start. But I’ll have time pretty soon. The +class has monthly meetings. They wanted me +to be in some kind of a pageant, but Mother said +I’d better not try it, for I wouldn’t have time to +practice.</p> +<p>“And now about the school. Honestly, girls, +I don’t know where to begin. Not all the high +schools are as fine as ours, for ours isn’t as +old as some of them and Father says it is modern +in every respect. They are so crowded +that they simply have to build new schools, +which Father says is a good thing. In some old +schools they’ve been actually heating with +stoves, not even a furnace. So Father said.</p> +<p>“Well, the building is big and the grounds +are gorgeous, full of beautiful trees and shrubbery. +I’m no architect, so I can’t tell you about +the building except that it spreads out and up +three stories, besides the basement floor, and +Mother says we need wings! The basement +floor isn’t under the ground or anything, and +all the freshmen have their lockers there. We +put our wraps and books there when we do not +need them and get them out when we do. We +have a ‘home room’ and a teacher in charge of +it, and we go there the first thing in the morning +and the last thing before we go home. She +tells us things, the teacher, I mean. Some days +we don’t do the same things. Sometimes we go +to the ‘auditorium’ and hear somebody speak, +or something happens there, but not much yet.</p> +<p>“At first I simply felt lost. Just imagine. +Girls, there are <em>twenty-eight hundred boys and +girls</em> that attend our high school and I don’t +think that counts the pupils in the junior high. +That is <em>more than half as many people</em> as are +in our home town!</p> +<p>“Dick and Doris are very much set up over +being in a ‘junior high school’–though I don’t +mean that unkindly. But they think it as wonderful +as possible and like their teachers. Dick +is more interested in athletics than he is in his +lessons and Father has to keep him at his lessons +a while in the evenings after he has been +outdoors enough, as Father thinks. Doris is +working away to make good grades. She has +her eye on things that the other girls do and +wear but that is only natural, and I imagine +that we need all the good advice Father and +Mother give us. Mother says not to join anything +until we get a good start in our lessons +and learn more about living here. Oh, yes, I +was to send some message to Billy, but I told +Dick he could just as well write himself, and +it may be possible that Billy will hear from +him, though I couldn’t say positively. You know +how much the boys like to write!</p> +<p>“By the way, I’m putting in a little picture +of myself. Mother let me go down town with, +one of the girls that lives not so very far from +us; at least we take the same street car home +from school. So we went down one day right +after school. She invited me, and took me to +a real good moving picture, and we stopped in +at a cute little place where they take cheap +photographs. We also had a grand sundae at +a wonderful place and came home not a bit +hungry for dinner. And that makes me think–we +have dinner at night, for Father can’t come +home very well, it is so far, and has a noon +lunch down town. We children have one at +school, and my, what grand lunches we do have! +They give it to us at about what it costs, so it +doesn’t quite break us up to buy it, enough for +the time we have to eat it. But everything, +street-car fare and all, costs more in a city. +Father drives us to school, mostly, and then +goes on down to his business.</p> +<p>“I think that I shall have to stop, though I’ve +been scribbling as fast as I could, and I believe +I’ll just send this right off, though I’m not half +through with all there is to tell. I’ll try to write +something about the folks we have met when +I write again. More things will have happened, +too, I suppose, but I’ve got to stop now. Give +Sue my love and now I want you both to plan +to come here for your Thanksgiving vacation. +Mother invites you, too. She said it would do +me good to see some of you. Auntie can’t come +for she’s going to some family reunion or other, +and we can make room for you. Please try to +do it!”</p> +<p>But the letter was not finished with this. A +dash and a new date began the next part in +which Betty said that since she had been interrupted +she might as well add something more +to her “book” she was writing to Janet. There +followed more details with a comical +description of “her trip down in charge of the family,” +her arriving to find no one, and the “time she +had the first day of school.”</p> +<p>The “private messages” to Janet were only +some loving remarks with which she closed and +those Janet let Sue read herself.</p> +<p>“I’m sure she does miss you, Janet, just as I +have missed my cousin Moira. I don’t see why +Uncle had to move ’way out to California. I’m +afraid I never <em>will</em> see her again.”</p> +<p>“Oh, yes you will–and wouldn’t it be a great +place to go to visit her?”</p> +<p>“Y-yes, if I ever could. I’m glad I have you +left, Janet. I know why you and Betty have +liked each other so much. You’re both so cheerful +and stout-hearted some way.”</p> +<p>“Why, whatever made you think that?” asked +Janet, surprised.</p> +<p>“Mother said that about Betty, and I’ve noticed +it about you, only I hadn’t put it into +those words.”</p> +<p>“It’s very nice of you to think it about me. +I’m just as glad to have you, Sue, and we’d +better see a great deal of each other, just as we +have since Betty left. And if Mrs. Lee herself +invites us to come, let’s try as hard as we can +to go to visit Betty at Thanksgiving. We’d not +need much in the clothes line for such a few +days, our school dress and our Sunday dress, +a change of underclothing, I suppose, and our +wraps. <em>Betty</em> would never be ashamed of us +if we didn’t have new and stylish hats and coats.”</p> +<p>“I believe Betty did say that her old coat +would have to do this winter, though I’m not +sure. Perhaps it was you that mentioned it. +Well, it doesn’t matter. I’ll go if I can, Janet, +and be sure to give Betty my love when you +write to her. I hope she’ll write to me.”</p> +<p>“Oh, she will, Sue. Of course Betty will, if +she is inviting you. But you can see what a rush +she’s in. It must take a lot of time just to get +to places on the street cars. Mother said it +would take over half an hour to get down town +from some of the suburbs. And maybe it’s +more than that. I believe I’d rather live here, +where you can walk to church and school and to +the groceries and picture show and everything.”</p> +<p>“I can imagine that Betty <em>is</em> pretty lonesome +sometimes,” added Sue, gravely looking at the +letter which she still held. “But it seems just +like a nice adventure that you read about, and +if we can go, we’ll have a share in some of it.”</p> +</div> +<div class="section" id="chapter-vi-friends-and-fun"> +<h2 class="title section-title level-2"><a class="toc-backref pginternal" href="#id6">CHAPTER VI: FRIENDS AND FUN</a></h2> +<p>Had Betty Lee imagined any faintly romantic +attraction to her dainty self on the part +of Ted Dorrance, she would have been disappointed +during these first weeks in the new +school. He always spoke when they met in the +halls provided he saw her; but he was usually +with other boys and very much engrossed in +whatever he was discussing with them. Hurrying +crowds on the way to classes had little interest +for Betty as well. She, too, was absorbed +by the busy and interesting life, and soon had +friends among the girls in her classes.</p> +<p>Betty, though friendly, was by nature not inclined +to make close friends immediately. But +girls that recite together and have the same lessons +will find much in common. Betty’s good +recitations and her hand that went up often to +answer the questions of different teachers were +sufficient introduction to her classmates, who +heard her name, as she heard theirs, when she +was called upon to recite. She cheerfully lent +a pencil or pen for a moment, or answered some +question before class about the lesson, or sat +upon her desk, opposite some similarly perched +girl, to chat about coming events. There were +“hundreds of freshmen” and that literally; but +they resolved themselves into the comparative +few with whom she recited in her different +classes.</p> +<p>Long before the Thanksgiving visit, which she +anticipated from her old home chum, she was +accustomed to school and work and thoroughly +liked many of the girls, especially a few who +were “very chummy” with her, she told her +mother, and sat with her at lunch, or waited for +her after class, or planned their work or recreation +together.</p> +<p>Louise Madison, she found to be a senior, +president of the Girls’ Athletic Club, a large +association, indeed, consisting of all the girls +who “went in” for athletics. A certain amount +of gym work was required, but one could take +more, to be sure. Yet Betty’s parents were a +little hesitant just yet; and not knowing the +wisdom of the teachers in charge, preferred that +Betty wait a little, except in swimming, which +her father said she ought to know as well as +possible, so that she could “swim to Europe” +in case something happened to the ship before it +reached port.</p> +<p>At that remark, soberly delivered, the family +had laughed, but Doris asked in good earnest, +“When are we going, Papa?”</p> +<p>“Aw, Dodie,” said Dick, “can’t you tell a joke +when you hear one?”</p> +<p>“Well, we probably <em>shall</em> go some day,” airily +said Doris, provoked at herself for having +spoken too soon, and none too well pleased with +her twin. “You think you’re very smart!”</p> +<p>“Doris,” quietly said her mother with a reproving +shake of her head, and trouble was +avoided.</p> +<p>The freshman to whom Betty was most attracted, +and that very soon, was Carolyn +Gwynne, a bright, warm-hearted, generous girl, +alive to everything and enthusiastic about many +things, yet with a certain poise that Betty decided +was due to the fact that she had always +lived in the city. Her pretty brown head often +bobbed along by Betty’s fair one and her face +was alight with various expressions as she told +Betty “all she knew and more,” as she herself +said.</p> +<p>“Everybody likes Carolyn,” said Peggy Pollard, +who had seen the grades through with +Carolyn. “It’s because Carolyn goes out of +her way to do things for people. She has a +lovely family, too, and that makes a difference, +don’t you think, Betty?”</p> +<p>“Oh, yes. Wouldn’t it be terrible not to be +happy at home?”</p> +<p>“It certainly would.”</p> +<p>Peggy herself was a “darling girl,” Betty +thought, prettily plump, like Carolyn, though +shorter than either Carolyn or Betty. Her locks +that fell around her shoulders just now, being +allowed to grow and variously trained on different +days, were of that dark brown red that +belongs with what seems to be the same color +of eyes and a pinky complexion. But Peggy +did not go without a hat as much as the other +girls, since freckles “were one thing she wasn’t +going to have!” If she could only <em>tan</em> decently +now! “You have a dimple on one cheek, Betty +Lee,” said Peggy, “and Carolyn has one on the +other. Those cheeks ought to be on one person!”</p> +<p>“Oh, aren’t you funny, Peggy Pollard!” +exclaimed Betty. “Carolyn’s cheek added to my +cheek,”–then they both laughed, thinking of +another meaning for “cheek.” They were in a +mood for silliness anyhow, Peggy said, for they +were on their way to the auditorium for a “pep” +meeting. The occasion, of course, was fall foot, +ball. Enthusiasm must be aroused for the +“Lions,” soon to fight their first battles on the +gridirons of various schools in the city and +suburbs. But Betty did have two dimples.</p> +<p>In common with the rest of the scholars of +Lyon High, Betty and her friends were delighted +to have an auditorium session, not only +for what usually went on, but for the cutting of +recitation hours!</p> +<p>“Carolyn’s going to have a garden party, +Betty,” Peggy continued. “Has she told you +about it?”</p> +<p>“No–I hope I’ll be invited, though,” laughed +Betty, climbing the stairs now for the recitation +room and her freshman locker, just secured in +the last few days. “My, isn’t it nice not to have +to carry your books around any more!”</p> +<p>“Yes,” and Peggy slid her hand up along +the brass railing of the stairs. “But I imagine +Carolyn just decided about it last night. All +their fall flowers are so beautiful now. They +have a wonderful big place, you know. Have +you anything else to do Saturday?”</p> +<p>“No, only some shopping down town with +Mother. I could put that off. She has a lot +of things to do for Dick and Doris.”</p> +<p>“You might get your shopping done in the +morning, perhaps. I’ll tell you what cars to +take, though it might be that Carolyn could +come for you, or somebody call for you in their +car.”</p> +<p>“Oh, I could get there, I think, if it is not too +far from the car line. I’m getting used to going +around now.”</p> +<p>“It isn’t so easy sometimes, even for those of +us that have always lived here, and our fathers +and mothers like to be careful of us, of course.”</p> +<p>“Will there be a large party? I might meet +some of the girls somewhere, wherever you have +to change cars.”</p> +<p>“Yes, probably you could. Why, I think that +there will be all our crowd and some others we +don’t see so much of, real nice girls, you know.”</p> +<p>Betty was glad to be included in “our crowd,” +but there was no further opportunity for conversation. +Boys and girls were pouring into +the different entrances of the auditorium, seeking +their regular seats, which had been assigned.</p> +<p>“Oh, look!” exclaimed Peggy. “We’re going +to have the band! Say, don’t they look fine in +their uniforms? Well, ’bye–sorry I can’t sit +by you.”</p> +<p>The high school band did look resplendent. +As Betty took her seat they struck up a lively +popular air and played it through while the +school was assembling. They were on the platform, +where the principal stood beside a chair, +probably thinking that his presence would have +more effect if he stood. And the presence of +the dignified principal always did have a calming +effect. No nonsense or disrespect was ever +shown to him, for the very good reason that he +would not tolerate it. A school of this size, +and a city school, with its variety of composition, +called for no weakness in the men and +women who had charge of its discipline, though +in this school all due consideration was given to +the rights and needs of its pupils.</p> +<p>It was a pretty scene. Betty was glad that +she sat on the end of one row of seats, for she +could see so much better. Eagerly she leaned +forward, not to miss any part of scene or action. +But before they were seated, they all turned as +usual, at the signal from the principal, to salute +the flag, whose bright stripes and stars showed +at the principal’s right. Already the pupils +were trained to say in excellent unison the +phrases which pledged them to the flag of their +country and that “for which it stands.” Together +they made the right gestures at the right +time and Betty had not gotten over feeling +thrilled to be a part of so great a company, or +over the patriotic tie that made them one.</p> +<p>Carolyn sat not far away, in front of Betty, +and as soon as they were seated she leaned back +to nod at Betty and form with her lips the +words, “I want to see you after this.”</p> +<p>Betty nodded her understanding. She <em>was</em> +going to be invited to the garden party, she +thought. But what was the principal saying? +He sat down, after making a few announcements +and handing the conduct of the meeting over +to some boy, whom Betty supposed the president +of the Boys’ Athletic Association, though +she had not caught the last words of the principal. +The program was not so different from +that of the meetings which Betty had attended +in the little school at home, when there was a +general gathering in honor of athletics, but oh, +how much bigger everything was.</p> +<p>The band was several times as large, and how +well they played! It must be something to learn +to play in a city where there is a symphony +orchestra, Betty thought. Ambition stirred. +She just <em>must</em> belong to one of the musical organizations +of the school, some time if not now!</p> +<p>Now the yell leader performed, leading the +school in different yells for the team and school. +Betty’s face was one wide smile. These were +new and funny yells. The team had to come +forward and some speeches where made. Some +of the boys were shy and awkward; others, used +to it, said their say with greater freedom. Some +funny expressions were used. Betty thought of +how they must grate on the ears of her strict +English teacher who had been particularly +severe in regard to slang at their last recitation. +What would she say if she heard some of the +things that Betty had been surprised to hear +girls say, girls that seemed to be nice and were +undoubtedly attractive? Such girls in the village +at home were not welcomed to intimate +friendship and as a rule belonged to a class +careless and unrefined at home.</p> +<p>Little thoughts like these ran through Betty’s +young head as she applauded with the rest and +tried the yells, such fun to say; though she did +not know some of them. But they were easy to +get, “crazy” as they were. But the wilder the +better, when it comes to athletics, or so the +modern rooters seem to think. The band indulged +in funny little crashes at quick signals +from the yell leader. Betty, with one eye on +the principal, saw him smile occasionally. All +this was allowed; but, after all, it was an +orderly performance, if wildly enthusiastic. +“My, they all know how to do it, don’t they?” +she said to Carolyn, who joined her on their +way from the auditorium.</p> +<p>“Yes, but they wouldn’t I guess if they didn’t +have people in charge that won’t stand for any +nonsense. Got your Latin all out?”</p> +<p>“Yes, though I’m shaky on some of it. It’s +terribly hard for me to memorize. If she didn’t +have us go over it so much I’d never get it.”</p> +<p>“That’s what teachers are for, I suppose,” +laughed Carolyn. “But what I wanted to see +you about was this: I want to have a garden +party while the weather’s nice, so I’m asking +everybody for Saturday–just informal +invitations, you know, not the way my big sister +does when <em>she</em> gives a party! Can you come? +We’ll have a picnic dinner outdoors, unless the +weather does something awful. But it’s pretty +dry and I don’t believe it will rain. We had +such a lot of rain last week and our flowers are +so pretty now. Please come.”</p> +<p>“Why, I’d just love to, Carolyn, and I think +it’s nice of you to ask me. I don’t know of any +reason why I can’t come. I’ll ask Mother tonight +and let you know <em>sure</em> tomorrow. It’s +practically sure, though, because I can do what +I like Saturday afternoon.”</p> +<p>“All right, Betty. I’ll expect you. I’ll give +you the address and tell you how to get there +when I have time.”</p> +<p>The girls hurried along with the rest of the +crowds going to recitation rooms. It must be +said that Betty’s mind wandered a little occasionally, +whenever it was safe to let it wander, +from the subjects of the lessons to the delightful +prospect of next Saturday. This was the first +of the week. What should she wear? She did not +like to ask Carolyn, but perhaps she could +manage to bring up the subject with Peggy, or +some of the other girls, when she knew who +were invited. Suppose there should be some +freshman boys. Peggy hadn’t said and neither +had Carolyn.</p> +<p>That afternoon, after school, Betty rushed +into the house with her books for night study +and deposited them on the table with a slight +thud. Her eyes were alight and the “one +dimple” was much in evidence. “Mother, I’m +invited to a garden party! It’s at Carolyn’s +on Saturday afternoon and they’re going to +have a picnic dinner outdoors. Can I go? <em>May</em> +I go, I mean?”</p> +<p>“I shall certainly want to say yes, if you want +to go, as I judge you do.” Mrs. Lee was smiling, +too, as she looked at her glowing young daughter. +She folded a garment she had been mending +and laid it aside. “Tell me about it.”</p> +<p>“Well, you know who Carolyn is, don’t you?”</p> +<p>“I ought to by this time,” and Mrs. Lee’s eyes +twinkled. “It occurs to me that I have heard +you mention her before.”</p> +<p>Betty laughed. “I suppose I <em>have</em> raved +about Carolyn. But she is the dearest thing.”</p> +<p>“I am sure that it is a perfectly proper friendship, +Betty,” assented Betty’s mother. “The +Gwynne place has been mentioned more than +once in the paper and I read of a large garden +party given there by Carolyn’s mother, about +two weeks ago, I think.”</p> +<p>“Oh, was that the gorgeous place that had +the pictures of it in the Sunday paper?” Betty +looked a little dismayed. “Why, they must be +very stylish and wealthy folks–but Carolyn +likes me–I know she does.”</p> +<p>“To be stylish and wealthy, my dear, does not +always make people snobs, and there are other +assets that they may recognize in other people, +too. If you and Carolyn are congenial, there +is no reason why there should not be a pleasant +friendship between you, at least now.”</p> +<p>Betty looked thoughtful. “You mean that +after a while their way of living might make a +difference and that Carolyn would have different +friends!”</p> +<p>“Perhaps. I don’t know, Betty. Separation +sometimes makes it impossible to keep in touch. +But don’t let me start unhappy thoughts about +this. I shall do everything I can to let you +have friends and a happy time. You always +have; why not here in the city? Just so you +have none that will hurt you. But you are not +likely to choose that kind, I think. Please +remember, Betty, that you can’t touch coal without +getting black.”</p> +<p>“But you ought to be friendly with everybody, +oughtn’t you?”</p> +<p>“Certainly, so far as being kind–but let the +older folks do the reforming, Betty. Well, all +this about one innocent party? What should +you wear, Betty?”</p> +<p>“Just what I was going to ask you! But I’ll +find out from Peggy. They are going to play +tennis and things. I wish I had a real ‘sport +costume,’ for I don’t suppose they’ll wear +‘party dresses’ to an outdoor party like this.”</p> +<p>“Perhaps we can fix something up, Betty. +If you only hadn’t outgrown everything so! We +can’t afford new clothes right now, after all +our moving and what we have had to buy to fix +up this place. And social prominence does not +enter into our plans right at present.” Mrs. +Lee smiled at Betty, who was sitting in a low +chair now with her hands folded on her knees.</p> +<p>“It never does,” laughed Betty, “but you +usually can’t help having it. I should think it +would be a rest not to be president of a club or +responsible for church things. Nevertheless, +Mother, don’t hide your light under a bushel!”</p> +<p>With this advice, Betty jumped up to run out +into the kitchen and pantry, for investigation +of the cooky jar. Crumbs about showed that +Doris or Dick had been there before her, and +she heard Amy Lou’s childish laughter coming +from the back yard. But Betty’s lessons were +hard for the next day and she returned to the +living room to take one of her texts back to her +room and study a while by herself.</p> +</div> +<div class="section" id="chapter-vii-carolyns-garden-party"> +<h2 class="title section-title level-2"><a class="toc-backref pginternal" href="#id7">CHAPTER VII: CAROLYN’S GARDEN PARTY</a></h2> +<p>The rest of the week went by in pleasant +anticipation of the garden party, Betty’s first. +To be sure there had been “loads of picnics,” +and lawn fetes for the church, usually in the +spring or early summer. But a real “garden +party” <em>must</em> be different. There was much consultation +about clothes between Betty and her +mother. One of the girls had said that of course +one wouldn’t wear her <em>old</em> clothes, or her Girl +Scout or Camp Fire Girl suits, as you would +on a picnic to the woods. <em>She</em> was going to +play tennis, and her mother had gotten her an +“<em>awfully pretty</em>” white sport suit!</p> +<p>Well, what <em>was</em> a sport suit anyhow? Mrs. +Lee took Amy Lou down town, one morning +when Mr. Lee could drive them down, and spent +a rather trying morning trying to shop with a +child. She looked at dresses and patterns, with +a view of fitting Betty suitably for the occasion. +But the new things were expensive. Finally, +by letting down a skirt Betty had and arranging +a suitable blouse, or upper part, what Betty +called a “near-sport” frock was evolved.</p> +<p>Then, after all the effort, Betty came home +one afternoon with a new idea. “Mother, it’s +turned so awfully hot–Indian summer, I suppose–that +Peggy says she isn’t going to play +tennis or anything on a court, and she’s going +to wear her light green flat crepe that is her +second best, or else some real cool summer +dress, whatever happens to be ready. Peggy +doesn’t care! I believe I’ll just wear my pretty +thin blue and let it go at that. I don’t want +to play tennis either, especially when I don’t +know anybody much and not so very many can +play. Carolyn says she’s going to pay all her +social debts at once and have a big party, so +I’ll be lost in the multitude.”</p> +<p>Like Janet, Mrs. Lee privately thought that +Betty would never be “lost in the multitude,” +but she did not say so. “So Carolyn is paying +all her ‘social debts,’ is she?” asked Betty’s +mother, amused at the “social debts” expression. +“It is just as well that you have decided +on the blue. It will look pretty in the gardens +and <em>I’d</em> dress for the flowers instead of the +tennis court.”</p> +<p>“Aren’t you poetic, Mother! It’s a shame +that you went to all the trouble about the other +dress, though.”</p> +<p>“That will be so much clear gain, child. You +now have another frock, which will come in for +service at some time, no doubt.”</p> +<p>When the day and the hour arrived, Betty’s +father arrived home late for lunch, as he could +do on Saturday, unless there were some executive +meeting. That settled the question of how +to get to the party, and Betty called up two of +her friends to say that her father was going to +take her and that she would stop for them if +they liked. Naturally they were glad of the +opportunity, for the Gwynne estate was out at +some distance, <em>almost</em> a “country estate,” Peggy +had said. “Call up,” said Betty’s father, “when +you want to come home, or rather, when I +should start from home in time to reach you. +We’ll take note of the time we spend getting +there. Then I’ll bring a machine full of whomever +you like.”</p> +<p>“Oh, that is so good of you, Mr. Lee!” exclaimed +Dotty Bradshaw, one of the freshman +girls whom Betty had invited to ride with them. +“But perhaps Betty will want somebody else, +though,” added Dotty, happening to think that +perhaps she was taking too much, for granted.</p> +<p>“Why, Dotty, of <em>course</em> if we call for you +we’ll see you back home. We’re sort of new +to the city, though, so perhaps you can tell me +who live places that wouldn’t be too far away.”</p> +<p>“Most anybody that attends our high school +would be all right,” answered Dotty, “because +girls that live in other parts of town would go +to other high schools.”</p> +<p>“Of course! I didn’t think!”</p> +<p>“Well, I don’t know about that,” said Selma +Rardon, the other freshman in the car. “There +are sometimes people way out, like Carolyn herself.”</p> +<p>Betty was already assured by the very different +dresses of the girls with her, and when +she arrived at the beautiful place where Carolyn +lived she thought how silly she had been to worry +about clothes. Still, you wanted to be suitably +dressed, and when you knew hardly anybody, +there was some excuse. And oh, there <em>were</em> +boys, too. She saw a number of lads whose +faces she knew by having seen them in the +different freshman classes. Then there were +others whom she did not know at all. By the +time Betty and her friends turned into the drive +which led to the house, most of the boys and +girls had arrived, it seemed and were dotted +in groups all over the closely clipped lawn which +still looked like velvet between its flower beds +and shrubbery. Oh, wasn’t it beautiful? Betty +was so glad that her father could see where +the party was.</p> +<p>“I was afraid you weren’t coming at all, +Betty,” said Carolyn, squeezing Betty’s hands, +“but there are still a few that haven’t gotten +here.”</p> +<p>“I waited for Father to bring us,” replied +Betty, “and we didn’t quite know how long it +would take to drive out.”</p> +<p>“Well, you’re here now and I’m going to ask +Peggy to see that you meet everybody. I’ll +have to be darting here and there and everywhere +to see that they all have something to +do.”</p> +<p>Carolyn looked so pretty, Betty thought, and +she wore the simplest of summer dresses, to +all appearances, though the material was fine +and sheer, a sort of chiffon, Betty thought; for +Betty was just becoming aware of styles and +materials, matters which she had left to her +mother, and most wisely.</p> +<p>There was the usual tendency of the girls and +boys to separate into groups of boys and groups +of girls, but Carolyn had announced that first +they would stroll to see the flowers and go to +the pool and the greenhouse and that each boy +must join some girls, not necessarily <em>one</em> girl. +In consequence the groups were mixed by the +time Betty and her friends began their stroll +around the grounds and Peggy took Betty into +the midst of one. Dotty Bradshaw accompanied +them, though Selma had been drawn away by +one of her special friends. Dotty was “cute,” +Peggy said.</p> +<p>Here were Mary Emma Howland and Mary +Jane Andrews, the two Marys of Betty’s +algebra class. Then Chet Dorrance, whom Betty +afterward found to be Ted’s brother, was feeding +the goldfishes in the lovely pool from a box +of something held by Kathryn Allen. Budd LeRoy +perched on the stone arm of a seat that +curved artistically in grey lines, back a little +from the pool, and talked spasmodically to +Chauncey Allen, Kathryn’s brother, and Brad +Warren. Budd, Chauncey and Bradford were +not freshmen, Betty thought, but she wasn’t +sure. Who <em>could</em> be sure about all the freshmen +there were? Chet Dorrance looked a good deal +like his brother, though his hair was lighter and +Betty decided that he didn’t look quite so smart, +but not many of the boys could touch Ted for +looks.</p> +<p>The boys all wore coats, though she knew that +some of them, at least, would have felt more +comfortable without them, as she had seen them +Friday at school. Later on, however, when +games and sports began, many a coat was to +be found hung on the back of a garden bench +or over the slats of a trellis. Carolyn may +have given the word. Betty did not know. She +usually kept her eye out for what boys did, on +account of Dick, whose social etiquette she +helped superintend, little as she knew herself. +Between three and four o’clock it was very +warm indeed. Later it began to cool off and +seem like early October.</p> +<p>“Isn’t this the loveliest place?” she said to +Chauncey Allen, by way of making conversation. +After introducing Chauncey to Betty, Peggy +had darted off to start Budd and Bradford in +tennis, about which they had inquired. Chet +Dorrance and Kathryn Allen had finished feeding +the goldfish and sauntered to the big stone +seat, where Chauncey suggested that he and +Betty also sit. Kathryn was a pretty, slight +little girl with an olive complexion, very black +hair and dark eyes. Chauncey was as dark in +his coloring but was of a much larger build.</p> +<p>“Pretty nice,” replied Chauncey. “They’ve +got fine gardens and a good tennis court, that +much is certain; but their house is pretty old.”</p> +<p>“But it looks so–distinguished,” said Betty. +“Those big pillars and the wide porch and the +drive with that sort of porch built over it–I +never can remember the name for it.”</p> +<p>“You can’t prove it by me,” grinned Chauncey. +“I don’t know either, although we have +one. Yes, the Gwynne place is considered a +fine old estate, so my dad says. Mother says +she wouldn’t have it for it isn’t modern enough +to suit her. She doesn’t like high ceilings and +great rooms that are hard to heat in winter.”</p> +<p>“Oh, I <em>love</em> them,” cried Betty, “though maybe +it’s because I never have to bother about +furnaces and things like that. I’d just love to +have a great house and big grounds like this.”</p> +<p>“Where do you live?” asked Chauncey.</p> +<p>“In an apartment. My father’s just come to +the city this fall and we took the best place +Mother could find. We still have a home in my +home town, but I don’t suppose we’ll ever go +back there to stay.”</p> +<p>“Would you like to?”</p> +<p>Betty shook her head negatively. “I’m thrilled +to death to be in our big high school!”</p> +<p>Chauncey grinned pleasantly. “It is pretty +good,” he acknowledged, “but I hate to study +sometimes. I hope football will go all right +for our team this year. There’s one of the big +high schools that is our greatest rival, and O, +boy–if we don’t beat them this year!”</p> +<p>Betty had not heard about that, but she +loyally echoed Chauncey’s wish.</p> +<p>“How about going up to the house for that +fruitade Carolyn said would be ready pretty +soon?” asked Chauncey, including the group, for +two other girls had come up to the pool and +were now joining Kathryn and Chet.</p> +<p>The suggestion was promptly acted upon and +Betty now found herself walking between tall +pampas grass and well trimmed bushes of all +sorts along a path to the house and talking to +Chet Dorrance, who asked her if she had bought +her season ticket for football yet.</p> +<p>“No, I haven’t. Are you selling them?”</p> +<p>“No, but Ted is.”</p> +<p>“I’m awfully sorry, but Carolyn told me that +if I hadn’t promised, one of the girls wanted to +sell me one, so I promised.”</p> +<p>“Oh, that’s all right. It was probably one +of the girls on a pep squad.”</p> +<p>“What’s a pep squad?” laughed Betty. “That +must be one of the things that I haven’t heard +about yet.”</p> +<p>“You’ll hear a lot about it, then. Why, they +have them in the G. A. A., girls that talk it all +up and make ‘enthusiasm’ and support the athletics, +you know.”</p> +<p>“What is the G. A. A., please? I must be terribly +dense, but remember all the things I’ve +tried to take in. You’re not a freshman, are you?”</p> +<p>“Why, no–what makes you think that?” +Chet was privately thinking that there must be +something after all in experience, though as he +was no larger than a very dear freshman friend, +who had been left a little behind in the race for +high school, he had been “insulted” more than +once by being considered a freshman.</p> +<p>“Well, I did think that you were one, since +your brother is a junior”–Betty had almost +said that he looked so much younger than Ted +the tall, but she halted in time. “But you seem +to know all about everything, and even the +freshies who live here don’t always remember +everything.”</p> +<p>“I could get all that from hearing Ted talk, +you know; but of course, there isn’t much about +the school that I haven’t <em>heard</em> about–I +wouldn’t say <em>know</em>, of course.”</p> +<p>“It must be nice,” said Betty, thereupon +pleasing her escort, who immediately began to +enlighten her upon the workings of the athletic +association and the girls’ share in it. The G. +A. A. was the Girls’ Athletic Association.</p> +<p>“Oh, yes! Of course. I hear them call it a +<em>club</em>. I’ve even had it explained to me–but not +the pep squads. I only wish I had time for +everything!”</p> +<p>“You don’t have to do everything your freshman +year, Betty.”</p> +<p>“That is what Father said–so I’m not. But +that doesn’t keep you from wanting to do +things.”</p> +<p>“You’re right it doesn’t!” Chet was thinking +of several things that he had wanted to do and +still wanted.</p> +<p>A great glass bowl just inside the screened +porch on the side of the house away from the +sun, supplied a cool drink of oranges and lemons, +whose slices floated about pieces of ice. A +maid in cap and apron served them and fished +out a whole red cherry to put in Betty’s glass. +And didn’t it taste good!</p> +<p>Then, in the shifting of position and accidental +meetings of this one and that one, Betty +found herself with Mary Emma Howland and +another freshman boy whom she recognized as +the brightest lad in the algebra class. “Oh, +yes,” she said, in answer to Mary Emma’s question +whether or not she knew “Sim,” and +brightly she smiled at him.</p> +<p>“We never were introduced,” said Betty, “but +when you recite every day together you can’t +help but know people, and whenever Mr. Matthews +calls on ‘James Simmonds’ he looks as if +he expected to have a recitation.”</p> +<p>“There, Sim!” laughed Mary Emma. “I told +you you were the teacher’s pet!”</p> +<p>“Much I am!” and James Simmonds looked +as if he did not appreciate being complimented, +even by two merry girls. He was a tall, thin +boy, with light, sandy hair, thin face and light +eyes, but eyes that were keen with intelligence +when they did not twinkle with mischief. “And +I’m usually called ‘Simmonds’ by the men +teachers.”</p> +<p>“So you are,” acknowledged Betty. “But I +didn’t know they called you ‘Sim’–I thought it +was ‘Jim.’”</p> +<p>“I’m generally known as Sim,” said the boy, +“but sometimes it’s ‘Jim’, or ‘Carrotts.’”</p> +<p>Sim exchanged a look with Mary Emma, who +giggled. “Sim’s my fourth or fifth cousin,” +Mary Emma explained. “He lives at our house +to go to school while his father and mother are +away this year.”</p> +<p>As Betty looked inquiringly at Sim, he explained +that his father was an engineer and was +in South America with his mother for the year. +“I’m going there some day,” said he. “Say, they +have mosquitoes and snakes and all sorts of +queer things, and there are some man-eaters +down there, cannibals, you know–oh, it’s a wild +country all right!”</p> +<p>“That doesn’t sound so very good to me,” +smiled Betty. “Do you really want to go where +there are snakes and things like that!”</p> +<p>“Certainly! Mary Emma you bring Betty +Lee out some time and I’ll show her the things +they’ve sent us.”</p> +<p>“We really have some beautiful things from +South America, Betty,” said Mary Emma, and +Betty was thinking how interesting it would be +to see them. My, she was getting acquainted +fast! But just as Mary Emma was beginning +to tell her about a handsome purse that had +come for her mother, Peggy came running out +of the house door and stopped before the porch +bench upon which the three were seated. Peggy +was wearing something funny on her head and +carried something, a straight piece of pasteboard, +in her hand. Large black letters said +something or other.</p> +<p>“Oh, here you are, Betty. I was looking for +you. Carolyn wants you to be one of the social +engineers. We’re going to have games for everybody +on the lawn now and you’ll have to help. +Come on! ’Scuse Betty, please, Mary Emma–and +Sim.”</p> +<p>Betty rose to follow Peggy inside. There +were several girls, all adjusting these +pasteboard caps or hats, that looked like short stove-pipes. +Carolyn was apologizing, though Betty +thought the idea clever. “I didn’t have time, +girls, to make caps, anything pretty, you know, +and I went to a picnic where they had these. +They looked cute and I thought they’d do.”</p> +<p>“Of course they’ll do,” said Peggy, adjusting +the cap to Betty’s head, merely by wrapping +the two ends about and fastening them, top and +bottom, with ordinary clips. So that was what +the big black letters on the plain gray pasteboard +said, “SOCIAL ENGINEER.”</p> +<p>“But Carolyn,” protested Betty, “I don’t +know everybody and how can I be a ‘social engineer’? +I suppose you’re going to have games +to manage?”</p> +<p>“That’s it, and it doesn’t make a bit of difference +whether you know people or not. Your +head-gear makes it perfectly proper to speak to +anybody. I’m sure you’re good at things like +this–from your looks, you know!”</p> +<p>“Thanks for the confidence,” laughed Betty. +“All right, I’ll do the best I can.”</p> +<p>For the next hour the lawn looked pretty with +the groups that played the old-fashioned games +as well as those of a later date. Here were +flowers and shrubbery, light dresses, darting figures, +much laughter and little shrieks in the +midst of excitement, when some one was caught +or some one became “It.” Then tables were +brought out upon the lawn. Carolyn and Peggy +pressed several of the boys into service to help +place them, but after they were set, with silver, +napkins and flowers, a pretty vase in the center +of each table, the “banquet,” as Betty later reported +at home, was served them as perfectly +“as if they were grown up” by persons whom +Betty supposed to be the servants of the house. +Mercy, she would never dare invite Carolyn to +their apartment! And she did <em>love</em> Carolyn!</p> +<p>Not that Betty was ashamed of simple living–Betty +was trying to think why she had +such a thought about Carolyn–but that could +be puzzled out later on. The present was too +pleasant for a single disturbing thought. It +was cool now and seemed more like the time of +year it really was. Sunset hues were showing. +And they were to stay till the Japanese lanterns +all about were lit, with some hiding game or +treasure hunt that Carolyn had mentioned to +the “social engineers” as their last effort and +fun. And now, after the pretty ice-cream in the +freshman colors and the delicious cake with the +double frosting, lovely baskets of grapes and +peaches were being passed.</p> +<p>Betty slowly ate the juicy grapes of her +bunch, one by one, as she talked to Peggy on +one side of her, or Chet Dorrance on the other. +One of the junior boys had been “fired,” according +to Chet, for “cutting classes, disorderly conduct +and disrespectful behaviour.” Oh, no, he +couldn’t come back now. His parents had been +over to see the principal and they might get +the “kid” into some other school–Chet did not +know. And Betty was to watch Freddy Fisher +carry the ball at the first football game in the +stadium. “If you go with Carolyn and Peggy,” +said he, “they’ll tell you who everybody is that’s +doing things. You’ve seen ’em all, though, +haven’t you?”</p> +<p>“Yes, but I’m not sure I’ll know them on +the field. I guess I am going with Carolyn and +Peggy.”</p> +<p>“Of course you are,” decidedly remarked +Peggy, who had turned from her other neighbor +in time to hear Betty’s last sentence. “What is +it you’re going to?”</p> +</div> +<div class="section" id="chapter-viii-betty-hears-the-lions-roar"> +<h2 class="title section-title level-2"><a class="toc-backref pginternal" href="#id8">CHAPTER VIII: BETTY HEARS THE LIONS ROAR</a></h2> +<p>Nothing could have been more appropriate +for exciting athletic affairs than the name which +had been given to this high school in honor of +a distinguished public servant, interested in +education. It scarcely needs to be explained that +the football team of Lyon High was called the +lions, on and off the gridiron, or that posters +and the school paper carried fierce-looking +drawings and cartoons of the King of Beasts +in action. A golden yellow, relieved by black, +in the costumes of the Lyon High band and in +the sweaters of the team was supposed to suggest +the tawny coat of what could “eat up” any +other team in short order. Lions figured largely +in various badges and insignia of all sorts. +Betty Lee had early decided that she must some +day wear one of the pins or rings that bore +the “Lyon High Lion.”</p> +<p>Oh, it was good to stow away books in the +freshman lockers and hurry with the rest of the +big crowd to find seats in the stadium, seats +where one could see everything!</p> +<p>The girls lost little time at their lockers. +“Come on, Betty,” called Carolyn. “I’ve got +some newspapers to sit on. Yes, I should <em>say</em> +bring your coat! Your sweater won’t be enough. +I promised Mother to wear a coat and wouldn’t +have needed to promise, either. I don’t care +to freeze myself.”</p> +<p>This was not the first game. That had been +duly played in the home stadium, not so long +after Carolyn’s garden party, and Betty had +felt all the thrills of seeing the great stadium +come to life for the first time in her experience. +After this big school, college could not bring +her more! Yet thrills could be repeated. Never +would this place become so accustomed, Betty +was sure, that she would not have them. +Then, this was the GREAT GAME. It was the +one between the two largest high schools of the +city and was an annual occurrence, long heralded, +the great game for which the teams prepared. +There had been a lively meeting in the +auditorium beforehand, that very morning. The +championship was at stake! “Oh,” said Betty, +“I don’t see how I can <em>stand</em> it if the Lions don’t +beat!”</p> +<p>“Don’t suggest such a thing,” Peggy called +back. “Of course we’ll beat!”</p> +<p>There was a large crowd, parents and friends +included, as well as many alumni of the high +school, who were interested enough and loyal +enough to see at least this one chief contest +every year. But Carolyn, Betty and Peggy, +with some of the other girls, were among +the first among those dismissed from the last +Friday classes. Their season tickets were +punched at the stadium entrance before the stadium +was appreciably filled.</p> +<p>“We’ve a grand choice, girls. Hurry!” Carolyn +tripped rapidly down the steps in the lead.</p> +<p>“Down there, back of those boys, Carolyn!” +called Peggy, who knew as well as Carolyn the +“strategic point” that they wanted to reach if +no one were ahead of them in securing it. “First +come, first served here, you know, Betty,” +Peggy added, hopping from one high step to +another in a short cut.</p> +<p>Carolyn was spreading newspapers and holding +them to keep them from being blown away +in the slight breeze. “Sit on ’em in a hurry,” +she laughingly urged, and settled herself on the +further one, next to two of the teachers, who +were spreading out a steamer rug. “Sensible +girl,” said one, smiling down at Carolyn. “Is +your coat warm enough?”</p> +<p>“Yes, Miss Heath, and we have on our sweaters +beside. Peggy and I nearly froze at the +University stadium last week, so we bundled up +this time. Did you see the game with State, +Miss Heath?”</p> +<p>“Indeed I did.”</p> +<p>“Good for you,” chuckled Carolyn. “You like +athletics, don’t you?”</p> +<p>“Very much–when some one else does it.”</p> +<p>“But <em>you</em> wouldn’t have time,” suggested +Carolyn. This was the Miss Heath whom all +the girls liked so much, girls of any rank from +freshmen to seniors. She was always fair, +though you had to work for her. No “getting +by” with poorly prepared lessons.</p> +<p>“No,” assented the adorable Miss Heath, “I’d +have no time, not even for setting up exercises.” +She looked at her teacher friend, a lady from +the rival school, and laughed. “What do you +think, Carolyn, would it be polite for me to sing +with you our school songs or do any rooting for +Lyon High when my friend from our rivals’ +school is sitting right by me? By the way, Miss +March, this is Carolyn Gwynne, one of our +freshmen. You know the Gwynne place, out on +Marsden Road?”</p> +<p>“Oh, yes, quite well. How do you do, Carolyn. +I think I have met you at your home. I +belong to a club that met there last year.”</p> +<p>Carolyn said the appropriate remarks in +reply and was fortunately not obliged to decide +what was the polite course for Miss Heath +to follow. So far as she was concerned, no +scruples would have prevented her enthusiasm +for Lyon High, for the good reason that Carolyn +forgot everything but the game when the +contest was on.</p> +<p>Peggy, and Betty, too, third in order from +the teachers, leaned around Carolyn to bow in +friendly and respectful fashion, but at once they +gave their attention to the crowd and the field. +On the track a few runners were practicing, +their costume looking very cool for the chilly +fall breezes. A few boys were standing about +on the field or central “gridiron.”</p> +<p>Betty filled her lungs with the fresh air that +was not blowing too sharply. She was +accustomed to the curving concrete that rose high +behind her and stretched to right and left, to +the field before her and to the gymnastic or athletic +performances that had seemed so queer at +first because of the larger numbers and the better +equipment. By this time, too, she knew the +team, its best members and what they were +likely to do, though in the confusion of the game +it was sometimes hard for her to recognize a +play.</p> +<p>As the game was with a city school today, +there were as many or almost as many rooters +for the visiting team as Lyon High itself could +offer. As the seats filled rapidly, competition +between rooters began. Rival bands with tooting +horns and rolling drums made a dramatic +appearance, paraded, and finally took position. +Rival yell leaders led rival cheer, though Lyon +High, trained by its athletic director to good +sportsmanship, gave a complimentary yell or +two for its guests, using their own battle cries +or merely giving hearty rah-rahs for the rival +school and team.</p> +<p>Then the pandemonium was at its height +when the teams ran out upon the field and the +excited youngsters on the stadium seats rose +and shouted their greetings. Betty stood and +waved and gave the yells with the rest. She +might not have been long in Lyon High, but +she was a part of it now! It was her school! +There! That was Freddy Fisher, upon whose +plays so much depended. There went that mysterious +tall boy that somebody said came from +Switzerland and somebody else said was a Russian. +My, but he was an active chap! He was +almost as good as Freddy, Chet Dorrance had +told Betty, but he didn’t always understand the +signals and occasionally the team was penalized +for something that he did either accidentally +or on purpose. “He’s a hot one when he’s mad,” +said Chet, “and I guess he still thinks in his +own language, whatever that is, though he likes +to play and learn all the new signals pretty +quick, the coach says.”</p> +<p>“Peggy, there is your hero,” laughed Carolyn.</p> +<p>“Who?” inquired Peggy.</p> +<p>“The ‘Don.’”</p> +<p>“Oh, yes. I did say that he deserved as much +glory as Freddy for that last game, didn’t I? +He gave such fine interference.”</p> +<p>“The ‘Don’?” inquired Betty, puzzled.</p> +<p>“They have him Spanish now, Betty. He’s +been Russian, German, Hungarian and I don’t +know what all and I think the boys like to tease +us girls by making up something new about him +all the time. But isn’t he sort of handsome?”</p> +<p>“I’d hate to say, Peggy, if you like his looks,” +countered Betty.</p> +<p>“Betty likes them fixed up and awfully clean, +like Ted Dorrance, Peggy,” mischievously said +Carolyn.</p> +<p>Betty flushed a little, but smiled. “I have a +brother, girls. He’s better now, but time was +when Dick would just as lief never wash from +‘early morn till dewy eve’ as Father used to +say. ‘Aw, what was the use of washing before +breakfast when you had to wash right after +it?’” Betty gave a comical imitation of Dick’s +tones.</p> +<p>“So after assisting in rounding up Dick to +be washed and being embarrassed more than +once by his grimy looks, it’s no wonder if I like +’em clean at least. But I suppose I went through +that time of hating to be washed myself.”</p> +<p>“I doubt it, Betty,” answered Carolyn. “I +think you are always dainty, if you ask me.”</p> +<p>But now the time of the contest was at hand. +More excitement and cheers called for the +attention of the rooters to duty. They yelled for +their own teams now, under the frantic leadership +of active yell-leaders. The Lions’ little +mascot, arrayed in his mask of a lion’s head and +a suit as tawny as the coat of the biggest lion +in the “Zoo,” ran up and down, waving large +paws and trailing a long tasseled tail.</p> +<blockquote><div> +<div class="line-block"> +<div class="line">“Lions, rah!</div> +<div class="line">Rah-rah-rah-rah, Lions!</div> +<div class="line">Eeney, meeney, money mi,</div> +<div class="line">Lions win when they half try--</div> +<div class="line">Eeney meeney money mi,</div> +<div class="line">Chew’em-up! Chew’em-up! <em>Lions</em>”</div> +<div class="line-block"> +<div class="line">(Roar)</div> +</div> +</div> +</div></blockquote> +<p>The influence of the living models at the Zoological +Gardens, on whose fearsome roars many +of these high school pupils had been, figuratively +speaking, brought up, made this characteristic +roar, with which many of Lyon High +yells closed, very realistic. It had been with a +mixture of startled surprise, amusement and admiration +that Betty, Doris and Dick had first +heard it that fall. But now even Amy Lou tried +to imitate it.</p> +<blockquote><div> +<div class="line-block"> +<div class="line">“Hickity, rickity, spickity jig!</div> +<div class="line">Zippity soom and lickity rig!</div> +<div class="line-block"> +<div class="line">The Lions are loose,</div> +<div class="line">Get out of the way!</div> +</div> +<div class="line">They’ll romp to the finish.</div> +<div class="line-block"> +<div class="line">And Capture the Day Gr-rr-rr--LIONS”</div> +</div> +</div> +</div></blockquote> +<p>Another favorite yell was both prefaced and +ended with a student roar from the Lyon High +part of the stadium. It was short and vigorous:</p> +<blockquote><div> +<div class="line-block"> +<div class="line-block"> +<div class="line">“Lions! Lions!</div> +</div> +<div class="line">And they’re not tame!</div> +<div class="line-block"> +<div class="line">Go it, Lions,</div> +</div> +<div class="line">And <em>win that game!</em>”</div> +</div> +</div></blockquote> +<p>Some unexplained delay gave time for a brief +rendering of a short high school song. “Make +it peppy!” called the leader, “one stanza and a +yell for the team!”</p> +<p>This closed the preliminaries and in a tense +stillness on the part of the spectators the game +began. From the first it was exciting, for the +teams were well matched. “Now let the Lions +Roar,” was balanced by “Now let the Eagles +Scream,” in several good plays by each in the +first quarter.</p> +<p>The Eagles kicked off but lost their advantage +almost at once. For a little the struggle resulted +in little gain for either side. A trick +kick failed. Line plays gained little. Both teams +resorted to punting and the Lions gained some +yardage. Betty, Carolyn and Peggy shared +some tense moments when the Eagles’ quarterback +made a good ran of thirty-five yards before +he was pulled down by Peggy’s new hero, +the “Don,” who came in for much cheering from +Lyon High rooters.</p> +<p>“Oh,” said Peggy, sitting back weakly, “I +thought he was going to make a touchdown! +How did he get away?”</p> +<p>“I don’t know,” answered Carolyn, “but he’s +a smart player, the best they have. He’s Bess +Pickett’s brother, you know.”</p> +<p>“He <em>ought</em> to be somebody, then,” replied +Peggy. “What a pity he doesn’t go to Lyon!”</p> +<p>“We don’t need him,” proudly said Carolyn. +“Wait and see Freddy Fisher wiggle and twist +out of–” but Carolyn did not finish her sentence +for interest in what was going on. She +was, however, a true prophetess, for as the +quarter was drawing near its end, their Freddy +caught an Eagles’ punt on his own ten-yard +line and raced through the entire Eagles’ team +for a touchdown, almost caught several times, +while the excited spectators stood and shouted.</p> +<p>“Get-that-man! Catch him! Catch him!” +called the Eagles.</p> +<p>“Look out, Freddy! Go it! Get there!” +shouted the Lyon High rooters. “A touchdown +Freddy! Atta-boy!”</p> +<p>The Lyon High band struck up a victorious +strain, while Freddy, once more the conquering +hero, lay upon his ball to get his breath.</p> +<p>During the second quarter there was no scoring. +The Eagles were determined to prevent +further scoring by the Lions and risked little +punting. They were able, however, to spoil any +fine little plans of the Lions. Betty, who could +not remember sometimes the various positions +of the players, though she could note their work, +watched the vigorous tackling and the opening +struggles of the plays and found it necessary +to make an effort not to become too worked up +over the contest. But the Lions must win this +time! They had barely won over the Eagles the +year before, but the championship was not at +stake then for an outside team had developed +into one that had beaten both Eagles and Lions, +and the Eagles had lost one other game.</p> +<p>Time out saw some of the boys going out to +the side lines and as they returned, Ted Dorrance +saw a vacant seat just below where our three +girls sat and vaulted into it. “Hello!” said he. +“This is a better place than I had before. Anybody +rented it?”</p> +<p>“Not that I know of,” laughed Carolyn. +“Some freshman we don’t know or some outsider +sat there, I guess.”</p> +<p>“He’s lost out now,” said Ted. “How are +you ladies enjoying the game?” Ted looked up +at Betty as he spoke.</p> +<p>“It is a wonderful game,” sighed Betty, “but +I can’t feel easy about our beating yet!”</p> +<p>Ted laughed, drew a package of peppermint +“life savers” from his pocket and handed it up +toward the feminine fingers. “Perhaps these +will do you some good,” said he. “As to feeling +easy, nobody does, though some would say +so. But take it from me, girls, and keep it under +your hat, something is going to happen.”</p> +<p>“Oh, tell us, Ted!” exclaimed Peggy.</p> +<p>Ted shook his head in the negative. “Official +secret. I happened to get hold of it. Sh-sh!”</p> +<p>Betty, with both dimples showing this time, +for she really had two, exchanged an amused +glance with the merry Ted, who now whirled +around as several boys returned to take seats +beside him, and one, looking up from below to +see no room there, hopped into another vacancy +lower down.</p> +<p>“You’ll not have to fight for your seat, Ted,” +remarked Carolyn. “Aren’t you seniors proud +of Freddy?”</p> +<p>“Yeah. But I wish this was a game where +the coach could put in a few substitutes. However, +the other team is as bad off.”</p> +<p>As he spoke, the attention of all centered on +the gridiron once more; but Betty was handing +Ted the little package of “life savers,” and as he +took it, he leaned back to whisper near her ear +as she stooped, “Watch the Don!”</p> +<p>Inquiring eyes met Ted’s with interest. He +nodded. “Do as I said,” he said jokingly, as he, +too, turned to give his full attention to the field.</p> +<p>Betty wondered. The “Don” was noted for +his good interference. Were they going to let +him do something else? Anyhow she would +watch him, as Ted directed. How nice it was +of Ted to tell her! But Carolyn had given her +an amused glance just after Ted had turned +away. She must be careful or those ridiculous +girls would keep on teasing her. Not that she +cared.</p> +<p>Very conservative, indeed, were the plays of +the third quarter. Very watchful were both +teams. But the Eagles must score if possible, +of course, since the only score had been made by +the Lions. Hard they fought. Alas–the Lions +were penalized for some breach of the rules by +Don, nothing serious, Ted said, just some little +regulation about “time”!</p> +<p>“That old heathen!” exclaimed Ted, looking +back at Betty, who wanted to ask Ted if this +were what she was to watch Don for. “But just +wait. We’ll show them!”</p> +<p>Next in excitement came a fifteen-yard holding +penalty imposed on the Eagles. But as if +in desperation, toward the last part of the quarter, +a forward pass by the Eagles was successful, +and Jim Pickett, clearing all interference, +made a seventy-five-yard run and a touchdown.</p> +<p>“<em>Now</em> hear the Eagle scream!” exclaimed +Ted. “What’s the matter with our team that +they let Jim get away with that? But it was a +pretty run. Jehoshaphat, we’re even now! No–they’ve +lost the kick! Hooray, we’re one +ahead!”</p> +<p>Ted was either talking to himself or to the +boys around him, but the girls followed his boyish +discourse with interest. And the next calamity +was even worse. In the next play one +of the fiercest Lions was hurt. They walked +him off, but one arm hung limp and Ted, who +again rushed away to find out the damage, returned +with the information that “Skimp’s arm +was broken!”</p> +<p>“Oh, will that let them beat us, do you think?” +asked Betty, leaning forward.</p> +<p>“Not necessarily,” replied Ted, “but it’s a +big loss,” and Ted looked a little grim. “Besides +that, Freddy’s twisted his ankle, mind +you!”</p> +<p>“But we mustn’t give up, Betty,” urged +Carolyn. “We have to root all the harder to +encourage the team!”</p> +<p>What had become of the play Don was to +make, Betty wondered–if that was what Ted +had meant?</p> +<p>The play of the third quarter, interrupted by +much time out, went on to the finish, the Lions +discouraged and not doing their best, Ted said. +The Eagles made apparently easy gains and +took every advantage, until after a rapid advance +toward their goal and in the last few +minutes of the quarter Jim Pickett made another +touchdown by catching the ball punted to +his position and running free to the goal. In +the excitement the final point to be gained by +the kick was again lost. But now the Eagles’ +score stood ahead! Where were the brave +Lions?</p> +<p>“Well,” said Carolyn, “now comes the tug of +war. It’s the last quarter and everybody is tired +out, and Freddy is limping off the field and it +doesn’t look so good!”</p> +<p>“Never say die, Carolyn,” Peggy cheerfully +put in. “The boys aren’t going to lose the +championship without a fight!”</p> +<p>Ted had disappeared again. The Eagles were +having a snake dance and their band was +parading, the forty pieces blaring triumphantly. +“My, they do play well,” said Betty. “It’s +grand that the high schools are big enough to +have such music!”</p> +<p>“I can’t say that I appreciate the Eagles’ +band right now, Betty,” said Peggy, “and you +won’t either, when you’ve been here a little +longer.”</p> +<p>A gleam of hope seemed to arrive with bright +Ted, who came jumping up to his seat just below +the girls and smiled as he sat down. “We’ll +lick ’em yet, girls,” he cried. “Freddy is resting +a little and getting his ankle bound up, and he’s +going to play all right. They’ve a pretty good +substitute for Skimp; at least I think that Bunty +will play a good game. So all is not lost. Cheer +up!”</p> +<p>The Eagles’ heroes were just as glad for a +short rest as Freddy or any of the weary Lions. +Recumbent forms lay about the field, presumably +drawing strength from Mother Earth. +Then, as the immense audience began to grow +restless over delay, heads were bent together, +in conference over coming plays, and the formation +was made, while encouraging though brief +cheers came from the rooters. After all the +singing, cheering and rooting in every known +way and the expenditure of considerable energy +and enthusiasm, the band, the cheer leaders and +the occupants of the seats in the stadium were +tired enough to long for the close of the game. +Yet tensity marked the opening of the quarter.</p> +<p>“Let’s go,” suggested one of the teachers next +to the girls. Carolyn looked around in surprise, +to see if it could be Miss Heath, usually so +loyal to the Lions. But possibly with the teacher +from the other school she rather hated to see +the finish.</p> +<p>But no, it was not Miss Heath who had suggested +going. “If you like, certainly,” she was +saying, “though it may be a little difficult to +get through the crowd.”</p> +<p>“That is so,” replied the other, “but I think +the game is practically over. Your big runner +is injured and I scarcely think that the Lions +can do much, with the substitute that they have +for that other boy. I saw him play once before +and he lost advantage once by fumbling when +he might have done something.”</p> +<p>“Oh, <em>can’t</em> we ‘do much’!” said Carolyn, in +a voice low enough not to be heard by Miss +Heath or her friend. “She thinks she’s so sure +of the Eagles!”</p> +<p>Peggy and Betty grinned back at Carolyn, +but settled themselves to watch the fray.</p> +<p>Again the struggle was on. Good! Freddy +Fisher was running about as actively as ever, +watched by the Eagles. Twice the ball was +given to him, but although he did not appear to +be lame as he ran, he could make little headway +before he was downed. The Eagles +“screamed” again, rooting loudly, and hoarse +encouragement came from the ranks of the Lyon +High rooters. “Atta-boy! Freddy, rah! Fight, +fight, fight, fight!”</p> +<p>Then came the surprise. Betty had forgotten +to follow Ted’s advice in regard to watch +“Don.”</p> +<p>Who had the ball this time? Betty was as +surprised as any one to see “Don” with the +ball, freeing himself from immediate interference +and starting off. Oh, could he do it!</p> +<p>The surprised Eagles pounded after the mysterious +foreigner while from the Eagles’ rooters +cries of “get that man! Get that man!” were +wildly repeated.</p> +<p>Betty’s heart was in her mouth. “What did +I tell you!” Ted was shouting to the boy next +him, as the Lion rooters stood up in a body and +cheered. “Run for it, Don! Watch out for +Matt! Look out there, Don! Hooray, they +didn’t get you that time!” In these and like +phrases, the boys in front of Betty and others +expressed their feelings, while the lad on his +way was trying to escape his enemies, all too +ready to recover from their surprise and take +measures to stop him.</p> +<p>Betty’s view was unimpeded. Now a tackler +launched himself at Don. Oh! Don stumbled +a little! No, he got away and the tackle clutched +the air. “He’s free! he’s free!” cried Carolyn, +jumping up and down.</p> +<p>Gaining a little on the pursuit, running with +more confidence, the “Don” sped down the long +path toward the goal, the ball held tightly. +Cheers arose and the fierce roar of Lyon High +in rejoicing followed the running lad. A few +Eagles still followed–but Don had escaped! +The “mysterious” player was to divide honors +with Freddy in the championship game and +equal the number of yards won by the Eagles’ +quarterback, Jim Pickett.</p> +<p>“He’s made it! He’s made it!” shouted Ted, +embracing the boy next to him, as Don completed +his spectacular play and won his touchdown. +“Girls–what did I tell you, Betty! <em>Now</em> +watch the Lions do a snake dance!”</p> +<p>The Lions’ second touchdown put them ahead +and after that there was nothing but grim effort, +defence, blocking and wary play on both sides +until the quarter ended. The Eagles, indeed, +tried one or two desperate chances in the hope +of scoring, but the Lions, with equal determination, +blocked their every attempt, while an +almost silent stadium of spectators watched +closely every play.</p> +<p>Miss Heath was behind her friend as they +climbed the steps of the stadium, but happening +to pass Betty and Carolyn, she gave Carolyn +a meaning smile and reached for Betty’s hand +to give it a squeeze.</p> +<p>“She can’t <em>say</em> anything, to gloat over our +victory, of course,” said Carolyn, “but I can’t +help be mean enough to be gladder because that +other teacher was so <em>sure</em> we were defeated!”</p> +<p>“What about the Don now, Betty?” asked +Peggy. “If he isn’t so ‘slick’ as some of the +boys in dressing up, he was ‘slick’ in winning +the game for us, wasn’t he?”</p> +<p>“Oh, the Don’s all right!” said Betty. And +just then she felt a hand at her elbow. It was +Ted, who thus boosted her up a few steps, +telling her that the plan was to make “them” +feel secure and then “spring Don.” “So long, +girls–good game, wasn’t it?” Ted finally +inquired, leaping up the rest of the way and again +joining the boys.</p> +<p>A tired but happy Betty clung to the straps +of the crowded street car on the way home. +Doris was riding home in an automobile, with +the little daughter of a neighbor, but Dick +grinned at Betty from the far end of the car +and joined her when they left it at their corner.</p> +<p>“Say, did you ever see a fellow as heavy as +that foreign fellow looks run like that? But +he isn’t quite as slippery as Freddy. They +might have caught him if they hadn’t been so +surprised. What became of Doris? I didn’t +see her there at all. I hope she didn’t miss it.”</p> +<p>“No; Marie’s folks were there, with her and +Marie, and I saw Doris getting into their car +while we were waiting for the street car.”</p> +<p>“Just to think! We’re the champions of the +scholastic what-you-call it. Didn’t I <em>yell</em>, though +at the last shot, when the last quarter was over +and the game ours!”</p> +</div> +<div class="section" id="chapter-ix-showing-off-lyon-high"> +<h2 class="title section-title level-2"><a class="toc-backref pginternal" href="#id9">CHAPTER IX: SHOWING OFF LYON HIGH</a></h2> +<p>The game that won the championship for the +Lyon High team passed into history without +much effect upon Betty’s relations to any one. +It must be said that the Lyon High boys and +girls could not always forbear to mention their +victory in the presence of their rivals from the +other school and were immediately dubbed too +“cocky” over the “accident” or “trick” which +permitted the result. But argument died out +in the interest of other things and the football +season closed at the usual time.</p> +<p>The next bit of excitement for Betty was the +visit of her friends from home. “<em>Please</em> +arrange,” she wrote to Janet, “to come in time +to visit the school on Wednesday at least. Of +course, I could take you to see the buildings; +but it will be so much more interesting for you +to see them full of all of us. And I can introduce +you to the girls and everything.</p> +<p>“You must meet Carolyn and Peggy, that I’ve +told you about, and then there are such a lot +of other nice girls; and we’ll probably have an +auditorium session Wednesday morning with +something or other that you would enjoy seeing +go on. It isn’t going to hurt you to miss a +day or two of school–<em>please!</em> Get the teachers +to let you make it up and tell ’em why.”</p> +<p>In consequence, two bright-eyed and inwardly +excited girls descended from their car at the +railway station, to find Mr. Lee meeting the +crowds that were hurrying along with their bags +inside by the long train; and Betty was close to +the iron gates, watching with eager look to catch +the first glimpse.</p> +<p>Betty had not known Sue as intimately as +Janet, but she had always liked her and Sue +belonged to her Sunday school class as well as +to her class in school. At any rate Sue was as +warmly received as Janet and tongues went +rapidly indeed on the way home.</p> +<p>“Tell me everything,” Betty had said, and in +reply Janet had suggested that Betty “show +them everything.” But the sights had already +begun, for Mr. Lee went home by a roundabout +way to drive through one of the most beautiful +parks, from which they could see the river and +its scenery and villages on the other side. He +also drove past the high school which Betty +attended and Betty was quite satisfied with the +exclamations of her friends.</p> +<p>“I met Father down town,” Betty explained, +“for I went right down after school, with some +of the girls, and we had a soda. Then I went +to Father’s office and waited for him to be +ready. Did you girls miss much school?”</p> +<p>“Only this afternoon, and tomorrow, of +course,” Sue answered. “Janet’s father drove +us to Columbus, so we caught this train.”</p> +<p>“It’s pretty yet, isn’t it?” remarked Janet, +looking about at the trees and bushes in the +park, “and not a bit of snow.”</p> +<p>“We had a wee bit one day; but you can +notice quite a difference, one of the girls said, +between the climate here and where we used to +live.”</p> +<p>“Doesn’t that sound awful, Janet?” asked +Sue, “where she <em>used</em> to live!”</p> +<p>“But then you couldn’t visit me here, you +know,” Betty hastened to say, and Janet +smilingly replied “Sure enough.”</p> +<p>“Anyhow, you still <em>own</em> your house and the +lot next to it, don’t you?” queried Sue.</p> +<p>“I guess so–don’t we, Father?” answered +Betty, who did not pay much attention to business +affairs, and Mr. Lee nodded assent as he +drove rapidly along the boulevard, now homeward +bound.</p> +<p>“Do you know, Betty,” said Janet a little +later, when they were almost home, “I never +was inside of an apartment house!”</p> +<p>“I never either,” laughed Betty, “till I came +here; but we don’t live in a real apartment +house. Ours is what they call a ‘St. Louis.’ +And don’t you know when one of the girls called +it that–her own place, I mean–I thought she +said she lived in St. Louis! I didn’t like to ask her +to explain how she lived in St. Louis and went +to school here, so I kept still and afterwards +heard somebody else speak of a St. Louis flat!”</p> +<p>“I’m going to keep still, too,” said Janet, +with some firmness. “You shan’t be ashamed +of your friends from the ‘country.’”</p> +<p>Mr. Lee spoke now, with a kind smile. “Betty +isn’t one to be ashamed of two such nice girls, +and moreover, girls, I think that you may vote +for the country, or at least the lovely little +village that is still home to us, when you see +how every one except the wealthy must live in +the city. I own to my wife that there are some +conveniences and advantages. She rather likes +it now. But it’s pretty crowded and unless you +like that, the small town is better. Fortunately +we live away from the street cars, a few +squares, so you may be able to sleep at night.”</p> +<p>“Mer<em>cee</em>,” exclaimed Janet. “But I shan’t +mind not sleeping–I’m not sure I could anyway. +Just to think of being here with you, +Betty!” and Janet squeezed Betty’s arm in +anticipation.</p> +<p>“Here we are,” cried Betty just then, and +Mr. Lee, driving in, ordered them facetiously +to “pile out.”</p> +<p>They “piled,” while Dick and Doris, still disappointed +that they, too, had not been permitted +to meet Janet and Sue, came running out, followed +by Amy Lou, whose mother was trying +to hold her back or at least to throw something +around her to protect her from the frosty air. +“O, Janet, it’s going to be such a glorious +Thanksgiving!” exclaimed Sue in Janet’s ear, +as she followed her up the steps and into the +house. And Betty was crying to the welcoming +mother, “O, Mother, they can stay over Sunday +and don’t care if they miss school on Monday!”</p> +<p>“Well, isn’t that fine,” warmly responded the +hostess. “I’m glad, too, to see the girls from +the old home and thankful to have room enough +to tuck you away. Take the girls back to your +room, Betty, and have them get ready for +dinner. Doris, you may set the table if you +will, and Betty will help me take up the dinner +presently.”</p> +<p>This was the beginning. On Wednesday +morning, Betty took her guests to school with +her, for Janet, particularly, wanted to visit +a few of the classes. Sue told Betty that she +could “dump her any place” if she liked. Impressed +with the numbers and the apparent +complexity of the system, the girls visited one +or two classes, met Betty’s home room teacher +and the others, in a hasty way between classes, +and then waited for Betty in the auditorium or +the library, where there was much to interest +them.</p> +<p>There was an auditorium session, with a few +exercises appropriate to the Thanksgiving +season and then a brief organ recital by a +visiting organist, whom the principal had secured +for a real treat to the entire school.</p> +<p>“Oh, I’m <em>so</em> glad that you heard our big +organ,” said Betty as she took them to the +library to leave them there while she went to +her last class before lunch.</p> +<p>“And it was great to see that immense room +filled with nobody but high school pupils, and +their teachers, of course,” added Janet, “only–only, +I believe, Betty, that I’d be too confused. +Some way, I like the little old high +school at home, and we have such a pretty building, +even if it is small.”</p> +<p>“Oh, you’d get used to it,” Betty assured +Janet. “I have, and still, there’s something in +what you say, of course. Now I’ll be right up +to take you to lunch; it’s on the floor just above +the library, you know, and I’m going to bring +Carolyn and Peggy along so we’ll sit together +at lunch and talk. Don’t you think they’re +sweet?”</p> +<p>“Peggy’s a perfect dear,” promptly Sue replied, +“and Carolyn is too nice for words, simply +adorable.”</p> +<p>After this tribute, the girls followed Betty +into the library, where Betty spoke to the +librarian in charge and took them to a seat at +one of the tables. “You can look at the books, +if you want to,” she whispered. “I spoke to +Miss Hunt, so it will be all right.”</p> +<p>The time did not drag, for boys and girls +were coming and going, or sitting at the tables +to read or examine books. The girls felt a little +timid about investigating any of the shelves, +but the pleasant librarian came to speak to +them and to suggest where they might find books +of some interest. Accordingly, each with a book +spent a little while in reading, though, it was +hard to put their minds on anything requiring +consecutive thought.</p> +<p>And now bright faces peeped in, for Janet +and Sue sat not far from the door. Betty was +beckoning and leaving the books upon the table, +the two guests joined Betty, Carolyn, Peggy +and Kathryn Allen, whom they had not met.</p> +<p>“This is Kathryn Allen, girls,” said Betty in +the breezy, hurried way made necessary by the +rapid movement of events. “I’ve told her who +you are. Let’s hurry in and see if we can get +places together. Mary Emma Howl and said +she’d try to save places for us at that table by +the window that we like. She’s in line now. +Look at that long line already! I’m glad we +happened to have first lunch, Janet, since you’re +here.”</p> +<p>“What is ‘first lunch,’ Betty? Do you have to +take turns?”</p> +<p>“Yes. There are several periods. Father +says that that is the only thing he doesn’t like +about this school, that there isn’t enough time +to eat without swallowing things whole. But it +isn’t as bad as that, really; and most generally +we don’t try to eat a big meal. Still, things +are so good, and you get so hungry, you know, +especially if you can’t eat a big breakfast.”</p> +<p>“I don’t like all your stairs,” said Sue, “but +I suppose it can’t be helped. I guess your +mother’s right–you need wings.”</p> +<p>“Oh, you get used to where rooms are and it +isn’t so bad. Of course, the building does spread +out awfully and up the three stories and basement. +And by the way, we can eat all we want +to this time, for I saw Miss Heath and told her +that I had company, and if I was a little late +to the first class would she give me a chance to +make it up–and she was in an awful hurry and +said, maybe without thinking, that I could.”</p> +<p>The tables did look tempting. “First lunch” +saw the whole array of pretty salads and desserts, +the chief temptations to the pupils, the +steaming meats and vegetables, so good in cold +weather. Cafeteria fashion, the long line +passed, choosing what to put on their trays, and +oh, the noise, within the concrete floors and +walls! Sue said to Janet, as they walked along, +that she was fairly deafened; but she had no +sooner sat down with the other girls at the +table where places had been successfully held +for them by Mary Emma, then she began +“shouting” with the rest to be heard.</p> +<p>Betty saw to it that her guests had a good +selection of viands, for neither Sue nor Janet +were inclined to take enough, not wanting to +run up the price for their young hostess. “Mer<em>cee</em>, +Betty, do you want to kill us?” asked Janet +as Betty placed a particularly toothsome looking +fruit dessert in her tray, in addition to the +modest piece of pie which she had herself +selected.</p> +<p>“Oh, no, not yet, Janet. Remember the turkey +we’re going to have tomorrow; but you must +have nourishment!”</p> +<p>Carolyn’s tray was slimly furnished, Janet +thought, and she wondered if she could not +afford to get more; or did she just like desserts? +Peggy had meat, dressing and gravy and a fruit +salad, of which she began to dispose with some +haste, though daintily enough. Sue and Janet +concluded that they must not look around too +much, though the surroundings were so interesting, +but apply themselves to the contents of +their trays, not a difficult task, since everything +was so good.</p> +<p>“Is there anything else you’d like, girls? I +can go back as easily as not,” said Betty, pouring +milk from a bottle into her glass.</p> +<p>“No, indeed,” answered both the girls together. +“We have too much now,” added Janet.</p> +<p>“If you can hear what I say,” called Carolyn +across the table, around whose end the girls +had gathered, “will you, Janet and Sue, come +with Betty to our house Friday evening after +dinner? Say about half-past seven or eight +o’clock? I’ll call up, too, Friday some time. +I’m going to have a few of the boys and girls +to meet your cousins, Betty.”</p> +<p>“Oh, how lovely, Carolyn, but I should have +the little party myself. I can’t let you do it. I +was going to ask you and Peggy and Mary +Emma and several other girls for Saturday. I +had to wait to make sure that the girls really got +here, you know.”</p> +<p>“Well, that would be just as nice as can be, +Betty. I’d love to come, but I know such a lot +of the boys and girls, so please come to our +house.”</p> +<p>“We could do both, then,” said Betty.</p> +<p>“All right, we’ll see about it, then,” assented +Carolyn. “Oh, yes, Chet, see you right after +school!”</p> +<p>Carolyn had turned to answer Chet Dorrance, +who spoke to her, tipping his chair and leaning +back from the next table. A crowd of boys +there were not uninterested in the little group +of girls, whose demure glances had been cast in +their direction occasionally.</p> +<p>“That’s Budd, Janet, next to Chet,” Betty +was saying, “and Kathryn’s brother Chauncey +is right across at that other table, the boy that +just sat down there with his tray. They’re all +sophomores. But there’s a freshman bunch at +the next table. I told you about Budd and +Chauncey and some of the rest when I wrote +you about Carolyn’s house party, didn’t I?”</p> +<p>“Maybe you did, Betty, but I can’t remember, +only about those you ‘rave’ about, like Carolyn.”</p> +<p>“I imagine that you’ll meet a lot of them at +Carolyn’s. Isn’t it wonderful of her to entertain +for us? I think I did say to her not to +have too much planned for Saturday and that +I was hoping that nothing would happen to keep +you girls from coming. I was pretty scared +about it when I heard from Sue that her mother +was half sick; but you did come, thank fortune!”</p> +<p>It was more easily possible for bits of conversation +with one person to be held, since when +more were included it was necessary to raise +the voice. The general conversation and +laughter, the jingle of silver and the clatter of +trays and dishes seemed to be louder than the +numbers served would justify, although there +was no special carelessness among the boys and +girls, and oversight made rude scuffling or trick +playing impossible, had there been any temptation +or time for it. “It’s just this big, echoing +room, Sue,” said Janet, for both visitors noticed +it. “But it’s lots of fun, and such good eats for +next to nothing, according to what Betty says.”</p> +<p>“They just charge enough to cover expenses, +of food and help and so on,” said Betty, who had +turned back from talking to Kathryn in time +to hear this last. “How was the pie, Janet?”</p> +<p>“Grand; good as home-made.”</p> +<p>“It <em>is</em> ‘home-made.’ I wish we had time to go +back and see all the place they have to cook +and bake. Well, we can’t do everything in one +day, can we?”</p> +<p>“We are doing enough,” replied Janet. “My +brain is whirling as it is, going from one thing +to another and trying to remember who is who +and what is what.”</p> +<p>“Don’t try,” said smiling Betty. “I’ll tell +you again, or remind you. I felt the same way +at first, and remember that I had to learn to +live it and do it–them–everything!”</p> +<p>On the way out Betty had a chance to point +out, figuratively speaking, both Freddy Fisher +and the “Don” of football fame, and she almost +ran into Ted Dorrance in the hall. “Say,” +said he, catching Betty’s shoulder for a moment, +“we seem to run each other down, don’t +we? Oh, beg pardon!” The last expression +was addressed to Janet, whom he had brushed +against in avoiding Betty and a crowd of +teachers that were coming from the opposite +dining hall, sacred to the instructors of youth.</p> +<p>“Please stop a second and meet my friends +that are visiting me–Miss Light and Miss +Miller, Mr. Dorrance, a prominent junior, girls.”</p> +<p>Betty smiled up at Ted as she added the last +in complimentary fashion, but he shook his +head at her, pleasantly acknowledging the introduction. +“She doesn’t say what I’m prominent +for, you notice,” but with a salute from +his hatless forehead, Ted was gone. There was +no standing on ceremony when school hours +were on and everything, even lunch, ran on +schedule.</p> +<p>“I’ll not have to hurry as much as I thought, +girls, since it was first lunch. I’m about crazy +today, I suppose, with delight at your being +here and wanting you to know about everything +and everybody. What would you like to do while +I’m in class and study hall? Want to visit both +of them?”</p> +<p>“How many periods have you this afternoon, +Betty?”</p> +<p>“Three, but one of them’s in gym.”</p> +<p>“All right, we’ll visit study hall and gym and +stay in the library or auditorium during your +class.”</p> +<p>So it was decided. “Gym” proved most interesting. +Study hall was full of possibilities, +Sue said, for it was interesting to see whether +this one or that one studied or not, to guess +who they were and to recognize those whom +they met. And after the last gong had rung, +how odd it was to pass through those crowded +halls, where pupils were putting away their +books in their lockers, getting their wraps from +them, and going to their home rooms until dismissed. +It was all on a bigger scale than in +their home school. And the crowded street car +was another feature, not so pleasant, perhaps.</p> +<p>But Betty looked out for the girls, to see that +they had each a strap, until Chet and Budd and +a freshman boy Betty knew, who were, happily, +near, caught Betty’s eye and signaled the girls +to come where they were sitting, half rising, yet +holding the seats until the girls should be ready +to slide into them.</p> +<p>“Now, then,” said Chet, hanging to a strap +in the aisle, after a brief introduction to Janet +and Sue, “what do you think of our school? I +noticed you had company, Betty.”</p> +<p>“We’re quite overwhelmed by the school, +really,” answered Janet, politely, and smiling +up at the boy whose seat she was occupying. +“But we have a good school, too, and I think +you can learn anywhere.”</p> +<p>“I suppose you can,” said Chet, “if you work +at it. Did you see the stadium?”</p> +<p>“Yes, and it’s just marvelous. I don’t wonder +Betty raves over everything!”</p> +<p>This satisfied Chet, who did not much care +for the remark about learning anywhere. “I’m +invited to meet you at Carolyn’s Saturday, no, +Friday night, so I’ll see you there. Yep, coming,” +and Chet moved down toward a boy who +had beckoned him.</p> +<p>Gradually the jam lessened, as one after another +reached a stopping place. By the time +Betty and her friends had reached their own +stop, every one was seated. Budd was the last +one to swing off, and like Chet he parted from +them with a “So long, girls, I’ll see you Friday +night.”</p> +<p>“Those boys must know you pretty well +Betty,” said Janet.</p> +<p>“They do. Ever since Carolyn’s party.”</p> +</div> +<div class="section" id="chapter-x-more-festivities"> +<h2 class="title section-title level-2"><a class="toc-backref pginternal" href="#id10">CHAPTER X: MORE FESTIVITIES</a></h2> +<p>“Thanksgiving always means turkey and +mince pie to me,” frankly said Dick, as he +sniffed savory odors and executed a clog dance +on the kitchen floor to the detriment of its +bright linoleum.</p> +<p>“Scat!” said an unappreciative sister at the +close of the brief effort. “This kitchen isn’t +big enough for any antics.” But Betty was +grinning and Janet, who was wiping dishes, +tapped a toe in time. “We’re clearing the deck +for Mother’s greatest efforts,” Betty continued. +“Nobody can have the roast turkey just right +as she can. Thanks, Janet. There’s the place +to hang the towel. Now you girls get ready, +while I peel the potatoes and do a few other +things. Mother, shall I wash celery now?”</p> +<p>“Why, that will be very nice. You are bound +to leave me nothing to do, I see.”</p> +<p>“That, my dear Mother, is your imagination +and a beautiful dream. When we come home +from church and find the turkey cooked and the +potatoes ready to mash and the mince pie sizzling +hot–yum, yum!” Betty was hanging up +the dish pan and hurrying to put the celery in +cold water.</p> +<p>“Church!” sniffed Dick, still hanging around.</p> +<p>“Just for that,” grinned Betty, “I believe I’ll +urge Father to take you with us.”</p> +<p>“If you <em>do</em>,” threatened Dick, shaking a fist, +though, grinning, as he disappeared altogether +from his position in the kitchen door, and they +heard him scampering down the hall.</p> +<p>“Now he’ll get out a book or something,” said +Betty to Janet, “and settle down for awhile. +The point is, we really think it better to have +Doris, at least, at home, to amuse Amy Lou +and keep her out of Mother’s way a little; and +since they didn’t want to go to church with us, +it’s all right. Oh, you are going to enjoy the +service, I think. One of our very best preachers +is to give the sermon at the sort of union service +of the churches; and it’s in one of the very prettiest +churches, too, with a big vested choir and +everything! There will probably be some grand +solo, or quartette, or something special, and we +want to get there early enough to hear the +chimes.”</p> +<p>“Sue and I will get ready, then, right away–shall +we?”</p> +<p>“Please, and I’ll whisk into something and +we’ll be off in a jiffy, when Father’s ready to +go.”</p> +<p>In such active fashion Thanksgiving Day began +for this household and its guests, with +everybody in fine spirits. The air was cold and +Dick was hoping for snow. “Gee, I bet the +boys are skating up home,” said he as he followed +his father to the garage.</p> +<p>“I doubt it,” replied his father, “but you’re +not going to get as much snow and ice as you +want here, I suppose.”</p> +<p>Three happy girls, warmly clad, climbed into +the machine with Mr. Lee and they were soon +whirling on their way toward the church, whose +service was almost as new to Betty as to her +guests, with beautiful music and an impressive +message. And then came the return to the warm +house, the smiling mother with her face a little +flushed from frequent bastings of the turkey, +and the good old-fashioned Thanksgiving +dinner, which makes every one thankful whether he +was in that mood before or not.</p> +<p>As usual, Mr. Lee stopped to let his passengers +enter by the front door, while he drove +to the garage, and Betty was rather surprised +to have her mother open the door for them, +though probably the night latch was on. Mother +kept things locked up as a rule, since coming +to the city.</p> +<p>“Hang up your wraps here in the closet, +girls,” breezily directed Mrs. Lee, “and go into +the living room to meet our guest.”</p> +<p>“Guest!” thought Betty as she gave her +mother an inquiring look. Who in the world +had come?</p> +<p>“It is one of the boys that your Father +knows, Betty,” replied Mrs. Lee, speaking softly +in reply to Betty’s unspoken question. “It seems +he asked him to come for Thanksgiving dinner +and forgot to tell me–so by all means make +him welcome. I think he goes to one of the +high schools and works in between times.”</p> +<p>Betty, wondering, and guessing at the cordiality +which her mother must have used to +cover up her ignorance and make the boy feel +at home, followed her mother from the hall to +see a tall, rather heavy boy rise and stand a +little awkwardly to be introduced. Dark eyes, +unsure of a welcome, met Betty’s. Why–why, +it was the “Don!”</p> +<p>From the rather sober, polite girl who was +ready to make a stranger welcome, Betty became +a wide-awake, welcoming friend. Her +mother, in a low but cordial voice, was mentioning +a name that Betty had heard but never remembered, +and then she was giving the girls’ +names to the guest.</p> +<p>“Why, Mother, <em>this</em> is the hero of our championship +game!” Betty was stretching her hand +out with a smile. “Does Father know it? And +where is Dick? He ought to be worshipping +at your shrine!” Betty hardly knew what she was +saying in her surprise. The other girls, following +Betty’s example, shook hands with the tall +lad, who seemed to lose a little of his shy attitude +under this complimentary greeting. It +was nothing so unusual, to be sure, for the Lees +to have some lonesome body to share their +Thanksgiving dinner, yet her father’s forgetfulness +and the surprise of his acquaintance with +the “Don” were two unexpected features of the +situation. But trust Mother to handle it!</p> +<p>“Dick went off somewhere almost as soon as +you went to church, Betty,” Mrs. Lee was saying. +“I’m glad to know that he will find a friend +in Mr. Balinsky. Please excuse us all for a few +minutes. I’m going to ask the girls to help me +take up our dinner. Mr. Lee will be in shortly +and Amy Lou will keep you company, I suppose.”</p> +<p>Amy Louise, who had reached the point of +showing one of her picture books to the “big +boy,” soberly nodded assent. Doris was nowhere +to be seen, but she was found cracking nuts for +the top of the salad and announced to Betty, +“We have everything ready now, I think.”</p> +<p>“Well, you certainly have been a help to +Mother,” said Betty warmly, “and did you know +that Ramon Balinsky is the ‘Don’?”</p> +<p>“Why Betty Lee! How wonderful! No, I +never saw him close enough at school; and then +you couldn’t tell, on the field, in his football +clothes! My, won’t Dick be simply stunned? +I’m going to see where he is and call him!”</p> +<p>“His name has been in the school papers, but +we’ve always called him the ‘Don’, so for a +minute I didn’t know him, all dressed up, too, +in his Sunday clothes, I suppose. He usually +looks so dingy at school, but Mother says he +works, so of course, poor kid!”</p> +<p>“Maybe he doesn’t have enough neckties and +shirts, Betty,” added Doris, in a sepulchral +whisper. “Bet he’ll like our dinner all right!”</p> +<p>Dick needed no rounding up, for he breezed +into the back door just then, to be told by Doris +to, “just go into the front room and see who’s +going to be here for dinner!” And the girls +busy with trips back and forth, from kitchen +to dining room and dining room to kitchen, +smiled to hear the whoop with which Dick welcomed +the older boy. It was not loud, but enthusiastic, +and an immediate sound of conversation +in Dick’s boyish treble and Ramon’s +deeper tones indicated, so Betty whispered, that +Dick was finding out everything that they +“wanted to know but wouldn’t ask.”</p> +<p>Mr. Lee came in from the garage and held up +his hands as he heard Ramon’s voice. Then +he pretended to be frightened and whipped outside +again into the little back hallway where +the refrigerator stood. “You are forgiven, sir,” +laughed his wife. “Come and carry the platter +with the turkey to the biggest place I’ve +prepared, and do not drop it on pain of dire consequences!”</p> +<p>“Honestly, Mother, I forgot all about it, but +you don’t mind, do you?”</p> +<p>“Not a bit. I supposed he was some lonesome +youngster that you had found, but you can +tell me all about it later.”</p> +<p>“I knew you would have a big dinner as +usual”–but Mr. Lee now accepted the hot +platter with the turkey and reserved further remarks +for the future. And soon both young +and older heads were bowed around the long +table while Mr. Lee said grace.</p> +<p>“Our heavenly Father, we thank Thee for +these evidences of Thy goodness and bounty +and for all the mercies of the year–for health +and strength and work and human love and +friendship. Bless us all as we offer our gratitude. +Forgive us if we have not served Thee +well, strengthen us for the future, and keep us +in Thy care, for Jesus’ sake. Amen.”</p> +<p>Ramon’s solemn black eyes looked respectfully +at Mr. Lee as he raised his head after the +blessing; but Amy Lou made them all smile +by a long sigh and a little leap in her high chair +as her father picked up the carving knife and +fork There was plenty of conversation at once, +in which Ramon could take part if he liked; +but no one expected anything, it was evident, +and the chief interest, it must be said, centered +in the good dinner, with compliments to the +cook. Never was there such good dressing, or a +turkey so well done and juicy at the same time. +The cranberry jelly was a success and Betty’s +mashed potato was a marvel of whiteness. It +was fortunate that there was plenty of gravy. +Janet had brought the spiced peaches from the +home town and felt much honored that Ramon +liked them better than the cranberry jelly with +his turkey, not that he said so, of course.</p> +<p>As usual, there were too many things, but +there would be other meals, as Mrs. Lee said +when her husband told her that nobody was +eating “the other vegetables” and that dressing +and mashed potato would have been enough. +Ramon cast a look at the great dish of grapes, +oranges and other fruit on the buffet, with a +little bowl of cracked nuts and a plate of fudge, +and then viewed the hot mince pie before him. +“You must have a piece of Mother’s pumpkin +pie, too, Ramon,” said Betty. “She always +bakes pies for the suppers and things at home, +church suppers, I mean. And do you remember, +Mother, the time we had the dining hall +at the fair?”</p> +<p>“Do I?” smiled Mrs. Lee. “Our aid society +made enough money to buy new dishes and carpet +the church, but oh, how we worked!”</p> +<p>“I think that it is cake where your Mother +excels,” said Mr. Lee, “but I suppose we shall +not have any this noon.”</p> +<p>“If you want it, Father,” said Betty.</p> +<p>“We shall reserve that for our supper lunch, +Betty,” said Mrs. Lee, “and we want you to +stay for that, Ramon.”</p> +<p>“Thank you, madam–that would be too much, +I’m sure. I expect one of the boys, I think. +I–I ought to call him up, I suppose, for he +was to come for me at three-thirty or four and +I may not be able to get back to where I board +by that time.”</p> +<p>“Call from here, Ramon,” said Betty. “Oh, +Mother, I’m glad you did put those fat raisins +in the mince meat!”</p> +<p>But all the conversation did not center upon +the food. Mr. Lee drew out in the course of the +dinner some facts from Ramon in which the +girls were very much interested. He had, +indeed, come to America directly from Spain, but +his father was Polish and Ramon had seen +Paderewski in Poland. He had attended school +for several years in a small eastern town where +he studied “English and American,” he said.</p> +<p>“I was so behind in everything English, you +see, that I had to be put in a lower grade at +first than I would have been in in my own +country; but I made three grades in one year +because I could do the mathematics and such +things; and so when I learned to read and speak +your language pretty well, it was not so hard. +A friend of my father’s brought me here, but +he died.”</p> +<p>“Oh, do you understand all the football language +now?” asked Dick.</p> +<p>“He certainly must, Dicky, or he wouldn’t +have done what he did,” suggested Betty, who +did not think that Dick should have asked that +question. But Ramon only laughed a little.</p> +<p>“I know most of it now, Dick,” Ramon replied, +“and I can stand being punched or kicked +without wanting to knock the player down. Is +that what you call ‘good sport’?”</p> +<p>“Yep,” said Dick. “That’s good football.”</p> +<p>“Do you expect to finish high school here?” +kindly asked Mrs. Lee.</p> +<p>“If I can,” answered Ramon.</p> +<p>After dinner all but Betty and her mother +went into the living room to visit; but the two +made short work of putting away the food and +making neat piles of the soiled dishes, and soon +they joined the rest. Amy Lou was sleepy but +would not leave the scene without a fuss. Consequently +she was permitted to stay. Ramon +called up the “boy,” who proved to be Ted Dorrance.</p> +<p>A little music and a few quiet games were +all that the time afforded before Ted alighted +from a big car and ran into the yard and up +the steps to ring the doorbell. Betty answered +the ring and friendly Ted strode in. “Can’t stay +a minute,” said he, “the ‘Don’ here?”</p> +<p>“Yes, come in.”</p> +<p>“In a moment. Say, Betty, I’d like to have +a hand in giving the girls a good time. How +about a little fun tonight? Chet has an idea.”</p> +<p>“I’m sure we are free for anything, Ted, and +it is good of you. Father and Mother say that +Ramon must be brought back here for supper +tonight, so why can’t you come, too? Or, I tell +you what–would some of you come for a taffy +pull? Come to supper, too, of course.”</p> +<p>“I couldn’t do that, Betty–had such a big +dinner and all the folks are around at home. +But do you give me leave to bring whom I can +tonight?”</p> +<p>“I <em>think so!</em> Bring Louise and somebody else +for Ramon.”</p> +<p>“Great idea. Let’s see, three of you, all freshmen?”</p> +<p>“Yes. The girls were in my class.”</p> +<p>“All right. It’s a surprise party, then, just +as Chet had the nerve to suggest. Tell your +mother and surprise the girls.”</p> +<p>“Glorious. I’m delighted that he though of it. +Do get Carolyn and Peggy if you can.”</p> +<p>“They already know about it, in case it is decided.”</p> +<p>“Oh, then you really meant to do something!”</p> +<p>“She doubts my word! Listen–don’t get refreshments +ready, unless you have the stuff to +make the taffy. I don’t know whether the girls +could bring that or not and the stores are closed. +We were just going to order ice-cream sent +around, and what else we could get.”</p> +<p>“Listen, Ted, yourself. Mother has the most +delicious cake, extra big, because we baked up +for company, you know. Have the ice-cream if +you must, but not another thing, please.”</p> +<p>What fun it was to plan something with Ted! +Betty felt quite grown up. First they had a +senior to dinner, now here was a junior, with +probably Louise coming and loads of fun +ahead!</p> +<p>The girls and Ramon were both wondering +what could detain Ted and Betty in the hall, +but Ramon hesitated to rise until Ted should +appear. That he did at once, however, with a +last word to Betty. He was properly respectful +in meeting Betty’s father and mother and +bowed a friendly greeting to the girls, Dick, +Doris and little Amy Lou, who had wakened and +was sleepily arranging a row of tiny dolls on the +window sill.</p> +<p>“The boys have something on hand and want +the ‘Don’ this afternoon. I’ll deliver him in +two or three hours or so. Supper will not be too +early, will it?”</p> +<p>“Not after a late dinner,” Mrs. Lee assured +Ted, “but it would be better to ‘deliver’ our +guest by seven at least.”</p> +<p>“Before that, I promise you,” answered Ted. +“Don’t forget, Betty, our little scheme.”</p> +<p>“How could I?” replied Betty.</p> +</div> +<div class="section" id="chapter-xi-the-surprise-party"> +<h2 class="title section-title level-2"><a class="toc-backref pginternal" href="#id11">CHAPTER XI: THE “SURPRISE” PARTY</a></h2> +<p>“What is the great scheme, Betty?” asked +Doris.</p> +<p>“I’m not telling, Dodie,” said Betty, “but you +will know before long perhaps. It’s just something +the boys and girls are going to do. By the +way, Mother, may I consult you about something? +I need permission for something not to +be divulged as yet.”</p> +<p>“You are making us curious, Betty,” lightly +said Janet. “Come on, Sue, try that new tune +of yours on Betty’s piano.”</p> +<p>Mr. Lee had left the room and Dick followed +him to ask that the car be gotten out for a +ride. “All right, son. Perhaps the girls and +Mother will like to go.”</p> +<p>Betty and her Mother escaped to the kitchen, +where they started on the dishes, hoping that +the sounds of china would not be noticeable in +the front room. The visitors were only too good +about offering their services. “You must go, +Mother, with Amy Lou, because you’ve been in +working all day,” said Betty, with decision, “and +that will never do on Thanksgiving. Besides, +there’s something else on hand and I don’t know +what you’ll think of it!”</p> +<p>“Confess, Betty,” said Mrs. Lee, smiling and +making a fine suds for her glasses and silver.</p> +<p>“First tell me that you’ll go, Mother, for I’ll +stay and finish these up and begin to fix things +for our supper.”</p> +<p>“All right, child. I’ll go. Now what?”</p> +<p>Betty at once told about the surprise party +“all rather on the spur of the moment, +Mother, at least as far as having it tonight is +concerned. And I think Ted is in it only because +he found Ramon here and thought it would be +good for him to stay.”</p> +<p>“Why do you think so–because Ted is older?”</p> +<p>“Yes. But it gives him a chance to take Louise +to something different, you see. I think that +Ted has a sort of ‘case’ on Louise Madison.”</p> +<p>“I see. Yes, Betty, I think we can manage +it. Haven’t you any idea how many are +coming?”</p> +<p>“No–that’s the mischief, but I suppose not +a great many.”</p> +<p>“We are well prepared for things to eat. If +the cake does not last as long as we thought, +it does not matter. Your friends will be welcome. +There is that fruit cake that I baked for +Christmas, too, and we can use that if we run +short. We’ll make a hot drink and the cake and +ice-cream, with taffy, ought to be enough in all +conscience, especially on Thanksgiving. If your +father is ready before we finish, whisk off the +tablecloth, Betty, and use the lunch things for +supper. But don’t concern yourself about the +meal. Just get your room ready for the girls +to take their wraps to and look around to pick +up anything that is out of order. Fortunately, +Amy Lou will want to go to bed before they +come.”</p> +<p>“Yes, and everything is all fixed up for company, +even if it doesn’t exactly stay put with all +of us. Oh, you’re so nice, Mother! It’s such a +relief!”</p> +<p>At this point, Janet and Sue ran out to the +kitchen and took aprons from the hooks upon +the wall. “Did you think that we wouldn’t want +to help?” asked Sue, reproachfully. “Let me +wipe and you put away, Betty, for I don’t know +where things go.”</p> +<p>“Well, since you insist,” laughed Betty, pulling +a dry towel from a drawer. “Come help me +take off and fold up the big tablecloth, Janet, +and a lot of the dishes and nearly all of the silver +can go back on the table. Where are the +other linen things, Mother?”</p> +<p>“Same drawer as usual. After lunch we’ll +take out the leaves and,”–but Mrs. Lee did not +finish, for she had nearly told the reason for +making more room in the dining room. The two +large rooms ought to hold quite a number of +boys and girls, she thought. But Mother was +tired, as Betty had surmised, and she knew that +she needed to get away for a few minutes at +least.</p> +<p>Mr. Lee had been obliged to do something to +the car, or change a tire, though no one inquired +what, when, after just time enough to get the +main part of the dishes done, they heard a honking +in front. “That couldn’t be Ted back with +Ramon, could it?” thought Betty, rather panicky. +But it was only the family car honking +for passengers. All was well!</p> +<p>“Aren’t you coming Betty?” asked Janet, surprised.</p> +<p>“No, Janet, I want to start things and some +one ought to be here in case Ramon comes back +early. He has to come when they bring him, +you know. Moreover, if you all go, it is just as +well not to be too crowded.”</p> +<p>Betty was glad to be by herself for a little +while. She finished putting the kitchen in +order, washing the last pan. Then she flew back +to the bedroom to see that dresser and all were +neat and to hang away a few things that she +and the girls had left out. She decided that +there was a prettier set of lace covers for the +little dressing table and put them out. She +hoped that the girls would not notice particularly +and she looked up some embroidered guest +towels, ready to whisk them into place when the +guest should first arrive. Or her mother could +put on the finishing touches in the bath room if +she were welcoming the crowd. Betty felt a +little excited, wanting her friends to like her +home and knowing that some of them, Carolyn +among others, had so much more room. It was +hard to be so crowded. No, it wasn’t. It was +all right when they were by themselves, and she +was sure that anybody that <em>was</em> anybody would +like her for herself! It was Betty’s first feeling +of responsibility for the appearance of a house, +a temporary one, to be sure. She had been accustomed +to do what she was told, but the roomy +old place “at home” had no such problems as +this apartment.</p> +<p>There was a ring of the bell before Betty had +thought about the light supper, though to be +sure her mother had said she was to feel no responsibility +for that. Betty rushed to the door, +to find Ramon there. Again he looked apologetic +and hesitatingly said, “I’m afraid I’m too +early, but Ted and the boys brought me on. Ted +is driving around to see one or two of the girls.”</p> +<p>“Come right in,” cordially Betty invited. “Sit +down and read the paper or something till I +start things a little in the kitchen. I think the +earlier we get our supper, or lunch of a sort, out +of the way the better, don’t you? Or did Ted tell +you what is going on?”</p> +<p>“Yes, he did,” replied Ramon, as he obediently +walked into the living room after having divested +himself of his overcoat and hat. “Say, Miss +Betty, we had such a wonderful dinner that you +surely won’t do much for supper, will you? I +feel as if it’s an imposition for me to come back, +and yet,—”</p> +<p>“And yet what would be the use of going home +and then coming right back to a party?” finished +Betty.</p> +<p>“Well, that was it, of course; and then it is so +homelike here and so different from what I have +all the time.”</p> +<p>“Do you really like it, then?” asked Betty, +pleased.</p> +<p>“Who could help it? And now why couldn’t +I help be <em>chef</em>? It would be what you call fun. +I could tell you of so many things that I have +done since I came to your country, and I earned +my meals one time in a restaurant. I do not +always tell that to the boys and girls, for they +do not understand, and yet my people in Spain +and Hungary and Poland are of the best.”</p> +<p>“Father thinks it is what you are, inside, that +makes you,” said Betty, nodding a determined +little head. They were still standing just within +the living room door.</p> +<p>“Oh, your father! He is a big man! I fix his +car at the garage where I work after school, and +before school, too. And he forgot to tell your +sweet mother and yet she made me welcome.” +Ramon was smiling in amusement as well as +appreciation.</p> +<p>“Oh, could you tell that?” Betty chuckled. +“Mother thought that she had successfully concealed +her surprise. But she was glad to have +you come, you understand that, don’t you?”</p> +<p>“Yes, and all of you helped.”</p> +<p>“Well, now let’s see, Ramon. Come on into +the kitchen and help me decide what we want. +We’ve got a lot of that salad fixed and if you +will crack a few more English walnuts we’ll fix +a pretty big glass bowl of it and pass it instead +of putting salad around at each place. Nobody +could finish his salad at dinner time. And I’ll +put on the lunch cloth or what-you-call-it–and +you can set down all that fruit and the bowl of +nuts on the buffet. My, imagine me bossing the +gr-reat football hero of Lyon High, and a senior +at that!”</p> +<p>Ramon only laughed at that and took the +large apron, soberly offered him by a Betty with +twinkling eyes, and tried to fasten it around +himself. But he was not used to tying a bow in +the back, Betty told him, so she would finish the +operation. “Now see what an artist you are in +the dining room first, Ramon.”</p> +<p>Thus Betty, while she arranged the linen +pieces on the table, waved a hand at the buffet +and flew into the kitchen herself. “Won’t they +be surprised when they come back?” she called, +appearing in the door with a whole head of lettuce +in her hands. “And it will be fine to have +you to help us make the table small after supper. +Father always has to help with that because +the table sticks and we can hardly push it +together. Do you think you would be strong +enough?”</p> +<p>Ramon gave Betty an amused look. “Yes, +Miss Betty, I think I’m strong enough and I’d +do anything for any of you!”</p> +<p>“Well,” sighed Betty, “I really don’t believe +in having your company work, but under the +circumstances it is a great help! You see Mother +had been doing so much cooking, so I made her +promise to go out for a ride.” With this Betty +disappeared from view, to wash the lettuce +under the faucet and run into the pantry for the +big glass dish or bowl.</p> +<p>Ramon finished arranging the fruit and nuts +and went out into the kitchen declaring that he +was no artist and that she could change anything +that he had done. Betty managed to keep +him busy, but it was only about fifteen minutes +before the whole family arrived, Dick to utter +another whoop at seeing his hero in an apron, +and the girls to join the activities with much +fun and lively conversation. Mrs. Lee was allowed +only to supervise and make the coffee and +Mr. Lee declared that he would not think of being +underfoot in such a busy kitchen and dining +room.</p> +<p>“The boy looks happy,” he said to his wife. +“I’m glad I asked him to come. He’s a very +sober, lonely chap, so far as home is concerned. +He probably has a good enough time at school, +especially since he made such a hit in football, +as you tell me.”</p> +<p>“I wonder how he gets his lessons, if he works +so hard,” said Mrs. Lee.</p> +<p>“How do any of them get their lessons?” asked +Mr. Lee in return, “with all that is going on. +It hasn’t hit Betty yet, thanks to our management.”</p> +<p>Young appetites were ready for the supper +that spread so invitingly on the pretty table; +for it was decided to set everything conveniently +near, since they were their own servants. +Then afterwards the girls quickly +cleared the table, and Ramon, without remark and +under Betty’s direction, took out the leaves and +made the table small. Betty and Janet together +at one end pushed against Ramon on the other. +“It will give us more room and look better,” explained +Betty to the girls, who were still ignorant +of what was to come. Betty, too, was ignorant +in regard to <em>who</em> was to come. She was as +uneasy and restless as a girl could be and not +show that something was on her mind. Ramon +was wondering what excuse he could offer for +staying so long, but it took some time to clear +away the supper and while Mrs. Lee told Betty +to “go and entertain her guests and she would +finish up the dishes,” Betty, by way of camouflage, +said, “we <em>could</em> leave them till morning +of course; but it will be nicer in the morning +not to have them before us.” Sue rather +wondered at Betty’s easy compliance.</p> +<p>At last the bell rang, not a steady ring with +perhaps another, but a series of rings in rhythm. +Janet and Sue looked up surprised from a +puzzle that Betty had given them and Ramon +to work out. But Ramon grinned and Betty +laughed, running to the door. “<em>Something’s +up</em>,” said Sue. “I <em>suspected</em> it!”</p> +<p>Laughter and greetings filled the hall. +“S’prise Party!” called Peggy’s voice.</p> +<p>“Ted again!” exclaimed Janet, rising, “and +Peggy Pollard and Carolyn Gwynne!”</p> +<p>And now they thronged in, bringing the cold +air with them from the open hall door. The +girls entered first, surrounding Janet and Sue, +to shake hands in the spirit of fun and surprise, +while Carolyn saw that the names of the girls +were understood by Janet and Sue who might +not have met them all or had not remembered +their names. Carolyn was always thoughtful.</p> +<p>Betty, after telling the boys to leave their +hats, caps and coats in the hall, came to the +group of girls and led them back to the room +where they could take off their wraps and powder +their noses if they liked. Mother, bless her, +had swiftly put on the finishing touches and the +guest towels in the bath room after Amy Lou +was in bed and the various washings up after +supper were completed.</p> +<p>“Yes, Betty,” Carolyn excitedly told Betty, +“we had thought of doing it and then pretty +nearly gave it up because we weren’t sure of +your liking it; and I hadn’t been in this ducky +apartment before and wasn’t sure that you had +room for a party. But when old Ted called up +and told me what boys he’d rounded up, I telephoned +then to the girls and we all met at +Louise’s.”</p> +<p>So it was a “ducky apartment,” was it? Trust +Carolyn’s generous soul. Betty was sure that +Carolyn liked her for herself!</p> +<p>Naturally Ted had a “few souls” old enough +for himself and Ramon. There was Louise +Madison and a pretty junior named Roberta +Ayers. The Harry Norris whom Betty had first +seen with Ted Dorrance was there, a good +friend, evidently, of a small, fair sophomore +girl, Daisy Richards. It was rather unusual, +of course, this mingling of ages or classes at a +small party, but the invitation to Ramon was +the cause of it all, and Betty was so glad to +have Ted, who had been so “nice” to her, she +thought, at a party in her house. Yet, of course, +she had not given the invitations. Where would +she have stopped if she had? For not all the +girls and boys that she would have wanted were +here.</p> +<p>Of the younger boys there was Chet Dorrance, +Chauncey Allen, Brad Warren, Budd LeRoy, +James Simmonds and two freshmen boys whom +Betty scarcely knew, Andy Sanford and Michael +Carlin, whom the boys called Mickey or Mike +according to their fancy.</p> +<p>Janet and Sue found themselves surrounded +by the group of boys when they came in from +the hall and Betty had escorted the girls back +to the bedroom. Ted did the honors of introduction, +but it was only a few minutes before +Betty was back and acting as hostess.</p> +<p>Mr. Lee had disappeared long since. Mrs. +Lee was putting Amy Lou to bed at last accounts +and the door of bedroom and dressing +room was shut. Dick and Doris, feeling rather +out of it, had moved into the kitchen till Betty, +at last seeing everything started, thought of +them and looked them up.</p> +<p>“No, Betty,” said Dick, “I don’t want to be +introduced all around! But I’ll come into the +dining room, if you want us, and talk to some +of the boys, if it happens that way.”</p> +<p>“I’d like to have you at least see the fun and +of course when the refreshments are served you +must be with us. I’ll probably need you. +Would you mind?”</p> +<p>“I’ll help,” said Doris. “It would look better.”</p> +<p>“So it would. And will you, Dick?”</p> +<p>“Yes.”</p> +<p>“And you can help pull the taffy. I do hope +Mother will know how to cook it, though perhaps +Louise knows.”</p> +<p>“I’ll tell her,” said Dick, and Betty felt relieved +about the family. Everything was just +all right! And Mother did know, she said.</p> +<p>Ted and Louise were good at starting games. +Brad, however, was prevailed upon to play +some lively tunes upon Betty’s piano and the +rest hummed to tunes or sang when there were +words to the melodies.</p> +<p>Pencils and paper were called for by Louise +Madison, who announced that five minutes, or +less, would be given for every one to make words +out of what would be given them when they were +ready to commence. Betty hurried to get paper +and as many pencils as the family could command. +Fortunately, most of the boys carried +pencils in their pockets, Dick and Doris had a +supply of stubs among their school things, and +with much whirling of the pencil sharpener in +the kitchen, they were soon ready.</p> +<p>“And, O, Mother, won’t you please start the +candy to cooking? It has to cool and be pulled +after that, you know.”</p> +<p>“Yes, I know,” said Mrs. Lee, who rather regretted +sacrificing the excellent syrup from the +home town, so much better than that she bought +in the city. But it was worth while, for Betty’s +pleasure, and to entertain her friends, after all. +“I will see to it and call you when it is ready. +Luckily Amy Lou is sound asleep.”</p> +<p>But no sooner had Betty remarked to Louise, +as she handed her the supplies, that her mother +was starting the syrup than Louise cried, “Oh, +I have to learn how to do that. I never pulled +candy but once and it was such fun. Would +your mother mind having me around?”</p> +<p>“I’m sure she wouldn’t.”</p> +<p>Immediately the kitchen was invaded by +several of the girls, but all except Louise came +back for the game. Ted, thereupon, told the +“Don” to “call time,” and he vanished in the +direction of the kitchen, while a few smiles +were exchanged among those that were left. +“Ted will know how to boil candy for taffy after +this,” said Kathryn Allen.</p> +<p>“Well, somebody has to try and taste it.” +smiled Betty.</p> +<p>“Everybody ready!” called the “Don,” quite +at his ease by this time and with a real home +atmosphere back of him. Had he not been the +only one of them invited to the Thanksgiving +dinner? And Mr. Lee had not known then that +he was a football player, either. “Don” was +not aware that that fact would have made no +difference to Mr. Lee, one way or another, +though he was not opposed to the game.</p> +<p>“Five minutes, Louise Madison said,” he continued. +“I will now announce the words. No +proper names, or foreign words, Louise says. +It’s ‘Lyon High School.’”</p> +<p>The scribbling began. “Can you use slang?” +inquired Brad.</p> +<p>“Better not.”</p> +<p>“Why isn’t there an ‘e’ or a ‘t’ in it?” remarked +Janet. “I could make so many more.”</p> +<p>Carolyn was writing fast and furiously. “Oh, +give us five minutes more, so we can really +<em>think</em> on each letter!” she begged.</p> +<p>“Of course a girl will beat,” said Chauncey. +“They’re so much better in English!” Chauncey +was pretending to scratch his head and think. +In reality he was too lazy to bother with a game +he did not enjoy, though too polite to beg off. +He had sixteen words and that was enough. He +bet nobody else had “solo.”</p> +<p>But Chauncey was right on the girls’ having +the most words. Several boys had twenty words +in the five minutes, but the girls made a business +of it and Kathryn Allen had the largest number, +though Andy Sanford, who was on the staff of +the school paper, came within two of her number, +forty-five.</p> +<p>“How did you do it so fast, Kathryn?” asked +Mary Emma.</p> +<p>“I just went lickity-cut in any old order till +I got through the letters that way. Then I went +back again and did a little thinking that time +and had the other few minutes to do it in. I +took <em>ly</em> and <em>li</em> and <em>lo</em>, and did the same way with +all the letters.”</p> +<p>“Did anybody else get <em>solo</em>?” asked Chauncey.</p> +<p>Alas, Kathryn had that, also <em>holy</em>, of which +Chauncey had not thought.</p> +<p>A delicious odor of boiling syrup was commented +upon by several. Louise, carrying the +glass in which she had just tested the candy, +came in to inquire who had the most words and +how many. “All right, Kathryn gets the prize. +Ted, <em>where’s</em> that prize?”</p> +<p>From the kitchen Ted appeared, hunting in +his pocket for something.</p> +<p>“Nobody said there was to be any prize. +That’s not fair,” said Sim, grinning.</p> +<p>“Would you have worked harder, Sim?” Ted +inquired. “Here it is, Kathryn,” and he handed +her a long, slim package tied with a blue ribbon. +They all watched while Kathryn took the ribbon +and tissue paper from what was so evidently a +gift “of pencils. Two five centers, Kathryn,” said +Ted. “May they bring you to fame.”</p> +<p>“You did well, Kathryn,” said Louise. “Somebody +got fifty at a senior party the other day, +but I’m not sure but we had more time.”</p> +<p>“Help me, Andy,” said Kathryn, “and let’s +see how many we can get. Please give me all +the papers, so we can compare.” Consequently, +while Ted, accused of “licking his chops” over +all the candy he was tasting, followed Louise +out to the kitchen, and somebody started up the +music again, Kathryn and Andy, helped by +Betty, who gathered up all the other efforts, +made a fairly full list. “I had just started on +the s-h’s,” said Andy. A little later, after +working as much out themselves as they felt +like doing and comparing their papers, they announced +that they could read what they had +if any one wanted to hear.</p> +<p><em>“Let’s</em> hear them, Andy,” called Chauncey +from near the piano. “How many words can +the experts make out of the old school name?”</p> +<p>“Leaving out abbreviations, plurals, and odd words, here they are: +<em>lying</em>, <em>lingo</em>, <em>lion</em>, <em>lo</em>, <em>log</em>, +<em>loch</em>, <em>loo</em>, <em>loon</em>, <em>loin</em>; <em>yon</em>, +<em>yo-ho</em>; <em>O</em>, <em>oh</em>, <em>on</em>, <em>oil</em>, <em>oily</em>, +<em>only</em>; <em>no</em>, <em>nigh</em>, <em>noisy</em>; <em>high</em>, <em>ho</em>, +<em>hog</em>, <em>hill</em>, <em>hilly</em>, <em>holy</em>, <em>his</em>, +<em>hollo</em>, <em>holly</em>; <em>I</em>, <em>is</em>, <em>in</em>, <em>ill</em>, +<em>illy</em>, <em>inch</em>, <em>inly</em>; <em>go</em>, <em>gill</em>, +<em>gin</em>; <em>scion</em>, <em>shiny</em>, <em>shin</em>, <em>shy</em>, +<em>si</em>, <em>sigh</em>, <em>sign</em>, <em>silo</em>, <em>silly</em>, +<em>sill</em>, <em>sin</em>, <em>sing</em>, <em>sling</em>, <em>soil</em>, +<em>solo</em>, <em>soon</em>, <em>song</em>, <em>son</em>, <em>sol</em>, +<em>so</em>; <em>chic</em>, <em>chill</em>, <em>chilly</em>, <em>chin</em>, +<em>cling</em>, <em>clog</em>, <em>cog</em>, <em>coil</em>, <em>coin</em>, +<em>colon</em>, <em>con</em>, <em>colony</em>, <em>coo</em>, <em>cool</em>, +<em>coolly</em>, <em>coon</em>, <em>cosy</em>, <em>coy</em>–and we forgot +<em>lynch, shoo</em> and <em>shooing</em>, and Andy says that <em>colin</em> +is another word for <em>quail</em> and that <em>shoon</em> is in the +dictionary. So that’s over eighty and pretty good, we think.”</p> +<p>Chauncey started a mild applause and remarked +that Andy and Kathryn would probably +teach English some day.</p> +<p>“Not on your life,” said Andy, “though I may +run a paper at that!”</p> +<p>Mrs. Lee could not help wondering if every +one would be careful not to drop his candy +while it was in the process of being pulled, but +she said nothing and provided plenty of greased +receptacles. Ted and Louise started several +other quiet games while the candy was getting +to the proper temperature. Then they began +to try a small portion.</p> +<p>“How many want to pull?” asked Ted. Every +one wanted to try “just a little bit,” which was +well, or the supply would not have been sufficient. +Those who had never pulled candy +before were instructed, that there should be no +sticky or slippery masses clinging more unhappily +than wet dough to the greased hands–after +a great performance of hand-washing in +the kitchen.</p> +<p>All this made much laughter and general +merriment, not to mention certain antics of Ted +and Harry and a few of the younger boys. But +no one tried any “sticky” tricks, as Betty put it; +for once upon a time, Dick had come home from +a party with his hair full of taffy, horrible +dictu!</p> +<p>In various stages of whiteness, the separate +pieces of taffy were carefully laid upon the +owner’s saucer or plate, with a clean white label +bearing the “name of the author,” said Betty. +Much had been eaten during the pulling, for some +“preferred their taffy hot,” they claimed; but +each was to take a little home, to prove that they +had pulled it, Ted said. Oiled paper would be +in demand, thought Mrs. Lee, who hunted up a +roll to have ready.</p> +<p>But the ice-cream had arrived. The big white +cake was cut, also a loaf of fruit cake; and in +the chairs which had been gathered up and +brought to the front of the house with the appearance +of the guests, the girls and boys sat +to eat slowly the cold cream, enjoy their cake +and lay the foundations of future friendships +or cement those already formed. The high +school “case” between Ted Dorrance and Louise +Madison was not particularly serious in its outlook; +for Ted, like many boys, was admiring a +girl older than himself just now, but some +demure young miss of a younger class, or not +in his school at all, was likely to take his later +attention.</p> +</div> +<div class="section" id="chapter-xii-a-change-of-plan"> +<h2 class="title section-title level-2"><a class="toc-backref pginternal" href="#id12">CHAPTER XII: A CHANGE OF PLAN</a></h2> +<p>“Is this Mr. Gwynne’s residence?” asked +Betty, a little timid, for a deep masculine voice +had answered her ring at the telephone.</p> +<p>“Yes,” the response came, pleasantly.</p> +<p>“May I speak to Carolyn, please? It is Betty +Lee.”</p> +<p>“I’ll call Carolyn.” There was a few moments +of waiting.</p> +<p>“’Lo, Bettykins. I was just going to call +you.”</p> +<p>“Were you? What were you going to tell +me?”</p> +<p>“You say what <em>you</em> were going to first.”</p> +<p>“I’d rather not.”</p> +<p>“Please.”</p> +<p>“Well, though I just hate so to tell you what +I’m going to.”</p> +<p>“So do I hate to tell you!”</p> +<p>Betty’s little laugh, came to Carolyn over the +wire.</p> +<p>“Wouldn’t it be funny if it is about the same +thing! Why Carolyn, I’m just sick about it, +but I don’t see how we can come to your house +tonight. Father has to have a conference or +something tonight down town and can’t drive +us out to your place. He’s staying down for +dinner somewhere, you know. So there’s no +one to take us and Mother doesn’t think it’s +safe for us to go on the car and then walk as +far as we’d have to, especially coming home.”</p> +<p>“That would be all right with our putting you +on the car here. But really, Betty, it is a sort +of relief, because I was wondering how to tell +you that I can’t have the party at all! Sister’s +having the house both nights, and besides, I was +going to have you at least taken back home, so +your father wouldn’t have to come for you, but +the cars will be in use, too. It was too bad of +my sister not to tell me and Mother did not +happen to say anything till this morning when +she was asking my sister what she wanted for +decorations. I said, ‘Why, Mother, didn’t you +tell me I could have a party?’ and Mother looked +startled. ‘Why so I did! I hope you haven’t +everybody invited!’</p> +<p>“So then I made it as nice for her as I could +and said I thought I could change it to an afternoon +one, and Betty, since you had that +gorgeous party at your house, won’t you let me +have you and some of the other girls at our +house Saturday, tomorrow afternoon? Please. +I’ve telephoned the <em>boys</em> that my party had to +be postponed, so this will be a ‘hen party.’ I’ll +have some sort of a party in the Christmas vacation, +perhaps, to make it up to the boys, not +to mention liking the fun myself.</p> +<p>“Will you mind <em>awfully</em>, Betty?” Carolyn’s +voice was both regretful and persuasive.</p> +<p>“Why–no, Carolyn–only it isn’t necessary +for you to have us at all, you know, and I’ve +invited all the other girls.”</p> +<p>“I know how we can fix that, easy as pie, +Betty. I’ll call all of them up–I know whom +you were going to have, you know, and I’ll tell +them that you and I are entertaining together +at our house!”</p> +<p>“We-ll, but you’ll have to let me really help, +you know, get the refreshments and everything.”</p> +<p>“I’ll see about that–there will be such oodles +around, with Sister’s two parties, and we’ll +have all the benefits of her spuzzy decorations +and won’t hurt a thing, you know. Let’s have +it a thimble party. Didn’t I see you making +something for Christmas?”</p> +<p>“Yes. I brought a hanky I’m hemstitching +for Mother in school and worked on it a little +while in between lunch and class. It’s so hard +to get a chance without her catching me at it at +home.”</p> +<p>“Bring it along and finish it up, then, Betty. +Is it settled, then?”</p> +<p>“Are you <em>sure</em> you want it that way?”</p> +<p>“Sure; and Mother will feel better about it, +too.”</p> +<p>“Very well, Carolyn. I’m sure Janet and Sue +will be delighted to come, and of course I shall.”</p> +<p>Thus it happened that Betty and her guests +enjoyed an excellent moving picture, censored +by Mrs. Lee, on Friday afternoon, with attendant +pleasure of favorite sundaes and shopping +in the big stores; and they had the evening +quietly at home, early to bed this time, to catch +up for the night before. “It is a good deal of +fun with those boys,” said Janet, “but I think +that it will be more <em>restful</em> tomorrow at Carolyn’s +without them.”</p> +<p>“And you will love Carolyn’s home, Janet,” +replied Betty, though laughing at Janet’s expression.</p> +<p>A soft snow fell that night. In the morning +the girls looked out upon a beautiful world of +white, soon to be spoiled in the city by the +traffic and the soot from the good furnace fires +that kept the people warm. But at Carolyn’s +that afternoon little had occurred to lessen the +loveliness of the snow scene. Beautiful evergreens +drooped a little with the weight upon +their branches. Drifts piled here and there by +bushes that seemed to bear feathery blossoms. +It was the first “real snow,” Dick said, and welcome, +particularly to the children.</p> +<p>Betty had not expected so many girls, but +here were not only those whom she had invited +to her expected party but a number of others. +It was very satisfactory. Now Janet and Sue +would know just about all the girls that she +wanted them to meet.</p> +<p>Opinions might differ about the afternoon’s +being “restful.” But it was as restful as girls +of high school age would be likely to want it +to prove. Janet and Sue were impressed with +Carolyn’s lovely home, inside and out, and declared +that seeing it with the snow must be +almost as good as seeing it with its flowers. +Carolyn brought all the girls whom they had not +met to each of them and although they did settle +down with their bits of fancy-work or Christmas +presents, Carolyn had them change their seats +in order that groups of different girls might be +together. Some things made in the arts and +crafts department of the school could be brought +to be worked on and Betty saw articles that she +“longed to make,” she said. Janet was always +a little quiet when she was first with girls +strange to her, but her lack of conversation was +not noticeable in the babel of voices after the +girls were fairly launched upon various topics +that interested them.</p> +<p>“Yes,” replied Betty to one, “I’ve met the +mysterious ‘Don.’ His real name is Ramon, but +the boys all call him ‘Don’ now, I’ve noticed, so +I suppose we might as well. He doesn’t mind, +he said.”</p> +<p>“Did you hear that, Lucille? Betty Lee +knows the ‘Don.’ Well, what is he, anyhow? +Spanish, as they say. I always think that the +boys may be ‘kiddin’ us, you know.”</p> +<p>“He really is part Spanish and part Polish +and some of his people were Hungarian, at +least they lived in Hungary for a while and he +said they were ‘nice people.’”</p> +<p>“How did you know so much? Is there anything +mysterious about him?”</p> +<p>“I was just talking to him one time. He +doesn’t seem the least bit mysterious to me, +but I don’t think that he has anybody related +to him in this country. He just boards somewhere, +I suppose.”</p> +<p>“Then that isn’t a bit interesting.”</p> +<p>“Oh, yes, it is, Lucille,” spoke Peggy Pollard. +“Chet Dorrance said that the Don told Ted a +little bit one time and there’s somebody that’s +either after him or that he’s after, I think.”</p> +<p>“My, isn’t that news for you?” laughed +Lucille. “Peggy, you’re always so clear!”</p> +<p>“Well, do you suppose that Ted would tell +what the boy told him in confidence?”</p> +<p>“Ted must have told something.”</p> +<p>“Couldn’t Chet overhear it, maybe?”</p> +<p>“Then he is really mysterious, you think, +Peggy.”</p> +<p>“Yes. I asked him last night if he <em>was</em> mysterious +and he said he was!”</p> +<p>There was a general laugh at this. “Peggy’s +drawing on her imagination,” said Mary Emma.</p> +<p>“Where did the Don take you last night, +Peggy?” queried Lucille, “to a picture show?”</p> +<p>“No, but he was at the same surprise party +I went to,” and Peggy gave a mirthful glance +in Carolyn’s direction.</p> +<p>“Well, if Don as the boys call him isn’t mysterious, +you are, so let’s change the subject.”</p> +<p>Peggy had thought that with so many other +girls, about twenty in all, Betty might not like +to have the surprise party talked over; or it +might be that some one would feel hurt at not +having been included in the sudden affair. For +these reasons she was quite willing to have the +subject changed.</p> +<p>“Wouldn’t this be a delicious night to go sledding, +girls?” she asked, looking out from the +large window near which she sat toward the +broad expanse of snow that covered the lawn +and stretched beyond the clumps of bushes and +trees over the spacious grounds.</p> +<p>“Too soft, I’m afraid, Peggy,” said Mary +Emma Howland. “It didn’t melt, though, when +the sun came out. I wonder if it would pack +and make enough. The wind had swept the +ground pretty bare at our house, but hasn’t out +here.”</p> +<p>“Perhaps it didn’t snow everywhere alike,” +brightly suggested Kathryn Allen. “Sometimes +it rains out in our suburb when my father says +there isn’t a particle of rain down town.”</p> +<p>“The paper says that there is a blizzard out +West,” said Carolyn. “Wouldn’t it be wonderful +if we did have sledding, next week anyhow?”</p> +<p>Betty explained to Janet and Sue what she +had mentioned before, that the winters were +considerably more mild here than their own and +that everybody rejoiced when there were winter +sports, making the most of them; but none of +the three thought of any particular good time +as on its way to them because of this unexpected +snow. Soon came the pretty refreshments, when +all the girls laid aside their work to enjoy them.</p> +<p>They were asked to go into another room, +apparently a breakfast room, or a dining room +on a small scale, Betty thought, where a round +table was set for them. There a tiny turkey, +which was a container for candy or nuts, stood +at each place, connected with the central lights +overhead by a gay ribbon. Betty’s place card +bore an Indian on snowshoes, a wild turkey +over one shoulder and a bow in one hand.</p> +<p>“I ’spect there’s some turkey in this ‘chicken +salad,’ don’t you, Betty?” said Janet next to +her.</p> +<p>“Carolyn <em>always</em> has such lovely things,” replied +Betty, though she had been entertained +there but once before. But this was perfect for +an “afternoon tea.” Instead of tea they drank +cocoa, however, and last they were served to +tiny ice-cream roses and delicious little cakes +with pink, white or chocolate frosting.</p> +<p>“I’ve done nothing but eat good things since +I came to this city,” Sue declared after they +came home, “and we’ve had enough different +kinds of fun to last all winter! No, thank you, +Mrs. Lee, I don’t believe we can eat a speck of +supper, or dinner, whichever you call it here.”</p> +<p>“We might sit down with them, girls,” Betty +suggested, “for we didn’t really have a heavy +meal at Carolyn’s!”</p> +<p>But Betty had scarcely gotten seated at the +home dinner table than she rose to answer the +telephone. “Oh, who is it? I can’t quite understand. +The telephone buzzes a little. Now +I get it–oh, yes, Chet! Honestly? Why, yes, +that would be great fun. I don’t know, though.”</p> +<p>Betty listened a little. “Wait a minute. I’ll +have to ask Mother and see what the girls say. +Please hold the ’phone a minute.”</p> +<p>The telephone was in the hall and Betty +rushed around through the living room to where +the family were. “Mother!” she began excitedly, +“that was Chet Dorrance and he wants to +know if we girls can go bob-sled riding tonight. +It’s freezing like everything and the boys have +got water poured on some hill–this afternoon, +you know, and the snow all packed down!”</p> +<p>“What boys are going and what hill is it, +Betty?” inquired her father.</p> +<p>“Chet said that he and Chauncey Allen and +Budd LeRoy would come after us. We can take +the car, the street-car, he said, and get off almost +right at the hill, anyhow the place where +it is, one of the houses, I suppose, maybe a +place like Carolyn’s.”</p> +<p>“Betty, I can’t have you start in to go out +with the boys in the evening.”</p> +<p>“But this isn’t like that, Mother. It’s a big +crowd, not so very big perhaps, but at least +two bob-sleds and we take turns.”</p> +<p>“Sure the hill doesn’t deposit you near some +car line or shoot you across one? I saw a kiddie +nearly killed this afternoon shooting across a +road, down hill, on his sled.” Mr. Lee was interposing +this remark.</p> +<p>Betty looked worried. “Chet is waiting on +the line, Mother. Oh, I do want to go!”</p> +<p>“Suppose I talk to him, then, Betty,” suggested +Mrs. Lee. “I don’t want to keep you +from any pleasure, but I want to make sure +that it is safe, you know. Yes, a crowd to enjoy +the sport is all right if they are careful +boys, not reckless.”</p> +<p>“You met them all here, Mother.”</p> +<p>“Yes.” Mrs. Lee was on her way to the hall.</p> +<p>“This is Betty’s mother speaking,” she said, +taking the receiver. “Betty is anxious to accept +your kind invitation, but I want to inquire about +the safety of the sport. Where is the hill located +and just what are you going to do?”</p> +<p>“Aw, Mother’ll spoil it all, Betty,” said Dick, +who was listening, while Betty stood half-way +between hall and the dining room double doors. +Betty frowned and shook her head at her +brother, who passed his plate for a second helping +of meat and potato. Dick was going out +himself with his sled and the hill had been +passed upon by his father, though Dick in his +peregrinations did not always ask permission. +That was one of Mr. Lee’s little worries for +fear that in a city he could not so easily know +just where his son was spending his leisure +hours or whether his company was all that it +should be. In the country town there was just +as much danger of contamination, but they knew +so well what was to be avoided and what companions +were safe and who were unsafe.</p> +<p>Mother, however, had not “spoiled it all.” +She came back smiling and put her arm about +Betty to lead her in the room with her. “Chet +explained it all satisfactorily, and I am rather +glad to know that Ted Dorrance and a group +of the older high school boys and girls will +be there. There is a ‘sled load,’ I understand, +though that used to mean a different sort of +sled, in the country. Moreover, it is on the Dorrance +place, and it may be that you can be called +for. I think myself that the street car is safer, +however, and so I told him.”</p> +<p>“Mother!” exclaimed Betty, half embarrassed.</p> +<p>“Don’t worry, child. Parents have to +manage some of these things. I liked Chet and he +is not offended. It is most likely that his own +parents have a few remarks to make occasionally. +Chet is not old enough to drive a car, +Betty.”</p> +<p>“Well, I’m obliged to you anyway, Mother, +for letting us go. Did you ring off?”</p> +<p>“Yes, I never thought that Chet might like to +speak to you again.”</p> +<p>“Your mother isn’t yet used to having young +men ring up and talk to her daughter,” mischievously +said Mr. Lee.</p> +<p>“And I hope that I shall <em>not</em> get used to it +for some time,” firmly replied his wife. “Betty’s +not going to run around regardless; and I’m +so sure of her that I know she does not want +to do it either.”</p> +<p>“I’m perfectly willing to wait until I grow +up a little more,” said Betty. “But this is different.”</p> +<p>“Yes, this is different.”</p> +<p>It was different. Betty never forgot this +first winter fun of her freshman year, the night +so beautiful, the snow so white, the little company +so gay. Moonlight made the most of the +scene. It was the first time that Betty had seen +the Dorrance place, rather the house, which +stood back, facing a road which was marked +“Private” and wound around a short ascent to +where two houses were built, some distance +apart, upon a hill in a thick grove of trees. But +the hill began to descend where the houses were +and only the trees and chimneys could be seen +from the main road where ran the street cars. +A path had been well cleared and machines had +gone over the road since the snow had fallen. +Escorted by the three boys, the three girls ascended +the hill after leaving the street car and +heard, while they talked, the merry laughter of +a group just preceding them.</p> +<p>“So this is where you live, Chet,” said Janet, +by this time well acquainted, for she and Chet +had pulled taffy together and joked each other +while they did it.</p> +<p>“Yes; it’s a bit of a climb for some folks, +but my mother uses the car most of the time +and I suppose it isn’t more than a good square’s +walk to the house. The hill we’re going to slide +on is the other side of the house. You see there’s +really a ravine there, but this hill is wide and +the way the ground slopes and humps around it +makes a good long hill of it. We’ve got it as +slick as can be and we’ll shoot across a narrow +brook at the foot. It’s good and frozen +tonight and getting colder. You’ll all come in +the house and meet Mother first. But we’re going +to make a big bonfire to get warm by and +Louise, Ted’s girl, you know, says we can roast +marshmallows the same as if it were summer.”</p> +<p>“So this is Betty Lee,” said pretty Mrs. Dorrance, +holding Betty’s hand a trifle longer, as +she was the last girl of the group. “Both Ted +and Chet have spoken of you. I am glad to +meet you and I hope that my boys can give all +you girls a good time tonight. I’ve cautioned +them to be careful of you.”</p> +<p>“Now, Mother!” cried Chet. “You don’t understand. +Of course we’ll take care of them, +but they’re pretty independent, too, and they’ll +tell us if they don’t want to do anything, at +least Louise will tell Ted!”</p> +<p>“I hope so.”</p> +<p>“We want to do what everybody does,” gently +said Betty, “and I’m sure the boys know about +the hill and everything, don’t they, Mrs. Dorrance?”</p> +<p>“I hope so,” whimsically replied Mrs. Dorrance, +who was timid about sports of all sorts, +though she rather liked this confidence in her +boys.</p> +<p>Then the fun began. The girls and boys in +warm sweaters and woollen caps gathered about +the bob sleds at the top of the hill. One with +Ted guiding and full of the older ones went first, +down, down around, up a little, swooping down +till it was lost to view and only the little squeals +and shrieks of excitement or a whoop from some +boy reached Betty’s ears.</p> +<p>“I’ll let you take this one down, Budd,” said +Chet. “Budd’s an expert, girls. Now not too +many. We’ve another right here and I’ll take +that first. Chauncey, watch how I take that +curve and you can take it down next time. Come +on, Betty, as soon as Budd’s sled goes and +rounds the curve all right we’ll start, I think.”</p> +<p>Shortly Betty found herself flying among the +shadows, through patches of moonlight, around +the breath-taking curve, shooting down a +straight, steep descent, holding tight, breathing +in the fresh, frosty air, happy as a bird. Again +and again they climbed and descended till they +were tired and lit the great pile prepared by +the boys in an open space. The flames shot up, +lighting the gay colors of the sweaters and coats, +the bright young faces and the snow man that +some one started to build while marshmallows +were really being toasted. A snowball fight or +two livened the scene for a little, and oh, how +surprised they all were, when some one looked at +a watch in the firelight and announced that it +was getting late.</p> +<p>“Don’t put on any more wood, boys,” said +Louise Madison. “I’ve only been able to toast +anything in this one corner as it is; and if it is +as late as that we’ll go in, for Mrs. Dorrance +will be calling us.”</p> +<p>As if the hour had been noted at just the right +time, some one came running out of the house +to tell the company that refreshments were +ready–and such funny ones, ordered by the +boys, no doubt, the two Dorrance boys that were +hosts. There were hot tea and bottles of pop, +hot “wieners” and fresh buns to put them in, +hot beans in tomato sauce, pickles, real spiced +home-made ones, and for dessert what Dick always +called “Wiggle,” jello or a kindred article, +this time holding an assortment of fresh fruit +together and served on a plate with an immense +piece of frosted spice cake.</p> +<p>Somebody, the cook, Betty supposed, stood +behind a long table by which they were to pass +in cafeteria style, each taking, as the cook indicated, +plate and silver and being served to +the variety of foods by Chet and Ted, who with +laughing faces had put on a white paper cap +and a white apron. These the two boys kept +on as they followed the rest into the dining +room, to which a maid beckoned them. But all +helpers disappeared at once. Mrs. Dorrance +only looked in upon them to see that they were +happy, and perhaps to assure Louise that the +chaperon was doing her duty in being about. +Jokes and fun and more hot things offered by +Chet and Ted completed the evening’s enjoyment.</p> +<p>“It’s too much for you to go home with us, +boys,” said Betty, rather thinking that she made +a “social blunder” by saying so, but feeling that +if they put her on the car she could see herself +and her friends home.</p> +<p>“Couldn’t think of anything else,” replied +Chet, guiding Janet down the rather slippery +hill at the front. “You don’t know how late and +dark it will be when we get off the car near +your house. The moon’s setting now, or else +there’s a cloud or two. Wouldn’t it be great if +we kept on having snow!”</p> +<p>“But dear sakes,” said Betty, “we’ll be in +school and have to study!”</p> +<p>“Not to <em>hurt</em>,” remarked Chauncey Allen.</p> +</div> +<div class="section" id="chapter-xiii-betty-meets-trouble"> +<h2 class="title section-title level-2"><a class="toc-backref pginternal" href="#id13">CHAPTER XIII: BETTY MEETS TROUBLE</a></h2> +<p>There are degrees of satisfaction or of disappointment, +but Betty Lee had never met what +she would consider real trouble connected with +her school life until after Christmas in her +freshman year.</p> +<p>The happy Thanksgiving vacation with Janet +and Sue as her guests came duly to a close after +a pleasant Sabbath during which they went to +Sabbath school and church and spent part of +the afternoon in wandering around the main art +gallery of the city, open to visitors. The girls +took an early morning train on Monday and +Betty, more or less upset by too many good +times, went back to school not feeling much like +study. But neither did any one else and the +teachers in the main, having had a good rest +themselves, seemed not to be too hard on any +one.</p> +<p>Betty, however, buckled down to the work of +what is always the hardest term of the year, +that before Christmas, and had many +delightful anticipations of that beautiful celebration. +They could not “go to Grandma’s” this year, but +they could and did enjoy Christmas day together. +Accustomed, now, to the demands of +the city school, she felt a real satisfaction in the +fact that her work was being well done and her +grades upon the cards such that she need not +feel ashamed.</p> +<p>There were many interesting distractions +toward Christmas and Betty joined the Girl Reserves, +the group that included freshmen in her +high school, in time to help with the Christmas +basket which was to go to make some one’s +Christmas brighter. The stores, with their fascinating +windows, the hurrying crowds of shoppers, +the entertainments and the Christmas +music, all had their accustomed charm; but +Betty’s vacation of only the one week, with an +extra week-end, was spent largely at home, for +none of the girls whom she knew well entertained +and were absorbed in home affairs.</p> +<p>Again it was hard to settle down to work, but +Betty was anxious to do well in the semester +examinations and worked particularly hard on +her Latin and mathematics. By some shifting +of pupils, Betty was now in the adorable Miss +Heath’s Latin class, though she had not begun +the year with her. Betty was always very shy +with her teachers and although Miss Heath was +most “human,” as Carolyn said, and friendly +with the girls and boys there was a certain +bound over which none of them stepped and +Betty never presumed even upon the privileges +which she might have enjoyed, in a chat or talk +or consultation. It was characteristic of her +family, perhaps, to be independent. Even at +home she always wanted to “get everything herself” +if she could, preferring to spend much +more time upon a problem rather than ask any +one for light upon it.</p> +<p>And now Miss Heath, gave them an examination +which they all felt was important. Indeed +she told them so. “It is going to help me find +out whether you have gotten the important +things that I have tried to teach you,” she said. +“As you know, I have emphasized some things. +Some things we have gone over again and again. +I see you smile, for you think that we have gone +over <em>everything</em> again and again. So we have. +But this may help you, too, in reviewing for +your semester finals. The questions for those I +do not make out, except in some line assigned to +me by the head of the department. This I call +a review examination and its results will be +most interesting to me. This is not to ‘scare’ +you at all, and it will be recorded in my grade +book as an ordinary test, but I want you to <em>use +your brains</em> to the best of your ability. Day after +tomorrow, Thursday, at this hour, come prepared +for a test.”</p> +<p>The next day a strange teacher was at the +desk, a “substitute,” young and worried. The +boys who were in the habit of “acting up” performed +as far as they dared, Betty reported at +home; and the girls giggled, “because they +couldn’t help it. It was so funny.”</p> +<p>“You have to know how to manage the freshmen +in this school,” said Carolyn to Betty on +their way from the room. “I wonder if Miss +Heath will be back tomorrow. She looked half +sick yesterday and took some medicine as we +went out.”</p> +<p>“Did she? I didn’t notice. That is too bad. +I wonder if we’ll have the test, then.”</p> +<p>“Oh, of course. That would be the easiest +thing for a substitute to give and she wouldn’t +miss doing it, I should think. But perhaps,” +Carolyn hopefully added, “perhaps Miss Heath +couldn’t make out the questions.”</p> +<p>“She talked as if she had them already made +out,” thoughtfully returned Betty, determined +to go over all the vocabulary and the paradigms +hardest for her to remember. “I’m going to +put all the time I can on Latin tonight.”</p> +<p>“I’m not,” laughed a boy behind Betty, who +had caught her last words. “We have basketball +practice and I’m invited to a good show tonight. +Oh boy!”</p> +<p>Betty smilingly remarked that he’d better not +miss a little study even if he did know everything, +but the lad grinned and shook his head +as he passed her.</p> +<p>“I don’t like Jakey,” said Carolyn, as her +eyes followed him and the confused group of +boys and girls, passing and repassing in the +hall. “He’s smart as can be and gets along in +Latin better than I do, but there’s something +tricky about him once in awhile and he’s so terribly +conceited. He can’t stand it when you can +answer a question that he has missed or can’t +put up his hand for. I know. I’ve watched +him. Did you see those boys change their seats? +<em>She</em> didn’t know any better and they did it for +fun I suppose, just to do something.”</p> +<p>“Do you mean during class?”</p> +<p>“No. Just before class began. Jakey slid +into that one just behind you.”</p> +<p>“I didn’t notice.”</p> +<p>“<em>She</em> may, if they are in different seats tomorrow.”</p> +<hr class="docutils"/> +<p>The zero hour came. Betty looked at the +questions on the board. Oh, they weren’t so bad. +It was fair. There were the special things that +Miss Heath had emphasized, some of the hardest +to get, to be sure, but Betty had studied hard +and she had freshened up on the vocabulary +lists and some of the rules of syntax, for she +dreaded the translations, sentences that Miss +Heath would make up, some of them at least.</p> +<p>Betty’s cheeks were hot, but she worked +away. Mercy, her fountain pen had given out. +She took a pencil and found its point blunt. +Hastily she traveled to the pencil sharpener and +put on it as sharp a point as possible. Miss +Heath did not want them to use pencil for examinations +if it were not necessary; but this +wasn’t the semester final, when Carolyn said +you <em>had</em> to use ink, they said. But she’d better +sharpen two pencils, perhaps.</p> +<p>Betty scarcely saw the rest of the scholars +as she returned to her desk for another pencil, +so absorbed was she in thoughts of the examination +questions. There was a whisking of something +on several desks as she and some one else +passed down parallel aisles at the same time, +she to return, the other to go to the pencil sharpener. +As she sat down and looked off thoughtfully +at the board, the teacher was looking in +her direction and two of the boys were chuckling +behind her.</p> +<p>The teacher rapped for order and Betty, turning, +caught a glimpse of Peggy, who was looking +daggers at somebody behind Betty. But +Betty was finishing her paper. The time was +nearly up. She read over what she had, put in +a long mark over a vowel in one of the declensions, +looked for other omissions or mistakes, +and puzzled over her last English to Latin sentence. +She hoped it was right. There went the +bell. Betty made ready her paper. Now it was +handed in. Now they were in the hall. The +test was over. What a relief!</p> +<p>“Did you see what those boys were doing?” +asked Peggy, as Betty and Carolyn caught up +with her at the door of the room where they +were entering for another class.</p> +<p>“No, what was it?” questioned Carolyn, but +the teacher just then beckoned Betty, to give +her back a paper that she had failed to return +with the rest given out to the class, and Betty +missed Peggy’s reply.</p> +<p>“That was a very good paper, Betty,” said +her teacher. “I found it with some sophomore +papers where it had gotten by mistake.”</p> +<p>Betty was disappointed to find only an eighty-eight +for her grade, but she knew that anything +over eighty was good with Miss Smith. Tests +were popular just now at Lyon High. All too +soon would come the semester finals!</p> +<hr class="docutils"/> +<p>The busy week ended and Monday came +again. The same young substitute was in Miss +Heath’s place. She was “terribly cross” with +the boys, Peggy said, but she didn’t blame her. +Four or five of the freshman boys tried to see +how far they could go and went a little too far +for their own good, for when there was some +chalk throwing at the blackboard, during written +exercises there, the teacher called several +boys by name to take their seats and see her +after class. “If any one else longs to be sent +to detention, he or she may just keep on with +the fun as these have done!”</p> +<p>There was an immediate cessation of performances, +for D. T., as it was called, was not +popular.</p> +<p>“By the way,” the teacher added, “I should +like to see after class for a moment Betty Lee +and Peggy Pollard.”</p> +<p>Betty, who was at the board, pausing in her +work to listen to the startling interruptions, was +surprised to hear her own name. What could +the teacher want with her? But after a surprised +look at the somewhat grim face of an +otherwise attractive young woman, Betty +turned again to the board and finished the verb +synopsis on which she was engaged. The class +work went on as usual, with correction and assignments +by the teacher, recitation and occasional +question on the part of the class.</p> +<p>The boys who had been told to stay remained +in their seats at the close of class and Betty, +raising her eyebrows at Peggy, gathered up her +books and went to one of the front seats to +wait the teacher’s pleasure. She felt in a hurry, +for she was due at study hall on this day and +it was on the third floor, quite a climb from the +basement floor.</p> +<p>With eyes demurely on her books, she listened +to a brief and sharp rebuke delivered to the +boys, who scurried out of the room as soon as +they were ordered to “detention” that evening, +immediately after the close of school. At “detention” +some victim among the teachers, who +took turns at the disagreeable task, was in +charge of a room devoted to the derelicts from +duty who had from one cause or another been +assigned to an extra hour in study after their +classmates and others had gone. How long that +extra hour! And when there was “doubly +D. T.” or detention for several days, alas!</p> +<p>That Betty was to receive any rebuke was the +last thing that she expected, though she was +nervously wondering for what she was asked to +stay. She looked inquiringly, and in Betty’s unconsciously +sweet way, as the boys disappeared, +and was beckoned to a seat in front of the desk. +“Come also, Peggy Pollard,” said the teacher, +Miss Masterman. “I believe this is Peggy, isn’t +it?”</p> +<p>“Yes’m, and that’s Betty Lee.”</p> +<p>“Peggy, did you exchange papers with any +one Thursday?”</p> +<p>“No’m,” replied Peggy, looking surprised.</p> +<p>“Did you communicate with any one?”</p> +<p>“No’m.”</p> +<p>“Think a minute. Are you sure that you did +not say anything?”</p> +<p>“No’m–oh, yes, I did say something, but it +wasn’t anything about the examination. One of +the boys was acting smarty and I told him to +stop it.”</p> +<p>“Just what did you say?”</p> +<p>“It wasn’t very polite,” said Peggy, her face +very red, but her lips curving into a smile. “I +told him to mind his own affairs and leave me +alone. I was mad for a moment.”</p> +<p>“Are you sure that was all of the communication?”</p> +<p>“Yes’m, perfectly sure. I was too <em>busy</em>!”</p> +<p>“Very well. You may go, Peggy. That is +all.”</p> +<p>The teacher’s face was calm and cold as she +turned to Betty. Peggy had flown from the room +in relief and Betty heard her unlocking her +locker outside in the hall. She wondered if +Peggy would wait.</p> +<p>“Please wait here a few minutes, Betty Lee,” +said Miss Masterman. Betty, wondering, waited. +She didn’t like the way the teacher looked at +her. What <em>could</em> she have done to offend her. +It couldn’t be anything like what Peggy was +kept for. Why, she’d been “busy,” too, and had +scarcely noticed anything except the questions +and her paper. Besides, this teacher hadn’t +walked around like Miss Heath, to go to the +rear sometimes and know just what everybody +was doing. She hadn’t seemed to be a bit suspicious +that day. Miss Masterman now left the +room.</p> +<p>In the next room her voice was to be heard. +Why, she was telephoning–the office, Betty supposed. +Mer<em>cee</em>! what in the world was the +matter? Betty’s hands were cold. She grew +more scared every minute. Perhaps something +was wrong at home and Miss Masterman had +gotten word. No, she had looked at her as if +she had done something. Perhaps she’d have +to go to detention, if not tonight, then tomorrow!</p> +<p>Betty unpiled her books and piled them up +again. She would leave all but her algebra in +her locker tonight. There! Miss Masterman +was coming back. She walked to her desk, took +up a book, looked at it, put it down, gathered +up some papers and put them inside the desk, +went after her wraps and laid them across one +of the desks. She was almost as uneasy as Betty +felt. Probably she wanted to get home, though +it was still the last period.</p> +<p>At last she said, “I suppose you are anxious +to know why I am keeping you. You are to +go to the office of the assistant principal and he +is busy with some other pupils still. He or +someone will telephone me when he is ready for +you. He seems to have a good deal of business +tonight.” Miss Masterman smiled disagreeably. +“It is in connection with cheating at examination +that he wants to see you,” and Miss Masterman +looked keenly at Betty as she made this +statement quickly in a sharp tone.</p> +<p>Betty gasped. “Why, Miss Masterman! I +don’t know anything about any cheating in the +examination!”</p> +<p>“So?” coolly replied Miss Masterman. “Tell +that to the assistant principal, then.”</p> +<p>“Do–do you mean that you think I <em>cheated</em>?” +vigorously asked Betty.</p> +<p>“I think that very thing.”</p> +<p>“Then you are mistaken, Miss Masterman,” +said Betty, firmly and with some dignity. “I +hope to be able to prove it.”</p> +<p>The telephone bell rang just then and Miss +Masterman answered it, saying, “at last,” as she +crossed to the room.</p> +<p>Betty, too, thought “at last.” She was trembling +from head to foot; but a little anger at the +injustice of the charge sustained her and she +remembered the kind face of the assistant principal. +He had some children. Maybe he would +listen to her. But what could she say, only tell +him that she did not cheat. How did they think +she could? Miss Heath would have called the +assistant principal by his name in speaking of +him–oh, if only Miss Heath had been there at +that examination!</p> +</div> +<div class="section" id="chapter-xiv-sent-to-the-principal"> +<h2 class="title section-title level-2"><a class="toc-backref pginternal" href="#id14">CHAPTER XIV: SENT TO THE PRINCIPAL</a></h2> +<p>Betty went to her locker, put away all her +books and took out her wraps. She would <em>never</em> +come back if they thought she cheated! As in a +dream she mounted the stairs and rounded the +hall toward the office of the assistant principal. +Several pupils were about the central hall, some +of them leaving the office toward which she was +making her way. Jakey Bechstein was slapping +a cap upon his quite good-looking head and +starting for the big outer doors with two companions. +His big dark eyes were upon the nearest +boy and he did not see Betty, though he +closely passed her.</p> +<p>“What did he say to you, Jakey?” the boys +was asking. It was one of the other freshman +boys.</p> +<p>“’Lo, Betty, going home?” asked a girl behind +her. Betty turned and waved pleasantly to +the girl, whom she knew slightly. “Not now, +Adelaide–sorry. I have to stop at the office +a minute.”</p> +<p>“Been into mischief, I suppose,” laughed +Adelaide.</p> +<p>“Of course,” returned Betty, knowing that +Adelaide was only in fun. But alas, it was +only too true that something was wrong.</p> +<p>As Betty entered the office a boy was just +leaving the desk, going out with tense mouth and +a frown. But the assistant principal looked up +in a friendly way at Betty, whose face showed +plainly her troubled mind.</p> +<p>“Sit down, Betty. This is Betty Lee, I suppose.” +Mr. Franklin, who as assistant principal +usually saw all the offenders in school discipline +before his chief, now came from behind +his desk and drew up a chair not far from +Betty’s. He looked tired as he stretched out a +pair of long legs, crossed his feet and leaned +back, one hand reaching the desk, the other +dropped in his lap. Here was only an innocent-looking +child, whom he did not recall meeting.</p> +<p>“Yes, sir; I am Betty Lee. Miss Masterman +told me that I was to come here.”</p> +<p>“M-m. Tell you why you were to come?”</p> +<p>“She said that she thought I–I cheated in +examination.”</p> +<p>The tears which Betty thought she would be +able to keep back sprang quickly to her eyes, +but she set her lips, wiped her eyes hastily, and +continued. “But I did not cheat and I did not +see it if the whole room cheated. I tried to make +a good paper for Miss Heath!”</p> +<p>“You like Miss Heath, do you?”</p> +<p>“Oh, yes sir! If she had only–” Betty +stopped, for she would not imply anything +against the substitute.</p> +<p>“Sometimes it is a temptation to try to do well +for some one.” Mr. Franklin was looking at her +kindly, but soberly.</p> +<p>“I’ve been taught that it is wrong to cheat, +sir; and I don’t believe it pays in the long run. +Father says that the teacher usually finds out +what you know or don’t know.”</p> +<p>“Usually, but not always when there are so +many. Tell me about it, Betty.”</p> +<p>“But there isn’t anything to tell! I can’t +think why anybody <em>thinks</em> I cheated. I worked +hard on the review and went over the things I +was weakest on, I thought, and ran over the +vocabulary we’ve had, the night before. But +I’m pretty good on vocabulary.”</p> +<p>“Girls sometimes are,” joked Mr. Franklin, +at which Betty took heart.</p> +<p>“Won’t you tell me what happened, Mr. +Franklin, to make her think I cheated?”</p> +<p>“Not yet. Near whom did you sit, Betty?”</p> +<p>“Why, Dora Jenkins sits in front of me; and +on the aisle next, to the right, Mickey Carlin is +across from Dora and Sim, James Simmonds, +I mean, sits across from me and on the other +aisle, across from me, there’s Sally Wright, a +colored girl, and Peggy Pollard back of her. +The alphabet is all mixed up in this class.”</p> +<p>“Who is back of you?”</p> +<p>“Andy–oh, no, Mr. Franklin, it was all different +that day. I remember the boys changed–but +I shouldn’t tell you!”</p> +<p>“Go on. One of the boys told me that they +changed seats for fun on the day you had a +substitute and it was not an exactly criminal +act, though I don’t stand for it. Then they +didn’t change back?”</p> +<p>“I suppose they thought they’d better not +since she had seen them there, though I imagine +Miss Heath’s roll is made out that way.”</p> +<p>“Never mind. Haven’t you the least remembrance +who sat behind you or to the side back?”</p> +<p>“Seems to me it was Jakey Bechstein behind +me and the boys seemed to be all mixed up +around there. But I wasn’t thinking about it.”</p> +<p>“Did you leave your seat at any time?”</p> +<p>Betty thought. “Yes sir. I have an extra +fountain pen and I thought I’d better fill it when +I was partly through. But the ink at the desk +was out. Then the ink in my pen that I was +using gave out and I went up, twice, to sharpen +pencils, thinking that I would need sharp points +to make it legible enough for Miss Heath. She +is always talking about our making our test +papers especially legible.”</p> +<p>Mr. Franklin smiled. “Sensible woman. Well, +Betty, I will tell you that there are three papers +almost exactly alike and one of them is yours. +Do you suspect any one of copying from you?”</p> +<p>“No, sir. If Jakey was where he could do it, +he would never have to because he is as smart +as any one in the class and almost never doesn’t +have his lesson.”</p> +<p>“In other words, he almost always does,” +smiled Mr. Franklin. “I am afraid we can not +go by the usual order of seats, but I am finding +out where the persons involved sat. You will +admit that where papers are so alike there is +room for suspicion.”</p> +<p>“Yes, sir. Is Miss Masterson correcting, or +will Miss Heath do it?”</p> +<p>“Miss Masterson has read the papers carefully +and discovered the similarity. Miss Heath +will be back tomorrow. Every one has denied +copying.”</p> +<p>Betty looked at Mr. Franklin and shook her +head soberly. “Of course,” she said, “and I’m +only one of them, I suppose. Well, Mr. +Franklin, I’m not going to stay in school if any one +thinks I’m that kind of a girl!”</p> +<p>“Do you think that you would be allowed to +drop out, Betty? Think this over tonight and +come to see me tomorrow at the same time. I +may have more light on it–and you may think +of something to tell me.”</p> +<p>Betty flushed at this. He meant if she had +some confession to make! But Mr. Franklin +was rising. She was dismissed, she saw. “I +will come,” she said and went out, out of the +main doors, too, down the steps, on to catch a +street car home.</p> +<p>All the way Betty sat almost unconscious of +the other people on the car, for at the first +glance she saw no one whom she knew. From +the first the incidents of the last few hours and +those of the examination went through her +mind. She tried to gather up a few fleeting impressions. +Yes, it was Jakey who sat behind +her, though it was unusual to see him there. +That was why she could recall it, she supposed. +He had grinned at her as she came back from +the pencil sharpener. And there had been some +whisking of something somewhere, just before +Peggy had been seen to glare at one of the +boys. That was probably what he was doing, +taking something from her desk or teasing her +in some way. My, it was a puzzle. But it was +simply terrible to be under suspicion. Could it +really be Betty Lee that was going through this? +And the old nursery rhyme ran through her +head:</p> +<blockquote><div> +<div class="line-block"> +<div class="line">“But when the old woman got home in the dark,</div> +<div class="line">Up jumped the little dog and he began to bark!</div> +<div class="line">He began to bark</div> +<div class="line">And she began to cry,</div> +<div class="line">’Goodness, mercy on me, this is none of I!’”</div> +</div> +</div></blockquote> +<p>When she reached home she tried to say this +to her dear mother, who was sitting by the window +mending an almost hopeless stocking of +Amy Lou’s. But when she got to the “this is +none of I,” her lips quivered and she ran to +bury her head in the comfortable lap and sob +out the story as soon as she could control herself +sufficiently. Here was some one who would +take her word!</p> +<p>“Dear child, dear child!” soothingly said her +mother. “Don’t take it too seriously. I know +how hard it is when a young person cannot +justify herself to schoolmates or friends, but +surely you have already made a good +impression on your teachers. Don’t you think that +when Miss Heath comes back tomorrow she will +handle the matter? You said that the assistant +principal is well liked and that the pupils think +him fair. I think that they will probe the matter +a little farther.”</p> +<p>“But what more can they <em>do</em>?” asked Betty +from the floor, her head against her mother’s +knee. “There are those three papers just alike!”</p> +<p>“And you wrote yours out of your own head. +Stick to that. Besides, your father and I believe +in you. Haven’t we seen your lips moving +in all the declensions and conjugations so far, +while you committed them, and haven’t I asked +you more than once the Latin or English words +of your vocabularies?”</p> +<p>“You have, sweetest mother that there is!” +Betty drew a long sigh. “Anyhow it doesn’t +do any good to weep and wail, does it? I believe +I’ll call up Peggy and see what she knows +and tell her my tale of woe. I didn’t tell you +that she had to stay after school, too, and got +asked questions.”</p> +<p>“Are you sure that you’d better, child?”</p> +<p>“Call Peggy? oh, yes, Mother. Peggy would +be sure to ask me tomorrow morning what Miss +Masterson said. I’ll bet she’s aching to call me +up right now!”</p> +<p>Mrs. Lee’s face grew serious as soon as Betty +left her to call up her friend. She was more +disturbed by Betty’s news than she would have +admitted to the child herself. Betty was so +comparatively new to the school with no background +of long acquaintance as in the old school. +She had more than half a mind to go to school +with her tomorrow. But she thought better of +that. Let them work it out first. If necessary, she +or Betty’s father would go to see the principal.</p> +<p>Betty was laughing now over something +funny exchanged between the girls. “But it’s +really very serious,” she heard Betty say next. +“I dread to go to school tomorrow. Tell me +ev’rything that you can remember about that +examination. You wouldn’t mind telling the +principal what you just told me, would you?”</p> +<p>The answer must have been satisfactory, for +Betty chuckled. The subject must have changed +then, for Betty made some remark not connected +with this recent affair and shortly the telephone +conversation closed.</p> +</div> +<div class="section" id="chapter-xv-detective-work"> +<h2 class="title section-title level-2"><a class="toc-backref pginternal" href="#id15">CHAPTER XV: DETECTIVE WORK</a></h2> +<p>In the good, steadfast atmosphere of a sensible +home, whose heads were not easily stampeded, +Betty felt better. Father was told quietly +by Mother. But Betty’s sleep was troubled that +night and it was with many an inward qualm +that she started to school the next morning. She +intended to go on through the day, as her +mother advised her, with as much quiet dignity +as she could command, discussing the matter +with no one.</p> +<p>Peggy, however, referred to the conversation +of the day before when she met her by her +locker, next to Betty’s. “The boys <em>were</em> up to +something, as I told you. It wasn’t Jakey but +the boy behind him, Sam, that I was glaring at, +as you said. He tried to snatch a piece of paper +off my desk, a blank sheet, it was, and I thought +the boys were doing that just to be smart, taking +things off the girls’ desks and seeing what they +could do without being caught. I mean that +bunch of boys, you know, not Mickey or Andy. +So maybe somebody got hold of part of your +paper.”</p> +<p>“The wind from that open window blew some +paper off my desk once,” mused Betty. “I believe +it must have been Jakey that handed it to +me, but I didn’t think it was part of my paper +that was written on. I stuck it under the rest. +I did write out my translations on an extra +paper first, for I didn’t want to make any +erasures and have a messy paper. But Jakey +knows as much as I do. It certainly wasn’t +Jakey whose paper was like mine.”</p> +<p>“Time will tell,” said Peggy. “Don’t worry +too much, Betty. Whatever happens, your +friends among us girls will believe what you +say.”</p> +<p>“Thanks, Peggy. You’re a comfort. Please +don’t say anything to Carolyn yet.”</p> +<p>“She might know something.”</p> +<p>“How could she?”</p> +<p>“I don’t know. But at least I can tell her how +I was questioned, and everybody knew that you +had to stay after school, so how can you help +telling her?”</p> +<p>“I’ll tell her that I was questioned, too.”</p> +<p>Betty however, had started to school as late +as she dared. In consequence lessons and the +day’s program were upon them. At lunch she +remained in the room until after Carolyn and +the rest of those going up to lunch had gone, +and pretended to be detained by some notes +she was writing. Perhaps it was not a pretense +either, she thought, for she needed the notes. +But she would not have taken them then if she +had not wanted to avoid being with the rest +of the girls. A few who were not going to +lunch were nibbling crackers or chocolate bars +and stirring about the room a little. The colored +girl in her Latin class was there and Betty +wondered if she had enough money for the +lunch, little as some of it cost.</p> +<p>Sure enough, there were some chocolate bars +and an apple in her locker! She had the chocolate +bars in her sweater pocket and the apple +had been presented to her in the hall by no less +a friend than Budd LeRoy. She, too, would +miss lunch and divide with Sally. Quickly she +ran out to her locker, rifled the pocket of her +sweater, discarded since the early cold morning, +and brought her apple and her pocket knife.</p> +<p>“Have a bar with me, Sally,” she said, “if +you are not going to lunch either, and I’ll cut +this apple in two.”</p> +<p>“Why–thanks, Betty. That looks good. No, +I thought I wouldn’t go to lunch today. But +you’d better keep all of your apple.”</p> +<p>“It’s too big and it looks awfully juicy,” +added Betty as she cut the apple in halves. +“With my compliments, Miss Sally,” and Betty +assumed quite an air as she handed the fruit +to Sally, who laughed and thanked Betty again.</p> +<p>“Have you always lived in this city?” asked +Betty for something to say, as Sally sat down in +her own seat which was opposite Betty’s, by +chance, just as in the Latin class.</p> +<p>In the soft voice and accent peculiar to her +race at its best, Sally answered this question and +asked Betty how she liked this and that teacher, +Miss Heath among others. Miss Heath had not +met her class that morning, to Betty’s deep disappointment.</p> +<p>“I saw Miss Heath come in the uppah hall,” +said Sally, “jus’ befo’ the last class. She hurried +into the office and I suppose she couldn’t +get here this mawnin.’”</p> +<p>“Oh, is she here?” asked Betty brightening.</p> +<p>“Yes. Say, Betty, did you see Jakey Bechstein +take some of your papers off your desk at +the test?”</p> +<p>“No; did he?”</p> +<p>“Yes, while you were sharpening your pencils. +The boys were having fun behind Miss Masterson’s +back when she was pulling down one window +and putting up another for ventilation, +though she didn’t know I suppose that they’re +not supposed to do that with the system they’ve +got here. They were pretendin’ to look at each +other’s papers and grab a few off the desks +and Jakey grabbed yours. But he kept them a +while, and I saw him sneak them back just +before you started for your seat.”</p> +<p>“I didn’t notice. But Jakey knows as much +about Latin as I do. What would be the point?”</p> +<p>“Keeping you from getting ahead of him,” +said Sally, taking a large bite of the apple and +being obliged to catch some of the juice in her +handkerchief. “Jakey’s not studying so much, +I reckon, since he started basketball.”</p> +<p>Betty listened soberly and remembered the +remark Jakey had made about not studying for +the test. <em>Could</em> it be that he had copied anything +from her paper?</p> +<p>It was worth while staying from lunch and +sharing with Sally to hear this. Yet could she +use the information to help herself out?</p> +<p>“If anything should come up about Jakey, +Sally, or anybody, would you be willing to tell +Miss Heath what you saw?”</p> +<p>“I sure would. I guess the teacher kept you +and Peggy about something like that yesterday, +didn’t she? I saw her look at Peggy when I +heard Peggy snap off the kid that snatched at +her paper.”</p> +<p>“Miss Masterson did ask some questions, +Sally.”</p> +<p>Betty was deep in her lesson for the next +hour when the girls came back from lunch. +“Where <em>were</em> you, Betty?” asked Carolyn.</p> +<p>“Oh, I just decided that I didn’t want to go +up, and I happened to have some chocolate bars +and an apple. I’ll fill up when I get home after +school.”</p> +<p>“I always do, and eat lunch, too,” said Peggy. +“Miss Heath was upstairs for lunch. I saw her +go into the teachers’ lunch room. It was funny +for her to come in the middle of the day, wasn’t +it?”</p> +<p>The girls wondered, but Miss Heath, though +not feeling equal to a day of teaching, had come +over for something else, as she had an idea +which she wanted to share with the assistant +principal. When Betty depressed, went into +the office of the assistant principal after school, +Miss Heath was there and looked like a fountain +in the desert, or the sun shining through clouds, +to Betty.</p> +<p>“Good afternoon, Betty,” she said pleasantly, +though with dignity. “I came over to see about +the little matter of the test. As soon as your +principal is at liberty, I want to go over the +questions with you.”</p> +<p>This was surprising–did she mean the real +<em>principal</em>? Evidently not, for when Mr. Franklin +came into the office, stopped on the way by +several people, both teachers and pupils, she +drew out a paper. “I am ready to go over the +questions with Betty, Mr. Franklin,” she said.</p> +<p>“Very well,” said he, closing the door.</p> +<p>“Do you remember the questions, pretty well, +Betty?” asked Miss Heath.</p> +<p>“I would know them if I saw them.”</p> +<p>“Have you looked up anything you did not +know?”</p> +<p>“Yes–I wasn’t sure about several things that +I wrote down; but I have forgotten what they +were now.”</p> +<p>“Perhaps you will recall them as I go through +the questions. I have your paper here,” and +Miss Heath took out what Betty recognized as +her own paper.</p> +<p>What was the point of doing all this! Betty +felt confused, but she would answer all the questions +if that would help establish her innocence +of the cheating.</p> +<p>One by one the examination questions, or +directions in regard to what was desired, were +read. Betty replied slowly, saying in several +places, “I didn’t put that all down on my paper, +I think, Miss Heath. I thought afterward that +I had omitted it, though I went all over it so +carefully.”</p> +<p>Later, when they came to the translation, she +said, “I couldn’t think of the name of that +Dative, so I just put Indirect Object, because +you said that in a way all Datives were indirect +objects. But I looked it up and I could tell you +now.”</p> +<p>“Take a piece of paper, Betty, and write +again the English to Latin sentences.”</p> +<p>Mr. Franklin indicated by a nod some paper +on his desk. Betty took the list of questions, +thought a moment and wrote, slowly. “I always +Have to take plenty of time on the English to +Latin,” she said, “and there is one that I wrote +two ways, but I wasn’t sure that either were +right. It’s the one that has the accusative of +place to which in it.”</p> +<p>Miss Heath nodded and her eyes twinkled. +Whatever idea she had was turning out successfully, +it seemed. But Betty was very busy with +the sentences. She handed over the paper saying +“It did not take so long, because I’d thought +it out before.”</p> +<p>“I see. Betty, why did you use <em>appello</em> +instead of <em>voco</em> here?”</p> +<p>“Because it is calling in the sense of naming, +as you told us in such sentences.”</p> +<p>“Good. Why did you use the Ablative in +the second sentence?”</p> +<p>“Because it specifies that in respect to which”–Betty +got no farther because Miss Heath interrupted +her.</p> +<p>“That is enough, Betty. Mr. Franklin, I’m +satisfied, are you? The other person did not +know, and the third youngster plainly copied +the whole thing from him.”</p> +<p>Mr. Franklin nodded assent. “Betty,” he +said, “you are cleared from all suspicion of +copying and cheating. We know which ones of +these papers were copied. You may thank Miss +Heath for her little scheme to find out. We +have already met with the others, but we can +not tell you their names.”</p> +<p>“Oh, I don’t want to know!” exclaimed Betty. +“Thank you so much!”</p> +<p>It was another Betty that ran down the steps, +to find both Peggy and Carolyn waiting for her. +Her face must have told them the story. “O, +Betty! Is is all right?” eagerly asked Carolyn. +“Peggy told me, when I asked her why she was +waiting for you. Oh, you should have told me +and let me worry with you! Was that why you +wouldn’t come up to lunch?”</p> +<p>“Yes.”</p> +<p>“Please tell us how they found out that you +didn’t—” Carolyn would not finish.</p> +<p>“Well, you saw Miss Heath, that darling woman! +She came over on purpose to see all +about it and she had the scheme to bring the +questions and find out how much each of us +really knew about things. I really don’t see +how she told, but it must be that whoever copied +couldn’t give good reasons for what he would +have missed on or something. She’s a regular +Sherlock Holmes!”</p> +<p>“And now, if you’ll never tell a soul, I’ll tell +you what Sally Wright told me during lunch. I +learned a lot by staying down and giving Sally +an old chocolate bar!”</p> +<p>The girls promised, and the three, Betty in +the middle, walked slowly toward the street, +heads together, arms about each other.</p> +</div> +<div class="section" id="chapter-xvi-some-freshman-conclusions"> +<h2 class="title section-title level-2"><a class="toc-backref pginternal" href="#id16">CHAPTER XVI: SOME FRESHMAN CONCLUSIONS</a></h2> +<p>What had happened between the teachers and +the pupils who had cheated in the test was, +naturally, not known, except that every one +knew the penalty of losing a grade. The boys +that had changed seats and generally “acted up” +during the presence of the substitute were well +rebuked and had to endure some penalty, the +girls understood; but only those who had behaved +ever mentioned the occurrence. The guilty +carried it off with bland ignorance or nonchalance +and pretended not to understand any +jokes at their expense. Jakey Bechstein was +out of school for several days, but came back +as lively as ever and making good recitations. +His basketball team lacked his presence.</p> +<p>At Betty Jakey never looked, but as she had +never known him very well and as he did not +ordinarily sit near her in any of her classes, +she scarcely noticed that he avoided her till +Peggy called her attention to it.</p> +<p>But the year went on and Betty had many +more interesting things to take up her mind. +The semester examinations were a nightmare, +Carolyn claimed, but they managed to live +through them, as they usually do. Miss Heath +was particularly fond of Betty, she told her +mother when Mrs. Lee, without Amy Lou, came +to visit Betty’s classes one day. “Betty is a +very charming little girl, Mrs. Lee, and very +bright. She is a friend of some of our best +freshman girls, too, as I imagine you’d like to +know. It is rather important, you know, what +sort of friends the children like.”</p> +<p>The winter passed. Betty for the most part +worked at her lessons, with pleasant Saturday +afternoons, sometimes with the girls, sometimes +on expeditions with the family. Her father was +greatly absorbed in business affairs, but as +spring approached he often drove his family +to find the first spring flowers at some spot outside +of the city, or to observe the coming of bud +and blossom.</p> +<p>On one warm April day, rather in advance of +the season, they thought, Mr. Lee and Betty +were alone and the machine was parked by the +roadside near a little stream where some violets +were growing. As the ground was dry upon the +sloping bank, Betty sat down with her bunch of +violets in her hand and her father decided to +join her. “What do you think of this place, +Betty? You’d hardly expect it so near the city, +would you?”</p> +<p>“No, but there are lots of places in this town +that are what you might call unexpected, because +there are the hills and ravines, you know.”</p> +<p>“Yes, that is so.”</p> +<p>“Father,” Betty spoke again after a pause +during which she picked a flower within reach. +“Father, don’t you think that a girl ought to +take advantage of her opportunities?”</p> +<p>“Seems to me I’ve heard something like that, +Betty.”</p> +<p>“Well, I’m serious, Father.”</p> +<p>“To just what advantages do you refer?”</p> +<p>“I’m thinking about school, you know, and it +does seem as if there are so many things to do +in these high school years, especially here in the +city, that you’ll never have a chance to do +again!”</p> +<p>“Things that you are not doing now, you +mean?”</p> +<p>“Yes, Father. Unless you see it, you can’t +realize what lovely things go on at school and +you can’t help wanting to be in them!”</p> +<p>“What, for instance?”</p> +<p>“Well, there’s the music for one thing. If +you get your lessons, you haven’t so much time +for other things, but to be trained right here, +where there’s a Symphony Orchestra and everybody +knowing the best music and singing and +playing it–it doesn’t seem right not to do it +if you have any music in you at all. Ted Dorrance +was talking about it the other day. He’s +a junior this year, you know. He was with +some of the girls and boys in a bunch of us, +talking after school.</p> +<p>“I imagine that Ted gets his lessons, for he’s +smart looking. I heard him talking to a boy +the very first day I was in school, standing in +line to sign up. He said he didn’t know what +he was going to do, not much athletics only +‘swimming, of course.’ You ought to see Ted +swim at a swimming meet. And dive! He can +turn a somersault backwards and everything.</p> +<p>“He said that his mother wanted him to be +in the orchestra and sure enough he is. Father, +he plays the violin and he’s the very first violin +in the orchestra, the one that does little solo +parts sometimes, or whatever they do.”</p> +<p>“And do you want to be in the orchestra, +too?”</p> +<p>“Mer<em>cee</em>, no! What would I play? But I’d +like to go on with my piano lessons, and at +the Conservatory, too, and then I’d like to be +in the Glee Club. Carolyn says she’s going +to try to be in it next year. But you see all the +practice takes a lot of time.”</p> +<p>“I see. Anything else, little daughter?”</p> +<p>Betty laughed. Father was so nice to talk +to. “Yes, a lot of things, but I like the athletics, +gym, you know, and swimming. I think maybe +I’ll get honors in swimming. Some of the girls +are more than half afraid of the water, but I +feel–I feel just like a fish!”</p> +<p>It was Mr. Lee’s turn to laugh. “I used to +feel that way, too, Betty, and I had a lake to +swim in from the time I was knee-high to a +duck.”</p> +<p>“Then I suppose I inherit it from you,” Betty +declared. “I’m much, obliged for the trick of +it! But that’s another thing, Father. If you +do a thing, you like to do it well and I suppose +it’s Louise Madison, who is president of the +G. A. A., that has made me so crazy about +athletics. Why, they even have riding horseback, +beside tennis and everything you can +think of.”</p> +<p>“And everything you can’t think of, I suppose.”</p> +<p>“Aren’t you funny–who’d ever say that but +you?”</p> +<p>“Have you thought out, Betty, just what +you’d like to take up?”</p> +<p>“No, Father, not exactly. I’m just–ruminating, +and trying to think it out.”</p> +<p>“Then I’m glad you are willing to do it with +me, Betty. Perhaps we can come to some +conclusion.”</p> +<p>“Perhaps. I’m sure I need help. It’s just +this way. I hate to miss it all, but I can never +get my lessons and do too much. Would you +care awfully, Father, if I didn’t stand at the +head of my class? I did at home, I mean where +we did live, but I don’t believe a body ever could +even <em>know</em> who is the head in the big high +schools. I guess it’s only in some line or other +that they get prizes and things.</p> +<p>“And then, Father, I believe that it’s better +not to be so–keyed up, as Mother says, and +wanting to beat.”</p> +<p>“The habit of success is a good thing, Betty.”</p> +<p>Betty pondered a moment. “I see what you +mean. It’s only too easy to let down.”</p> +<p>“Yes, and when one studies a subject there +is more satisfaction in really covering the +ground, being accurate, I mean, not just having +a sort of hazy idea.”</p> +<p>“Father, there’s too much! You just can’t +get it all.”</p> +<p>“You have done pretty well so far, my child. +I am satisfied with your grades. Isn’t there +always an honor roll?”</p> +<p>“Yes, and I’m on it, so far.”</p> +<p>“Then that is enough. You need not try to +beat anybody. Wasn’t that the trouble with +your friend that copied your answers?”</p> +<p>“Yes. I wouldn’t do that, of course, but there +is a sort of nervousness about reciting well and +making an impression on the teacher, whether +you have your lesson or haven’t had a chance +to get it real well. And sometimes you recite +when you don’t know much.”</p> +<p>“I see. It is a problem, Betty. I see nothing +for it but to make a good general plan, not including +too much, then work it out every day the +best you can. But it’s the little decisions every +day that count in anything. I have it in business +too. And I wouldn’t let down altogether in the +ideals of hard work and getting lessons. It’s +chiefly in putting your mind on it when you are +working, isn’t it?”</p> +<p>“A good deal.”</p> +<p>“You would really like to be in that orchestra, +wouldn’t you, Betty?”</p> +<p>Betty looked up at the smiling face of her +father, who wasn’t so very old, after all. He +had a fellow feeling!</p> +<p>“Didn’t you take a few violin lessons once?”</p> +<p>“Yes, when that college girl taught a class for +a while, but I can’t <em>play</em>, Father. They wouldn’t +<em>look</em> at me for the orchestra!”</p> +<p>“Probably not now; but if you took more lessons, +and of a proper teacher this summer–how +about it?”</p> +<p>“I might,” said Betty, dropping her flowers in +her lap to clap her hands. “Would you <em>let</em> me?”</p> +<p>“Would you like it as much as that?”</p> +<p>“I’d love it!”</p> +<p>“Then we shall see about it at once. I’m +going to send your Mother and Amy Lou to +your grandmother’s this summer, but not all of +you could go there. Dick and Doris might take +turns. And how would you like to keep house +for me, practice violin, and get taken on +rides to give you an occasional breath of the country?”</p> +<p>“That would be great. I’m not a good housekeeper, +though.”</p> +<p>“We’ll never tell anybody how we keep house, +Betty, and I’ll be ‘boss.’ We’ll drive over to +the Conservatory, Saturday, sign you up for +violin with somebody–come on child. Gather +up your flowers. We must go home.”</p> +<p>Mr. Lee sprang to his feet, gave a hand to +Betty, who did not need it, but accepted it.</p> +<p>“But <em>Father</em>, I don’t know how good the old +violin is and the bow is terrible. It never did +do what it ought to! How <em>can</em> I begin?”</p> +<p>“The trouble with the ‘old violin’ is not that +it is ‘old,’ Betty,” laughed Mr. Lee, as Betty +ran after him on his way to the car. “It simply +isn’t much good at all. You shall have a better +one. You used to play some sweet little tunes. +Here’s for a Stradivarius or ‘whatever it is,’ +as you say. And you shall see how I keep you +at hard work this summer! We’ll have some of +the school extras or perish in the attempt.”</p> +<p>Betty chuckled as she climbed into the car. +“All right, my dear Daddy. The neighbors will +hate me, but <em>I’ll practice</em>, and it can’t be any +worse than that horn across the street. How +did you read my mind and know that I’d rather +be in an orchestra than take piano lessons?”</p> +<p>“It was just instinct, Betty,” replied Mr. Lee, +as he started the car, “with perhaps a few +deductions and putting two and two together.”</p> +<p>“Really, Father, can you afford to get me a +good violin and let me take lessons?”</p> +<p>“Yes. It is necessary to do things <em>when</em> they +ought to be done, and we shall do this. But I’m +counting on my girl to make good.”</p> +<p>“Oh, I will try! But you know me!”</p> +<p>“I’m not expecting too much, Betty, only the +same effort that you always make in everything. +I shall watch to keep you well and safe. Perhaps +the athletics that you like so much will +help to keep you well. But don’t get reckless in +‘gym.’ We’ll see about the riding some other +year, perhaps.”</p> +</div> +<div class="section" id="chapter-xvii-spring-at-lyon-high"> +<h2 class="title section-title level-2"><a class="toc-backref pginternal" href="#id17">CHAPTER XVII: SPRING AT LYON HIGH</a></h2> +<p>If the autumn, with its excitement of football +and the starting of school activities, was +thrilling to Betty Lee, what should be said of +the springtime, with those same activities matured +and new interests of the season? It was +baseball among the boys now. Seniors were +thinking of their graduation. Freshmen had +nearly completed their first year of high school +and had changed by contact with the older +classes and with their own new ambitions.</p> +<p>Betty could not keep up with it all, nor attend +all of the entertainments offered by the different +organizations. In some of them she had a part, +as when the Girl Reserves did something special +with a good program, or when the swimming +contests took place, for then not alone the best +swimmers took part, but those of modest attainments. +In this Betty had occasion to take a +little pride in winning points.</p> +<p>Her mother accompanied her to attend the +great musical affair of the year, when all the +musical organizations, orchestra and glee clubs, +combined to show their parents what they could +do. Mrs. Lee exclaimed over the ability of the +orchestra and Betty explained. “In the first place, +Mother, they have a wonderful leader. He’s a +foreigner and hasn’t much patience with anybody, +Ted says, but it isn’t a bad thing for the +way things turn out, you see. Then the boys +and girls are used to hearing good music.”</p> +<p>“They hear some very terrible jazz, too,” remarked +Mrs. Lee.</p> +<p>“I’ll have to admit it,” laughed Betty, “but +not in school, except, perhaps, at the minstrel +show they had. I wasn’t there, so I can’t state.”</p> +<p>The school grounds were more attractive than +in the fall. The garden club worked under the +direction of the botany teacher. First came the +forsythia, in welcome yellow delicacy all over +the city, and here and there about the grounds. +Then other flowers came on, with magnolia and +Japanese cherry trees in blossom, and in their +time gay tulips, and purple iris lining some of +the walks. With the windows of class rooms, +study halls and library open, the pupils and +teachers could hear the songs of birds, more free +than they were, to be sure, but with their daily +bread and nesting entailing much hunting and +work on the part of the little creatures. Betty +never failed to visit a part of the grounds devoted +to wild flowers, including May-apples and +jack-in-the-pulpit.</p> +<p>She was occasionally out at the Gwynne place, +when Carolyn carried her off in a car which +sometimes came for her, or accompanied her as +far as the street car went, to take the rest of the +way in a strolling hike, enlivened with much discourse, +after the manner of girls. They saw +very little of the boys, by the way, for baseball +and other active, outdoor affairs engaged their +attention; but the girls, with so many of their +own, did not notice it. Of these girl activities, +Color Day, the annual track meet of the girls +was of importance.</p> +<p>This was held on the last of April in the stadium +and the competition was between classes. +The freshmen girls were quite excited over it, +for they had some very athletic girls in their +various teams this year, and while they did not +expect to win the meet they expected to make a +good showing. Both Betty and Carolyn were in +this, though Betty was not allowed to do competitive +running. But there was the throwing, +baseball and hurl-ball, and some other events. +Numbers told for your class, it seemed. And +when it finally came off it was great fun, Betty +reported.</p> +<p>“You ought to have been there, Mother!” she +cried when she came home. “You simply <em>must</em> +come more next year. We’ll get somebody to +stay with Amy Lou, though she would think anything +like this just wonderful, wouldn’t you, +Amy Lou?”</p> +<p>“Yes, Betty. Why can’t I go?”</p> +<p>“You can next time. You ought to have seen +the girls run and jump over the hurdles and +everything! We had a tug of war and the freshmen +won that. Then one of our freshman girls +made a brand-new record in the sixty-yard +hurdles. I’ve forgotten just what it was, but it +beat last year’s record just a little bit.</p> +<p>“I didn’t do so badly in the throwing, Mother, +but I didn’t take first place by any means; and +the relay in overhead basketball was great!”</p> +<p>“It seems to me that you make work of your +playing, Betty.”</p> +<p>“Yes, I suppose we do. But isn’t it better to +have athletics watched over and amounting to +something?”</p> +<p>“I suppose it is, unless you push it too far +for your health.”</p> +<p>“Well, I suppose it does hurt some of the boys +and girls once in a while, when they get reckless +and try more than they ought to do; but they +are all examined, you know, and they have rules. +The seniors beat, by the way, so I suppose +they’re satisfied. It would be hard to be beaten +when it was your last year. And, Mother, may +I go to the G. A. A. banquet with Carolyn? And, +won’t you think twice about going yourself? +Carolyn says that her mother is going and +wants to entertain you and me. I suppose we +couldn’t get Father there, could we?”</p> +<p>“Oh, no, Betty. He is too busy to take time +now for a girls’ affair. Perhaps I can go another +year, but not now.”</p> +<p>“Mrs. Gwynne was going to call you up, or +come to see you if she could.”</p> +<p>“That will be very kind,” said Mrs. Lee. “You +may go, Betty, but I think that you’d better pay +for your own ticket. We shall see what seems +polite to do.”</p> +<p>“You see, Mother, honors are distributed that +night and we find out who the honor girl is and +get whatever we do get for our points.”</p> +<p>This was one of the last events before the +“finals” and Commencement. Betty, in her +“partiest frock,” came home full of enthusiasm +to report that the mystery was a mystery no +longer and that Louise Madison “got the honor +ring.” That was the crowning honor and the +last thing given.</p> +<p>For the “first time in history” the freshmen +received the baseball chevrons. Betty declared +that she wasn’t ashamed of being a freshman, +but oh, to think that her first year was nearly +over! The banquet was simply great, everything +so good; and then after it came the speeches and +the presenting of awards, while the girls that +had done things were “all excited inside,” and +the seniors, of course, all wondering which of +them would get the great honor.</p> +<p>“I’ve decided that I’m going to ride in order +to get one of those ducky pins, a silver pin with +a tiny black horse and rider, a girl, too, jumping +over a bar!”</p> +<p>“Now, isn’t that just like a girl!” exclaimed +Dick, who was listening while some of this was +being told at the breakfast table.</p> +<p>“It ought to take a very strong motive, +Dicky,” mischievously replied his sister, “to induce +one to make an art of riding! Still, I +can stick on a horse out at Grandma’s, can’t I?”</p> +<p>“Yes–and how?” asked Dick scornfully.</p> +<p>Examination week to some seemed long, indeed, +with the longer time allowed for the real +tests that had so much to do with passing for +those who were obliged to take them. Fortunately, +Betty had none to take, but it seemed +odd, indeed, to wait for grades during examination +time and the time given the teachers to +correct the important papers. The weather was +hot, but it was a good opportunity for last visits +or picnics.</p> +<p>Peggy Pollard had one of these at her home, +a pretty place in the same suburb which boasted +the Gwynne place, but Peggy’s home was closer +in toward town and not so large as that of the +Gwynnes. The house was a simple building, +modern, set back among a few handsome trees +in a large lot. There was a pool on whose circular +cement wall, Betty, Peggy and their friends +sat like so many mermaids one hot afternoon. +Bathing suits were the appropriate costume for +this picnic, Peggy had said. In consequence, the +girls came in simple frocks, as cool as they could +muster, and brought their bathing suits, caps, +slippers and all.</p> +<p>The pool was retired, among the trees and +thick bushes where it was cool with shadows, +and it was well known and favored among +Peggy’s friends. Betty’s eyes opened wide +when she saw it. Good friends as they had been, +this was the first time that Peggy had entertained +her.</p> +<p>“How did you happen to have such a <em>big</em> one, +Peggy?” one of the girls asked, voicing Betty’s +thought.</p> +<p>“Why, there were so many boys and they +wanted it big enough for real diving and swimming +a bit; so, as they made it themselves, they +had it that way. This is fresh water, girls, just +put in it. Betty, you haven’t been here before, +though I’ve tried to find a good chance to have +folks before this. Mother’s been in the hospital, +as I guess I told you.</p> +<p>“Why, Betty, I’m the last chick of a big +family, or almost the last chick. Jack is in the +University still, my big brother, but the rest are +all married or away, six brothers–what do you +think of that?”</p> +<p>“How nice! Any sisters? but you practically +told me you hadn’t any. And here I’ve known +you all year and never knew a word about your +family.”</p> +<p>“Life is like that, Betty,” laughed Peggy. “I +guess we never told each other our life history. +I know your family because I’ve been at your +house and I saw them.”</p> +<p>“I’ve known Peggy all my life,” said Mary +Emma, “and I never knew she had <em>six</em> brothers. +Are you <em>sure</em>, Peggy?” Mary Emma was grinning +as she touched the water with her toes. +Then she slipped into it and lay back, floating a +little.</p> +<p>It was the signal for a general descent into the +pool whose waters, cooler than the air, were so +refreshing. Nobody seemed to care about +diving, but they swam a little, had mild races +which, no one cared much about beating, and sat +on the steps that led down into the water or +perched again on the upper rim of cement. +“What makes us so doleful?” lazily asked +Carolyn.</p> +<p>“Oh, it’s the weather, and school’s being +’most out,” returned Kathryn Allen, who looked +like a little red gypsy in her scarlet bathing suit +and cap. “I feel just like splashing around +and doing nothing unless to keep from being +drowned.”</p> +<p>“I have enough energy for that,” said Betty, +swimming off.</p> +<p>“What do you suppose we’ll be doing this +time next year?” asked Carolyn.</p> +<p>“My, you’re looking ahead, Carolyn! By that +time we’ll be through being sophomores, or +almost.”</p> +<p>Betty curved around and drew herself up on +the steps where Carolyn and Kathryn were. +“I’ve decided, to do something different every +year,” she said. “I can’t do it <em>all</em> all the time, +you see. I’ll keep up swimming, and some music, +and then one year I’ll take riding, and another +year something else–I <em>think</em> I will, anyhow.”</p> +<p>“What are you going to do this summer, +Betty?” Carolyn asked. “We’re going away for +July and August, I think I told you.”</p> +<p>“Yes. I heard you speak of it. It will be +wonderful to be on the ocean beach, Carolyn. +But we’re going to have Mother go to my grandmother’s +on a big farm, where they have tenants +to do the work, mostly. It will be good for Amy +Lou, whose been ‘peaked’ lately, since it grew +so warm. Dick and Doris are to take turns +going, I think, and I’m to keep house for Father. +But that will mean lots of picnics and little trips +out places for our dinner and then something is +to happen for me, he said, when Mother comes +back. But they won’t tell me what it is. So I +have a nice mystery to look forward to, or try +to discover.”</p> +<p>“Do you mean that either your brother or +sister will stay with you?”</p> +<p>“I think they’re going to try that, though they +are twins and like to be at least in the same +town. But no telling. In our family we try +experiments and if they don’t work we do something +else. Nobody carries out anything just for +meanness, or because they said they were going +to.”</p> +<p>“I’ll tell that to Chauncey,” said Kathryn. +“Chauncey hates to acknowledge that anything’s +wrong he starts, and blazes ahead no matter +what happens. You must have a nice family. I +imagine you have a good time with your father +and mother.”</p> +<p>“Oh, we do,” laughed Betty. “But we children +do what they say–only we’re ‘reasoned with’,” +and Betty pursed up her mouth.</p> +<p>“Probably they think you have some brains,” +said Kathryn. “I’m not sure that my Dad thinks +I have any. I’d better make a few more prominent, +don’t you think so, Carolyn?”</p> +<p>“It wouldn’t hurt any.”</p> +<p>The afternoon was going on wings, Peggy +said, as some one from the house looked out and +Peggy called to ask the time. “That was only +to know about refreshments,” she explained. +“Will the mermaids now turn themselves into +summer girls again and get their frocks on? +We’ll go up the back way to the bath room and +take turns at the shower. Then we’ll dress where +we undressed, and have lunch in the arbor.”</p> +<p>That was a pleasing outlook. The mermaids +followed directions and presently a cool arbor +back of the pool was the scene of light refreshments +being served to the group of Peggy Pollard’s +friends. Peggy herself ladled out the iced +lemonade from the punch bowl. “Please drink +all that you want, girls; I can’t seem to get +enough myself.”</p> +<p>A wood thrush sang from the thicket near +them, and they heard a meadow lark from out +toward Carolyn’s. “Can you realize, girls, that +tomorrow we get our grade cards and won’t be +freshmen any longer?” Kathryn waved her +pretty glass of lemonade as she spoke.</p> +<p>“That is so,” said Betty. “I’ll not be Betty +Lee, freshman, but Betty Lee, SOPHOMORE! +I presume that I <em>will</em> receive a card since I +escaped examinations!”</p> +<p>“It must be so,” dramatically cried Mary +Emma in an exaggerated style, reminiscent of a +ridiculous skit made up by the Girl Reserves, +almost impromptu, when necessity called for a +longer program. “Hail to the Sophomores! I +will meet you at the witching hour of school +time, tomorrow morning!”</p> +<p>“Come down from the high horse, Mary Emma, +dear,” said Peggy, “and accept this plate of +fudge.”</p> +<p>“Thank you,” said Mary Emma, putting the +plate down beside her as if she thought it all +for her. But she selected a piece and passed on +the plate. They must really start pretty soon, +yet it was such fun to be together.</p> +<p>“Peggy, I’ve had a glorious time and I’m +sorry that it’s over. See you tomorrow morning +at school. ’Bye, Peggy.”</p> +<p>“’Bye, Betty.”</p> +<blockquote><div> +<div class="line-block"> +<div class="line">“’Bye little Betty, don’t you cry,</div> +<div class="line">You’ll be a Soph’more by and by!”</div> +</div> +</div></blockquote> +<p>So sang Kathryn, who followed Betty in farewells, +and made room for several others not +quite so intimate with Peggy. “There is your +car, Betty,” she said a little later. “I’m going +to be home a good deal this summer. Let’s try +to see each other.”</p> +<p>“Let’s,” warmly returned Betty, as she prepared +to catch the car. “We can manage it, I’m +sure. Goodbye, Kathryn, till I see you in the +morning.”</p> +</div> +<p class="align-center">THE END</p> + +<hr class="vspace" style="height: 5em"/> + +<div style='display:block;margin-top:4em'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BETTY LEE, FRESHMAN ***</div> +<div style='display:block;margin:1em 0;'>This file should be named 34605-h.htm or 34605-h.zip</div> +<div style='display:block;margin:1em 0;'>This and all associated files of various formats will be found in https://www.gutenberg.org/3/4/6/0/34605/</div> +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +Updated editions will replace the previous one—the old editions will +be renamed. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright +law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, +so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United +States without permission and without paying copyright +royalties. 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Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..f7842b4 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #34605 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/34605) diff --git a/old/34605-8.txt b/old/34605-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d61ec6a --- /dev/null +++ b/old/34605-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,5965 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Betty Lee, Freshman, by Harriet Pyne Grove + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost +no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it +under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this +eBook or online at http://www.gutenberg.org/license. + +Title: Betty Lee, Freshman + +Author: Harriet Pyne Grove + +Release Date: December 08, 2010 [EBook #34605] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BETTY LEE, FRESHMAN *** + + + + +Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +http://www.fadedpage.net. + + + +BETTY LEE, FRESHMAN + +By + +HARRIET PYNE GROVE + +[image] + +THE WORLD SYNDICATE PUBLISHING CO. + +Cleveland, Ohio -- New York City + + + +Copyright, 1931 + +by + +THE WORLD SYNDICATE PUBLISHING CO. + +[image] + +_Printed in the United States of America_ + + + + + + +Table of Contents + + + CHAPTER I: BETTY LEE'S MOST MOVING ADVENTURE + CHAPTER II: BETTY MEETS RESPONSIBILITY AND A TRIAL OF PATIENCE + CHAPTER III: "THE FATEFUL DAY" + CHAPTER IV: A REAL FRESHMAN AT LAST + CHAPTER V: JANET HEARS FROM BETTY + CHAPTER VI: FRIENDS AND FUN + CHAPTER VII: CAROLYN'S GARDEN PARTY + CHAPTER VIII: BETTY HEARS THE LIONS ROAR + CHAPTER IX: SHOWING OFF LYON HIGH + CHAPTER X: MORE FESTIVITIES + CHAPTER XI: THE "SURPRISE" PARTY + CHAPTER XII: A CHANGE OF PLAN + CHAPTER XIII: BETTY MEETS TROUBLE + CHAPTER XIV: SENT TO THE PRINCIPAL + CHAPTER XV: DETECTIVE WORK + CHAPTER XVI: SOME FRESHMAN CONCLUSIONS + CHAPTER XVII: SPRING AT LYON HIGH + + + + + + +CHAPTER I: BETTY LEE'S MOST MOVING ADVENTURE + + +Betty Lee, aged almost fourteen, was dressing for travel. She both +dreaded and anticipated the day and smiled at her reflection in the +mirror as it looked at her with eyes as bright as stars, cheeks pink +from excitement and lips a little apart. That _was_ a pretty and +becoming suit, "ducky," her chum had called it. Now for the new hat, to +be put on over short, sunny, wavy locks that didn't have to have +anything done to them to make them so. That again was what Janet Light +said, pretending to be envious. + +Betty's hands trembled a little as she adjusted the hat. She could not +help hurrying, though her aunt, Mrs. Royce, had told her to take her +time now. "Don't get all fussed and excited before you start," Aunt Jo +had said. + +The twins, Dick and Doris, aged twelve, were already downstairs eating +breakfast. Betty had helped Dick with his tie and rounded up several +articles for Doris before she could finish her own toilet, but it was a +comfort to be alone for a little. + +From the bathroom came the sounds of splashing and the merry laugh of +Amy Louise, the little four-year-old. With the promise of "going to see +Mamma," Amy Lou would let anybody do anything this morning, though she +had been insisting upon Betty's dressing her as a rule, in this trying +interim. + +The cause of all this early morning excitement was that Betty Lee's +family was moving from the home and town in which they had lived ever +since Betty could remember. A new home was being established in the city +where an unexpected business opportunity had developed for her father. + +Mrs. Lee had hurried to join her husband as soon as the goods were ready +to be moved by truck. She must give the final word about such locations +as Mr. Lee was able to find. With breath-taking swiftness, it seemed to +Betty, her old home had been stripped of its furniture and seemed like a +different place. Temporary headquarters were made with Aunt Jo Royce, +Mr. Lee's sister, and at her home the children were staying in the +absence of their mother. + +But word had come by telegram. Mrs. Royce could not accompany them to +the city. It was Betty's responsibility to manage the most important +transfer of all, that of the Lee children; and it loomed rather large to +her, as she managed to swallow the soft-boiled egg, all fixed for her by +Lucy Baxter, who lived with her aunt. But she wished that Lucy would not +say again what she had said more than once already, with a mournful air. + +"It's _just as well_ that your house ain't sold yet, I say. Cities don't +always pan out, as I've told your ma. You remember when Mel Haswell went +to Noo York, how quick he come back, don't you?" + +"Yes, Lucy," Betty replied pleasantly, though she wished again that Lucy +would not always appeal to somebody for the truth of her remarks. You +had to say something. That was expected of you. As if her father were +anything like Mel Haswell! + +But Lucy's cup of cocoa was just right and the toast was golden. Betty +felt ashamed of her annoyance and told Lucy that she was a dear to get +them such a good breakfast at that unearthly hour. "I 'spect we'll be +back in Buxton many times, Lucy. You may get tired of us." Hurriedly she +finished her breakfast, saying that she had "promised to stop for the +girls;" and with rapid steps she ran upstairs again, to gather up her +coat, umbrella and pocketbook, and to see if the last articles were +packed. + +"Run along, Betty," said Aunt Jo, as Betty ran in to see if she were +needed. "We'll bring the luggage. Amy Lou was such a good girl and is +almost ready. See, sister, I'm putting on the dress she likes best!" + +This was for the benefit of Amy Louise, who might insist on accompanying +Betty unless diverted. + +"Ought I?" asked Betty, hesitating. She did not want her aunt to have it +too hard at the last. But Amy Lou was having the dress put over her head +and it was a good time to vanish. Vanish Betty did at a nod from her +aunt. Stopping to say goodbye to Lucy, and seeing that Dick and Doris +were out for a farewell to Aunt Jo's private menagerie of a few chickens +and two handsome dogs, Betty ran out of the front door to the street. + +People at Buxton rose early. Milk bottles were being taken in and screen +doors were opening or closing; but Betty met no one, as she sped toward +Janet's home, except a boy driving an old grocery wagon. Somebody might +want something for breakfast. Bill was on his way to open up and start +things at the store. + +The faithful old horse was pulled up suddenly. "Hello, Betty, going to +leave this morning?" + +Betty halted, though still moving slowly. "Yes; the rest of us are going +on the morning train, Bill." She smiled up at the big lad, who was a +junior in high school. Betty did not know him very well, though to be +sure all the high school and grade pupils knew each other and each +other's families more or less. + +"Sorry you're going, Betty. I s'pose you're in a hurry, though. So long, +Betty. Don't forget the old town." Bill started the horse with a flap of +the reins as he spoke. + +"Never," returned Betty, nodding a farewell and hurrying on. Was she +really going to leave-forever? She looked down the quiet street ahead of +her. Trees beautiful and green allowed their branches to meet over the +unpaved road. Homes with large yards displayed trees, shrubbery and +flowers, though so late for many of them. It was all so familiar that +she had forgotten how it did look! + +Betty almost felt like taking a turn around the block for a last look at +their own home; but she thought of the curtainless windows, the desolate +yard and the empty swing under the elm trees. No, thank you! Betty +sniffed and fumbled in her pocketbook for a handkerchief. Was she going +to cry now? Not a bit of it! She had to keep up before the girls. +Bounding a corner, there she was at Janet's. Janet had cried last night. +It wasn't real. She was in a dream! + +And Betty had had her dreams, like all girls of her age. The little town +of Buxton was not a rich one. It was not even in a good farming center, +nor was it a county seat. Two good school buildings and some churches +were its chief ornaments, architecturally. Among the people, as always, +there were the good element and the bad or shiftless element. Yet some +very fine people had found a home there and among them were the friends +of Betty Lee's family. It was quiet. It was fairly safe. Betty, +protected by the oversight of a sensible yet idealistic mother, was a +happy girl, interested in everything and ambitious in school, whose +activities were always prominent and whose teachers held the respect of +the community. Betty would probably marry one of the boys some day, as +she had seen older girls do, and settle down. Perhaps she could go away +to school for a year or two. If she couldn't, there were always books +and music and friends, nice things to do and dear people to love. Vague +thoughts like this about the future were in her mind when she thought +about it at all. Her father and mother were her standards of excellence; +and therein lay much safety, since those two were wise and +self-controlled. + +And now, so unexpectedly, there was this bewildering change to city +life. It was exciting to think about it and yet Betty could not foresee +the changes it was going to make in her whole adventure of living. For +in the new and in many ways very superior school to which she was going, +new friends, with work, play, perplexity, even mystery, perhaps, and a +wider choice of opportunity waited for this wholesome, attractive Betty +Lee. To say the least, life was not going to be dull, and this Betty +felt. + +"No, there's something about Betty Lee." Janet Light was saying to Sue +Miller. "I don't believe that she 'will be lost in the multitude,' as +she says. Her teachers will _notice_ her at least. I'd pick Betty out in +a thousand!" + +"Oh, that's natural. You're her chum. But isn't she sort of scared to go +to such a big school?" + +"No, I don't think Betty's scared. Of course-you know Betty. She +wouldn't want to show it if she were. I think that she's really crazy +about going; but you can imagine how she'd feel, dread it a little. I +only wish I could go-that is, if I could take everybody along!" + +"Yes. It's wonderful even to travel to a city; but to live there!" + +"Oh, I don't know," remarked Janet, taking a new tack. "You couldn't get +into the country so much." + +"You could if you had a car." + +"If is a big word, Sue. Betty said her father had to have something +different from the old machine now, but he'll be in business most of the +time." + +The two girls were sitting on the Light porch, waiting for Betty and +talking as fast as girls can when there is some interesting subject. To +Janet the departure of her dearest chum was more or less upsetting. Sue +was not so intimate and Betty had never had any suspicion of the +admiration with which Sue regarded her. She was really surprised that +Sue wanted to see her off, with Janet. + +"It's pretty cool this morning," Sue inserted, throwing her light coat +around her shoulders. "I nearly melted yesterday when I came on the +train from Grandma's. But it wasn't much of a ride." Sue was thinking +that her little trip was nothing in comparison with Betty's coming day +of travel. + +"It was that big rain and the wind yesterday that changed things. I was +over with Betty till late because it rained so hard all evening. That's +why I could hardly wake up this morning. It's a good thing you were to +stop for me, for Mother didn't call me. She forgot." + +"I just _happened_ to telephone you before I started, thought maybe +you'd rather go down to Mrs. Royce's." + +"Lucky you did. But no, I thought there would be so much confusion with +everybody hurrying perhaps, and Betty said she would be sure to stop. +It's right on the way to the station anyhow." With this, Janet ran in +for the second time, to see if it were getting anywhere near train time. +"No, there's loads of time," she reported. + +"The rain was why I didn't get to see Betty at all," Sue explained. "I +had a headache and lay down after I came home; and at supper-at +_supper_, mind you, Mother _happened to tell me_ about how the Lees were +moving to the city! It had all gone on while I was at Grandma's and +nobody ever told me a word! Of course, I wasn't writing to anybody, not +even Mother but once. She and Grandma exchange letters every week, +though." + +"It was in the paper and I suppose everybody thought you knew. Betty was +in too much of a whirl. Her mother's only written cards, and just a +telegram came, saying which train they were to take. Betty does not even +know the address of where she's going!" + +"How could the goods go down, then? Somebody had to know." + +"I think the truckman was to telephone the boarding house or office or +some place after he reached the city, to find out where to take the +goods." + +"I should think that Mrs. Lee would have wanted Betty to help get +settled." + +"She was going to hire some one to put it through, in a hurry. Besides, +Mrs. Royce couldn't manage Amy Louise without Betty. As it was, she made +a dreadful fuss." + +"I suppose so. But Betty spoils her, too." + +"Not so much. When Betty says, 'Amy Louise Lee', in that way of hers. +Amy Lou pays attention." + +"How old is Betty anyway?" + +"She'll be fourteen in December. Don't you remember her birthday party +last year?" + +"That's so. Oh, here's Betty! 'Lo there, Betty Lee!" + +Sue ran down to meet Betty, who walked briskly around the corner and to +the open gate; for Janet's home, like Betty's, actually had a fence! +With a little squeeze and kiss, Sue led Betty to the porch, where Janet, +smiling, waited. "I would have felt awful, Betty," cried Sue, "not to +have had a glimpse of you! I never knew a word about it." + +"It was a shame, Sue; but you can just imagine how it's been. I haven't +known whether I was on my head or my feet." + +"Of course. What a pretty suit you have, all blue, your color, Betty, +and hat to match and everything-even gloves, Janet!" + +Betty laughed at that. "I'll probably not have them on much, with Amy +Lou to take care of. I'm glad you like my things. Auntie drove me clear +to Columbus to shop. You see I've had to get ready for school, too, for +it begins almost as soon as I get there. Won't it be terrible to learn +what street cars to take and everything, unless Father can drive me to +school?" + +"Aren't you awfully excited, Betty?" + +"I suppose I am. But all I can think of right now is getting through +this trip with Amy Lou. She never was on a train before, if she is four +years old; so I don't know what she will do. But I'm hoping that she +will be shy, the way she is when strangers are around, and she may sleep +since we've been up so early. I think we'd better walk along, girls. +I'll go in and say goodbye to the folks, Janet." + +Betty was in the house a few minutes only. Then they strolled toward the +little railroad station, only a short distance of a few blocks. Several +people came along, to see Betty and stop, shaking hands and saying +goodbye. Ahead of them walked Aunt Jo with the littlest Lee, while Doris +was accompanied by three girls of about her own age, and a +freckled-faced boy scampered on in advance, with Dick. "I wondered what +had become of Billy," said Janet, recognizing her brother. + +Soon they stood in partly separated groups on the small platform. Amy +Lou started back after the cat, but was rescued in time by her aunt's +restraining hand. To permit Betty and the other children last words with +their friend, capable Aunt Jo walked up and down now with the child, +showing her what little there was to see and making up a story about the +rails. Distracted as Betty was, she kept in mind a picture of these last +details. + +"Oh, dear, Betty," said Sue, as train time drew near at hand, "you are +not going to forget us, are you?" + +"Forget you-I should say not! Forget the girls I've been with since the +first grade in school!" Betty held out a warm hand to each, as they +stood closely now. She and Janet exchanged a smiling look. They had been +all over that phase the night before. + +"But it can never be the same," mourned Sue. + +"Maybe it will be better!" brightly suggested Betty. "You'll both come +down to visit me in vacations and I'll take you all around-that is, if I +ever learn to get around everywhere myself." + +"That would be wonderful-if it could happen. Maybe I wouldn't be allowed +to go, though." + +"Oh, yes! We get older every year, you know." + +Sue looked doubtful. Money was scarce in Sue's home. It did not roll in +at the village store which her father kept. + +"Brace up, Susie," laughingly said Janet. "We must send Betty off with +nothing but good wishes. Let's not begin to mourn now. That's what +Mother told me last night, and I pass it on to you." + +"All right, Janet. You're right. Good luck and a grand time, Betty. +Mercy! There's the train tooting now and I haven't said goodbye to the +rest!" + +Betty made a dash for Amy Louise, to hold her hand firmly. Last goodbyes +were said. Dick and Doris gathered up the bags while the train rounded +the curve at a little distance. The freckled lad soberly regarded Dick +as he said, "Well, so long, Dick. So long, Doris;" and Doris was being +embraced by the excited little girls, who followed the travelers and +tried not to get in the way of various small trucks. + +"Help Betty all you can, Dick," advised Mrs. Royce, handing an extra +piece of baggage up to Dick, who was last to board the train. "Remember +that I shall want a card mailed at once to make sure of your safety. If +anything goes wrong, send a telegram." + +Dick, grinning, feeling not a little important with his manly duties, +nodded and disappeared after his sisters. The group on the platform, +watching the windows, were presently rewarded by seeing smiling faces. +Dick was trying to put up a window, but without success; or possibly the +others were too impatient to wait for him to find out how to do it. + +Amy Louise, her light hair and childish face framed in a hat that was +now pushed back in the effort to see, smiled and threw kisses. She had +no regrets. She was on her way to her mother. Betty's face looked +brightly out above Amy Louise, and there were Doris and Dick, the +blessed twins! Aunt Jo tried not to show the anxiety she felt. But Betty +would see it through! + +There went the clanging bell. Now the train started. Now they were gone; +and the small group on the platform turned away with that odd, lost +feeling that comes when something is over. + +The freckle-faced lad scampered away alone. Mrs. Royce, after exchanging +pleasant words with the girls, hurried homeward with her thoughts. The +rest scattered. School was opening for them, too. There would be plenty +of activities to take up their time and interest. Janet and Sue would +report to the other girls how they saw Betty Lee off that early morning. +And they all would laugh over one quoted speech of Betty's when she +said, "I imagine, girls, that this is my most _moving_ adventure!" + + + + +CHAPTER II: BETTY MEETS RESPONSIBILITY AND A TRIAL OF PATIENCE + + +Whatever puns, good or bad, Betty might make on this unaccustomed +adventure of hers, she was more accustomed to the little +responsibilities that fall to the eldest child in a normal family than +only children could be; and these in a measure had prepared her for this +trip. As soon as they were settled in their seats, it all seemed natural +enough. Proper conduct in public was a matter of natural pride with this +family, with the possible exception of Amy Louise, who had not reached +the age of entire self control! Dick was hoping that she would not do +anything to embarrass them, for she sometimes howled when she could not +do what she wanted to do. + +Betty, across the aisle from Dick and Doris, gave Dick an understanding +look and a smile when he gave Doris the seat next to the window. Dick +appeared not to notice this, but he felt that he was a pretty good +protector of the girls when necessary. Betty need not think that she was +the only one who could do things. And Betty was thinking that Dick was +going to be a great help. The worst would be changing cars at the first +city. + +Clutching the tickets, Betty had them ready when the conductor came +along. He lived in their town and knew her father. It had been a blow to +the little town when a railroad line took off all but one passenger +train each way, with a few freight trains. + +"Oh, yes," cheerily said the conductor, "you're going away for good now. +Your father told me to look after you when you came along." The tickets +were being punched and given back to Betty. + +"Don't lose your tickets and you'll be all right. No you don't change +stations. Anything you want to know you can ask about at the window +marked 'information.' But outside you'll find the train notices, and a +light come on when the train is in. When you get off, you'd better get a +red-cap to take your bags up for you." + +Betty had a hazy notion of what was meant, though she had visited the +city where they were to change cars, it was very different, however, to +follow some one else without noticing how it was managed. She determined +to keep her eyes open on future trips. Well, there was no use in +worrying, but she wasn't going to trust the bags to any porter. They +could carry what they had. Also, they would stay together, as Aunt Jo +had advised, with no expeditions here and there while they waited for +their second train. In this case ignorance was not bliss, for what would +have been perfectly simple to an experienced traveler was a matter for +serious consideration to Betty. + +Fortunately, Amy Lou was angelic. Fascinated by the kaleidoscope of +scenery, she watched it happily; and when they left the train she +willingly clung to Betty's hand, saying, "I don't want to get losted, do +I?" She nearly went to sleep in the station during their long wait, but +Dick came to the rescue with some entertainment, just as Betty was +having visions of having to carry a heavy Amy Lou to the train. + +At last they were established on the right train for the city for which, +they were bound and Betty breathed a sigh of relief. Nothing but a wreck +could keep them from home now, she told Dick. + +"'Home!'" repeated Dick, pursing his lips. + +"Well," argued Doris, "Betty's right. It'll be home, even if we've never +seen it." + +"Wherever Mother and Father are, it's home, isn't it?" and Betty's +dimples showed as she spoke. + +"You win," grinned Dick, suggesting that Aunt Jo's lunch be served. + +They all did their best, but the last hours were trying after little +naps were over and time was dragging for them all, unaccustomed as they +were to long train rides. When they were feeling that they could not +stand it any longer and Amy Lou was beginning to be fractious, they drew +into the suburbs of the "city of our dreams," as Doris sarcastically +remarked. But interest revived and Dick told the youngest sister to +watch for the place where they would find their mother. It was a happy +suggestion, particularly for Betty, who was thinking that patience would +cease to be a virtue pretty soon, if she had to keep the child in check +much longer. + +At last the crowds were in the aisles. The train stopped with its +accustomed jerk. The tiresome day was almost over. + +Which way should they go? The direction of the crowd settled that +question for them, but where would they find Father? They avoided little +baggage trucks that ran about and looked like hand-cars off the track. +Here were iron gates where Dick, at Betty's suggestion, inquired the way +to the waiting room, where they found "Information" again. By this time +Betty was worried. Where could her father be? + +For the sake of the rest, she made herself keep calm and cheerful and +Dick suggested that it was not easy to get around in a city. Probably +they would be there pretty soon. + +"I hope they know the train we're coming on," said Doris. "I _told_ you, +Betty, that we ought to telegraph." + +"_They_ told _us_ the day and the train, Doris," firmly said Betty. But +Betty looked apprehensively at some of the people in the room. There was +a much better room upstairs, but Betty did not know that and there was +no one to tell her. + +Finally Amy Lou began to cry. That was the last straw. Betty hunted for +what addresses she had and made her way again to "Information." She +wondered if she had enough money to pay for a taxi. And did you pay for +everyone, or was it some other way? Dick was scouting around outside +now. He could find out things. Boys always could. + +Then all at once darkness changed to light, figuratively speaking. +Before she had made an inquiry, she heard a squeal from Amy Lou and +turned to see if Doris were having trouble with her. But it had been a +happy squeal, not a cross one. There was Father, with his baby in his +arms and Doris holding to one hand! A very thankful girl ran back to her +family. + +"I'm so sorry, Betty," said Mr. Lee, "that you have had this wait and +worry. I had expected to meet you right at the train and take you to our +own car. Come on. We'll talk after we get started. It was an important +business conference and I could not leave early. Then traffic was heavy +and it was farther to the station from our office that I thought. That +was all." + +Watching for trucks, street-cars and machines of all sorts, they made +their way to where the new car was parked. Exclamations of delight +pleased Mr. Lee. Dick wanted to know all about it. It was not of a +highly expensive make, but as their father said, it would hold them all. +"I almost need a smaller one, too," said he, explaining, "though I'm not +on the sales end of affairs. They've done me the honor to put me among +the executives, kiddies, and ask me to tell how I managed to do so well +in my little factory. I told the president, that it was nothing, only +quality of goods and good management; but he had me discuss products and +management at this conference." + +"Good for you, Pop!" said Dick. + +"But I'm going to ask you all to help me, children. To make this change +and to live in a city is going to draw heavily on what I had saved. In +fact, there isn't any too much left, except some property in the home +town. So don't get any big ideas of what we can do here in the way of +living like some of the people you will see." + +"Aren't there any folks just like us, Papa?" asked Doris, rather +bewildered. They had started now and slowly Mr. Lee was driving the car, +up a hill and behind an immense truck. + +"Plenty of them, Doris, and thousands not half so well off." + +The children were now too much interested in their surroundings to ask +questions. Their father explained a little about some of the streets +through which they passed, and pointed out some of the buildings, though +he was not yet familiar with the city and was compelled to keep to +well-known thoroughfares on his way out to the suburb where they were to +live. "This is what they call 'downtown,'" said he. "When your mother +and I considered locations near we found nothing suitable. So we are out +where we can have a few flowers in the yard at least." + +Betty looked with "all her eyes," as she said. Streams of cars filled +the streets. Her father watched the lights carefully and was prepared to +get out of the way when a reckless driver shot in front of him, almost +shaving a street car. "Hey, you!" exclaimed Dick, but the man could not +hear. "Why, if you hadn't swerved to the right that fellow would have +hit us!" + +"Yes, Dick. He was either intoxicated, or just reckless. There are many +such in the city." + +But in spite of what tired Betty considered several narrow escapes, they +successfully reached the suburb desired, where rows of houses, some of +brick, some of frame, some of stone, had a bit of yard in front and +behind; and on the porch of one there stood a slender and familiar +figure. + +"Mamma!" cried Amy Lou, wiggling down from between Betty and Doris. But +Betty kept a stout hold upon her little sister until the car stopped in +front. "I'll let you girls out here," said Mr. Lee, "but Dick may come +with me to the garage." + +Amy Louise flew to her mother, while the other two girls walked briskly +up the short distance from the barberry hedge to the porch. The house +was of brick, well-built and attractive. "Why, this is real nice, +Mother!" exclaimed Betty, the last to be embraced, but as warmly +welcomed. Betty was trying to remember to call her parents Father and +Mother, since some one had told her it was more dignified. + +They entered a hall of fair size, then a large front room with a big +window in it, the piano in the right spot, a fireplace-why, it would be +home after all! Familiar rugs and furniture met Betty's eyes. Of them +her last view had been what Betty called "ghastly," all done up ready to +be moved in that horrid truck. But the "horrid truck" had brought them +unmarred to their present position. Here were all of their treasures-and +each other. + +"I don't believe, after all, Mother," said she, looking around, "that +_walls_ make so, so _much_ difference!" + +"Not with our own pictures on them," replied Mother, understanding. "I +wish that all you could have helped me decide where to put things; but +if you girls think of any good changes, we shall make them." + +"Did you have a very dreadful time to find a place?" asked Doris. + +"It was not easy. An apartment house did not seem to be the best place +for children. This is not one of the most modern houses, but there are +enough bedrooms, hard to find, and something of a kitchen. I could not +imagine myself cooking for this family in some of the tiny kitchenettes +we saw. We shall be comfortable, I think. + +"We have the whole first floor. It is just a big house made into two +apartments or flats. Only two people are above us. There are two +furnaces and we have our own gas and electricity. We are to look after +the yard. Running the lawn mower will be Dick's job." Mrs. Lee looked +teasingly at Dick as she spoke. + +"I thought I'd get out of that in a city," returned Dick; but he did not +seem to mind the proposition very much. He was still thinking of the new +car, though he had been content to leave more detailed examinations +until the next day. "The thing that's most like home," continued Dick, +"is that good smell of cooking in an oven somewhere. Is it a roast, +Mother? Yes, and I smell cookies!" + +"Right, son," and Mrs. Lee led the way to the kitchen, where cookies +still warm from the baking were to be nibbled by hungry travelers. They +would still have things to eat in the city! + +Still further investigation disclosed a "den," which had become a +sleeping room for Dick; a dressing room off the main bedroom, making a +safe and cosy place for Amy Lou's bed, and a good bedroom for Doris and +Betty. A large bathroom was at the end of the hall. "You haven't any +idea, children, how thankful I was to find this, with enough room, all +on one floor, and nice and clean, with new plumbing!" + +Betty looked thoughtfully at her mother. It was new to her to think +about homes, which, so far as she had ever thought, grew upon bushes. +And that rent was terrible. Wouldn't it take more than Papa earned? Her +mother assured her that it would not, but remarked that the increase in +income did not amount to as much as they had supposed, because of +increased expenses. + +"Let's go back," said Betty, reacting to her first lesson in economic +lines. But she was laughing. + +"You know you wouldn't do it for anything, Betty Lee," cried Doris. "I'm +just as glad as I can be. Won't it be great to go to all these wonderful +places?" This was after their mother had suddenly left them in their +room, to answer a call from her husband. + +"Yes," sighed Betty, "but now listen, Doris-please don't begin by +throwing your things all around. We've a big closet, anyhow; but do +let's keep things straight as we can!" + +"You can, if you want to. I'm getting into my bathrobe the quickest I +can," and Doris kicked a shoe under the bed. + +"I suppose you are tired," and Betty sighed again. "I don't really care, +either. It's certainly good to pass Amy Lou over to Mother." + +"She could have been worse coming down, but I'm glad I'm not the oldest. +She always gets stubborn when _I_ try to do anything with her." + +Betty felt like telling Doris that she did not try the right way; but +did not want to start further argument and realized that her own +disposition was not in its best state after her day of being "chief +boss," as Dick had put it several times. Doris might take her hot bath +first. Then it would be tub for her and bed as soon as possible after +supper, which would be called dinner now, Mother said. Happily it was +the week-end. There would be Saturday and Sunday for getting settled, +seeing the city and hearing church music of the best. Then would come +Monday and school. What a vista for Betty Lee! The future, though +unknown, was enticing. + + + + +CHAPTER III: "THE FATEFUL DAY" + + +The "fateful day," as Betty's father jokingly called it, had arrived. On +Monday morning there were great stirrings in the Lee menage. Betty's +mother was up early, getting everybody else up on time, seeing that the +school credentials were at hand, ready to be taken by the children and +presented at the schools. Amy Lou, fortunately, slept on, not waking +until everybody else was at the breakfast table. + +Betty started to get up when a mournful wail came from the bedroom. Amy +Lou had been Betty's responsibility and she could not quite realize that +in school days now her first concern was to be her lessons, as her +mother's custom desired it to be, though in moments of stress, Betty +knew well, she was to be on the "relief corps," another of her father's +expressions. + +"Not you this time, daughter," said Mrs. Lee, rising. "Finish your +breakfast and be ready when your father goes. You'd better take charge +of all the grades and give Doris and Dick their papers when they get +there." + +It was very exciting. What would the new big school be like? Dick and +Doris talked steadily during breakfast. "If old Bill was just here," +said Dick, "I'd give him the Merry Ha-ha about our going to a junior +high school!" + +Doris settled her beads about her neck, looked down at her neat frock, +chosen as suitable by her mother, then thrusting her napkin by her +plate, she scampered, unexcused, from the table, to do last things. + +Betty exchanged an amused glance with her father, who rose and went out +to bring up the car. Betty hastily carried a few dishes, from their +places, to the kitchen, as Mrs. Lee came out with a cross Amy Lou, and +then ran off herself to get ready. + +It seemed no time at all before they were in the car, driving to the +school, which they had seen only in passing. The morning traffic was +heavy and swift. Cars were making their rapid way in the direction of +"town." Street cars clattered. Trucks and buses avoided them by inches +only. Overhead there was the occasional roar of a plane from the flying +field. + +At last they had reached the green campus of the school. "I'm glad we go +here," said Doris, "instead of to that school we saw where the grounds +are all gravel." + +"That was a new building, Doris," said her Dad, "the grounds are +probably not finished." + +"I don't think so, Papa," returned Doris. "You know how the school board +man at home said that there was no use in sodding our new school grounds +because the boys would spoil it all playing ball and things. And they +put gravel on it, and every time you fell down running it hurt like +everything." + +Doris had no reply to this, for Mr. Lee was stopping before the concrete +sidewalk that bordered the school grounds. "Hop out, children," said he. +"I'm sorry that I can't stop with you. You know what the buildings are, +however. Inquire your way to the office of the principal, you know. Sure +you know what cars to take to get home?" + +"Yes, Father," Betty answered. "Dick promised to wait for Doris; so if +they can't find me they'll go home together. My, what a crowd!" + +Mr. Lee glanced with some fatherly pride at the little group of three +that walked from the car to the entrance of the grounds. There a long +walk, paved and lined with beautiful shrubbery, led to the impressive +front of the building that spread so widely with its wings and corners. +Then he detached himself from the rest of the cars that were either +drawing up to discharge pupils or were parked in a long row along the +curb. The Lee children were already lost in the kaleidoscope of moving +boys and girls, of all ages, heights, and costumes, most of them very +nice-looking, Betty's father thought. He hoped that there would be no +trouble about their entrance papers. Mrs. Lee could scarcely risk taking +Amy Lou to the school, and he had told her that the children might just +as well begin to depend on themselves, even if the city was new to them. + +Nevertheless, it would have been better if it had been possible for a +parent to accompany them, and no one knew that better than Mr. Lee. The +hurry of their becoming settled had not been easy for any of them and a +city offered many dangers, especially those of traffic. But as the fever +of hurry had not yet infected them, it was likely that they would be +careful in crossing streets and would observe the traffic regulations. +He was glad to see that a traffic officer had been stationed at the +school crossing. + +"We look as well as most of them," said Doris, though rather doubtfully, +as she looked admiringly at a tall girl who was strolling by with a +youth as tall as she. They were laughing and talking and the girl was +wearing a silk dress as pretty and stylish, as light in color and as +good, as Betty's "Sunday frock," Doris said. + +"Yes," said Betty, "but there's every sort, and our pretty summer +dresses that Mother made look all right. There-see that awfully pretty +girl, Doris. Her green dress is trimmed with white organdy exactly like +your blue one!" + +The two younger children left Betty to go around to the entrance of +their own separate building. Betty handed each of them the envelope with +the respective credits and grades and then went up the steps with her +own in her hand. Mercy, what a babel of voices! Betty stopped still and +looked around. Good! There were all sorts of notices posted. She read +them. That long line of boys and girls must lead to the "office." + +"Freshmen go to Assembly Hall," she read. Now where was the "Assembly +Hall?" Oh, that must be it, where all those younger looking boys and +girls were going. She followed, joining the stream of boys and girls +that in groups or singly entered the wide doors. + +Oh, what a fine, big hall! Was this really a public school? Facing her +was the wide stage with its handsome velvet curtains, and my, all those +pipes must be of a big pipe organ! Yes, there was the place for the +organist at the side. + +Betty slipped into a seat. Some one was reading names and telling them +what to do. She would sit there and listen. It was pleasantly cool in +the immense hall. Although it was morning, the September day was already +warm. Betty felt a little confused, but soon concentrated her attention +upon what was going on. Girls and boys were leaving the hall at times. + +Finally she bethought herself of the fact that her name could not +possibly be read out, since they had never heard of her. A girl who sat +beside her looked friendly. She would ask. Yes, these were the names of +all the freshmen who were coming in from other schools or the junior +high right here. They had turned in their credits and were assigned to +"home rooms and so forth." + +Now what were "home rooms," and what did "and so forth" include? She +could not ask the person who was reading the names. She hated to ask +questions of any other pupil near her. She would seem like such a +"dummy." But she must find out what to do. She would go out and see if +she should go to the "office" first. + +Quietly Betty slipped out of the seat and went out into the noisy hall. +She went near the door and peeped into the office. Some one in the line +thought that she was going to get by and nodded in the direction of the +rear. It was a "snippy" sort of a look, Betty thought, that this girl +directed toward her. Betty merely looked at her with a contemplative +gaze and nodded in understanding. She would not say anything either. She +could see what was going on. That was the principal, she supposed, busy +with students. There were several teachers or assistants of some sort +there. Yes, this must be what she must do; besides, her father had told +her to go to the office. It was that sign that mislead her. My, what a +long line. Would she ever get any attention from the principal? But +Betty walked back and took her place in line, intending to ask some one +in it what this line was "supposed to be waiting for." + +But there were two or three boys, perfectly strange to her, of course, +just ahead of her. And behold, two very tall lads walked up and took +their places behind her. The first one was such a fine-looking boy, with +a good face, indeed, rather striking features, clear grey eyes, "almost +blue," Betty thought, as she gave him a quick glance. He was dressed +suitably and neatly, yet looked "very stylish," Betty thought, and a +silk handkerchief peeped from his pocket. The conversation of the two +boys helped Betty through the first part of her wearisome wait. + +"Going in for athletics this year, Ted?" asked the "other boy," who was +not quite so interesting, Betty thought, though he had a pleasant +boyish, face, too. He was coatless and had his shirt sleeves rolled up +above his elbows. But a neat tie finished his soft collar and he looked +as fresh and clean as possible. + +"I don't know what I'm going to do, Harry, swimming, of course, and the +usual gym work, perhaps. But Mother wants me to be in the orchestra this +year and that takes a lot of time. To tell the truth, I'd like to have a +little time for my lessons!" + +"I've _got_ to have," assented Harry. "I worked my freshman year, but +last year wasn't so good, and Dad says he won't stand for it. My grades +weren't so bad, but you should have heard the razzing I got! Dad took +the card and went through the grades out loud. + +"'That grade in English from the son of a teacher!' + +"'Eighty in Latin, when you ought to have had ninety at least!' + +"I mustered up grit enough to tell him that Latin was hard and that +eighty was a pretty good grade and that I hadn't failed in anything. But +did that stop him? It did not. + +"'Fail! Fail? Hum! Mathematics, not so bad. Pretty respectable showing +in science,'-'well, make a better showing next year or I might have to +put you to work.' He gave me a quizzical smile, at least that is what +Mother called it, and handed me back my card. Gee, sometimes I wish he +_would_ put me to work, but after all, if you can get by with, your +lessons, the old place here looks pretty good." + +"I'll say it does today. How long do you suppose we'll have to stand +here?" + +"Until after lunch time, that's what." + +Betty, who had scarcely been able to keep from laughing out when "Harry" +had been impersonating his father, so good and funny a performance he +had made of it, now sighed. She was tired already. It was worse than +waiting in line at the one moving picture house that their little town +had boasted. She changed her weight, a light one, from one foot to the +other. She fiddled with the long white envelope in her hand and once +opened it to peep inside and make sure that its contents were still +there. + +But that was just the beginning. She held her place in line, wondering +what the two boys to whose conversation she had listened were there to +do. Perhaps there had to be some change in their work. But they talked +about everything else. Finally Betty thought she would "just have to go +and sit down somewhere to rest," but she kept standing in spite of her +real fatigue. She was toward the end of the line and only two or three +persons had followed the boys at first; then a few scattered additions +had been made. A few in front had dropped out. + +Finally some one came from the office to make an announcement to the +line. Only a few more would be interviewed before lunch; and after +lunch, those who were new would be seen first. Others need not take +their place in line until later, as all changes of schedule would be +handled later in the day. + +Immediately the line ceased to be one, as its components vanished. Betty +again went into the auditorium and sank into a seat to rest. What was it +that tired her so standing in line? She was probably just sort of tired +from everything, all the change and excitement and the responsibility of +getting Amy Lou down on the train, though, that hadn't turned out to be +so bad. Luckily some one near her was discussing lunch; for Betty was +hungry and did not enjoy the thought of going without what had always +been the family dinner. It had been easy enough in the village for her +father to come home from his business and for the children to come from +school, returning in plenty of time for the afternoon session. Now it +would be different indeed. Mother had said that dinner would be at +night, as Father would have his lunch down town; and on the street car +it would take the children almost half an hour to reach home, to say +nothing of extra street-car fare. There was to be lunch served at the +school, they understood, but would there be any today? + +"No," the girl behind her was saying in a low tone, though the names had +long since been read out and the freshmen dismissed to the "home rooms." +Only scattered groups of resting pupils were here and there in the +seats. Betty was in the next to the last row and three girls had just +entered the last row together. + +"I'm a wreck from standing in that line," said the first one, as she +dropped into a seat. "Aren't they going to serve lunch today?" + +Then came the answer, for which Betty listened. "No; don't you remember +that we never have lunch at first?" + +"Well, I've only one year to remember, May, and I never did get anything +straight when I was a freshman, at first anyhow." + +Betty's heart warmed with a fellow feeling. + +"I certainly wish that we could have one of those good lunches, but I +suppose it won't kill us to starve for once. Let's go down to you know +where and get a Swiss chocolate sundae. We can get back in time." + +"I'd rather not, May; besides I've only got my street-car fare and ten +cents, I think." + +"I'll lend you some more," suggested May. + +"Can't possible this time; too tired, besides. There used to be a place +opposite the school. What's become of that? I used to get chocolate bars +and sandwiches there." + +"New building across the street. Well, if you aren't going, I am. Shall +I bring you something? Maybe I'll have a sandwich, too." + +"If you can get one for ten cents-no, here are some coppers. Hurrah!" + +Evidently the girl behind Betty was emptying her store of small funds +into the hand of the other girl. There was giggling and a scrambling +after a copper that had dropped and rolled. Then one girl left and the +other strolled over to join a group of girls by a window. + +Betty wished that she had brought a chocolate bar which by the irony of +fate she had taken out of her bag to leave it home! But she could go +without a meal if she had to do it. She could get something to eat as +soon as she reached home. + +Rested now, she thought she would go over to the building which housed +the junior high school and see if Doris and Dick were also waiting +around. It was quite a little walk, or seemed so to Betty, but it was +interesting when she reached the place and entered it. Scarcely any +children were to be seen. She walked through vacant halls and decided +that Doris and Dick had already gone home. She hoped that her mother +would not be worried about her. There was no way of getting her word, +though she had seen a telephone in the office. But of course she could +not use that. + +Time slipped by in some fashion. She went back to the auditorium, now +about deserted. She watched the time, determined to be one of the first +at the office door, and as all things come to an end at last, she found +herself talking to a sober, dignified, yet kindly man in the office, +arranging her schedule or, more properly, answering questions about the +work she had covered, and receiving a "slip" to present to her "home +room teacher" the next day. + +It was all more or less puzzling to the young freshman from away; but +she understood the next step and where she was to report on the +following day. That would have to be enough. A somewhat breathless, +excited, and very hungry Betty reached home at about two o'clock in the +afternoon, welcomed by her mother as a returning prodigal and directed +to where she would find the "fatted calf" or a more attractive +substitute. + + + + +CHAPTER IV: A REAL FRESHMAN AT LAST + + +Mother suggested putting up a lunch for the children on the second +morning of school, but Dick said that they would not need any. "One of +the kids said that we get out the same time tomorrow," said he. And +Betty corroborated Dick's statement. + +"I'll not have to wait in line today, Mother," said Betty. "That's all +attended to. I know just what to do. You go to your home room, do +whatever you are told to do and I guess you report to your different +teachers. We get out at twelve-thirty. After we really have classes and +two sessions there will be a place to get lunches, somewhere upstairs." + +Back again in the echoing halls of the school building, Betty felt that +the worst was over, yet she was both lonely and a little timid in regard +to what was still before her. Oh for Janet or some one of the girls she +knew! Other girls, who must have been in the eighth grade together, were +walking arm in arm, or with arms around each other's waist as they +approached the door of the same home room to which Betty's feet were +carrying her. She wondered if poor little Doris felt the same way. She +went into the school room with the others, finding its back seats well +filled already. Accordingly she dropped into the nearest front seat, +which was on the outside row near the door. + +As it was not polite to stare, she believed, she did not look at the +girls sitting around her except for glances here and there; but it was +perfectly legitimate to gaze forward at the home room teacher. Was she +going to like her? + +Two teachers were standing, near the large desk in front and before the +blackboard, which covered its appropriate space on three walls. The +fourth side of the room was devoted to windows. The teachers were +laughing and talking together, apparently in the best of spirits. Then a +gong rang, or something made a sound in the halls and a corresponding +ring in the room. Immediately one of the ladies departed and the other +turned to face the class with a great change of countenance, not exactly +stern, Betty thought, but it was quite obvious that her home room +teacher was ready to handle any obstreperous little freshman who did not +want to keep order. + +But no one was disorderly this morning. It was an event to enter high +school. The expectant faces met the dignified survey of the teacher. In +due time she explained what was to be done. Cards were there from the +office. Schedules had been made out for each one. They were to report to +their respective teachers at the rooms whose numbers were given. Lockers +could not be given for some time. They would be obliged to carry their +books and take them home, but it was remarked that they would want to +study at home in any event. Books would be given out on the next day. + +"Oh, then, you didn't have to buy any books," Betty thought. She +wondered if her mother would like that. They would never buy any second +hand books and her mother had ideas on germs. There were a number of +questions that Betty would have liked to ask as the teacher talked, but +she did not dare interrupt. There seemed to be too many things to +remember. Of course, it was easier for the girls and boys that lived in +the city all the time. + +"And now," the teacher was saying, "I want you to give your whole +attention to one thing. On these cards that I am giving you, you will +see what you are to write; and while I know that this is all rather new +to you, that fact is not going to excuse you for making mistakes in what +is really important. Pay attention and do not write until you are sure +you know what to write down. + +"Perhaps you wonder why I am saying this, but if you saw some of the +cards that we have had in past years, you would not wonder at all. When +you read that line saying the year of your birth, don't put down the +present year. Girls less than a year old are not admitted to the +freshman class!" + +There was a subdued ripple of laughter at this, though it was just +possible that some of the girls did not understand the joke. A few +looked worried. But Betty had never been really afraid of teachers, +having had no cause to be afraid, and she did not intend to begin now. +Very carefully she read over the list of what she was supposed to +record; and then, after the teacher was through with her explanation, +she started in. There was nothing very bad about this. Of course they +wanted to know your address and who your father and mother were and +everything. + +"Elizabeth Virginia Lee," she wrote, her name "in full," in careful +round and legible hand. Writing was not hard for Betty, which was +fortunate and would make her entire school life easier for her. Betty +had been named for two grandmothers. At present she "rather hated it," +the long names, but she always added that they were good, sensible names +and that her mother like them. + +Betty remembered the year of her birth and was not obliged to count +back, as the teacher had suggested might be necessary. Indeed, the +teacher had grown a little sarcastic while remarking that "they" were +"not particularly interested in mere birthdays," and that "birthday +presents were not given." + +A colored girl across the aisle from Betty looked at the teacher with +such a blank stare at this that Betty's amusement was increased. My, the +teacher was funny. She wasn't so bad and was rather pretty, too. Once +Betty's intelligent and understanding look had caught the eye of her +teacher as she was in the midst of one of the funny speeches and Betty +was sure that the twinkle and comical raising of the eyebrows was for +her. + +"She shan't have any reason to make fun of _my_ card," thought Betty. +"She looked at me as if she thought I had some sense, anyhow." But +teachers were accustomed to find response in Betty Lee's eyes and the +mind back of them. At this stage, however, and particularly when the +girls were dismissed, to find their respective teachers and the rooms +where they were to recite, Betty was sure that she had no mind at all. +If she had only known some one! But every one was busy with her own +affairs, or went off with some other girls. And that building! Would she +ever learn where to go? Luckily her home room teacher taught one of the +freshman classes in which she had been placed and in the same room. That +was one off the list very shortly. + +The halls were full of wandering pupils on the same errands that +concerned Betty; but her mind was too set upon her purpose to see them +individually until once, when she was almost run over by a tall lad who +came flying around the corner from a run down a stairway, she recognized +the boy who had stood back of her in line the day before. + +"Oh, pardon me, _please_!" exclaimed the boy. "I had no business to do +that. I knocked your purse out of your hand and everything!" Stooping to +pick up Betty's purse and scattered notes and slips, he added "I believe +you were standing in line just ahead of me yesterday. Did you get all +fixed up?" + +"Yes; and I'm just finding my class rooms now." + +"That's fine. You're not from one of our schools-at least I couldn't +help seeing that the envelope you had didn't have a city address." + +"No; we just moved here and everything is new." + +"Well, I hope you like it. This is a great school." + +"Oh, isn't it! I suppose you're a senior and know all about everything." + +The boy laughed. "Not exactly 'everything,'" said he, "and I'm a junior. +I hope I meet you again, but not to pretty nearly knock you over." + +"Oh, that was all right," replied Betty. "You didn't hurt me any." + +The boy started on, then stopped. "By the way, where are you living?" + +Betty named the suburb and the street. + +"I thought I saw you on the car yesterday. I live out that way, too, and +maybe I'll come around some time-that is, if it's all right." + +"We should be glad to get acquainted," said Betty, who felt sure that +she could safely be friendly with this kind of a boy, who had looked so +distressed at the results of his haste and had clutched her just in time +to keep her from falling. "We don't know much of anybody yet, for Mother +and Father came down in a hurry to find a house." + +"Oh, there's the girl I was hurrying to catch," suddenly said the boy +called Ted, as a girl came from the direction from which Betty had been +coming. "Louise, come here and meet one of the new freshmen. Probably +I'd better know your name, if I am to introduce you. Mine is Ted +Dorrance." + +"I am Betty Lee," smiled Betty, looking up at a tall, handsome girl whom +she remembered to have noticed before in the hall and whom she found to +be Louise Madison. + +"Lou has a lot to do with one of the school clubs and is always looking +for good material," joked Ted. "I had my eye on this young lady for you +yesterday. Any relation to Robert E. Lee?" + +Betty shook her head. "We're from the New England Lees, but I suppose +back in England the two families were connected." + +"Well, the name Lee won't hurt you any with the Southern families in +this town, and there are a good many of them. But we're keeping you and +I've got to see you, Lou, about a matter of business." + +"All right," said the older girl. "I'll see you again, Betty, and I'm +real glad to have met you." + +That was interesting, thought Betty, as she climbed the same stairs down +which Ted Dorrance had been running. Louise Madison must be a wonderful +girl. She seemed to be perfectly at home-perhaps she was a senior. Betty +wondered what sort of a club it could be that freshmen could join. +Louise had passed her a few moments before Ted had come dashing down. +She must have finished whatever errand she had and started back very +soon. Well, she now knew two pupils in this school, but not a freshman! + +This time Betty was ready at twelve-thirty to start home with the rest. +She just made the same street-car with Dick and Doris and listened to +their accounts on the way home. Like Betty, Doris did not know any one +in her class, though Doris said that they "smiled at each other;" but +Dick knew several of the boys and had found out all sorts of facts, +particularly those relating to athletics. "There was a bunch of us +talking together," said he, "and we're going to have some great gym work +and everything. The eighth grade boys said that they have great games at +Lyon High School. Did you take in the size of that stadium, Betty? And a +fellow they called Joe said that he helped with a stunt the junior high +had at the faculty and senior basketball game last winter. That's a sort +of funny affair and the senior team usually beats, though when the +athletic teachers play with the rest of the faculty it isn't so dead +easy, I guess, from what they said. But first they have a sort of +athletic or gym show. I'd like to be on it." + +"Yes, and break your neck," remarked Doris with sisterly lack of being +impressed. + +"Never you mind. The girls do something or other, too. Maybe you'll +_have_ to, so far as I know." + +"Oh, if that's the case, I'll never do a thing! Couldn't you get +excused, Betty?" + +"Don't worry, Doris. It isn't likely that you'd have to do anything too +hard for you. And there's always Mother, and Father, to decide what is +best for us." + +"But they always stand by anything school does." + +"Of course, because there's never anything out of the way. But they +wouldn't let anything happen to us if there _were_ anything that wasn't +fair or right. Gracious me, if I hadn't anything more to worry about +than what may happen next _winter_ I'd be thankful. What are your +teachers like?" + +That started the children on a new track and Betty had amusing and +detailed descriptions of what had happened and what this teacher and +another were like. Doris was in a home room for girls and Dick in one +for boys. "There are a great many of us boys," said Dick with much +dignity. "I don't know just how many but I shall find out. Then when you +write to Janet, be sure to have her tell Bill." + +"Can't you write to Bill yourself?" + +"I don't like to write letters," calmly replied Dick. "Besides, Bill +might think I was getting stuck up telling him such big stories as I'd +have to tell." + +"And I suppose Janet won't think _I'm_ stuck up?" + +"Janet will think that everything you do is perfect, just as she always +has." + +"That is news to me, Dick. Why we've had some of the most-well, +_disagreeing_ arguments over things that you ever heard of." + +"Of course. Janet has a mind of her own. But all the same you needn't +worry over what Janet would think. I know. Bill's told me." + +"Then you think I'd dare write Janet everything about Lyon High, do you? +Of course, I'm going to risk it, Dickie, anyway. And I think it was nice +of Bill to tell you that." + +"Oh, Bill didn't do it to be nice. He thought Janet was silly." + +This was not so flattering, but Betty laughed. She had brought it out +herself. + + + + +CHAPTER V: JANET HEARS FROM BETTY + + +"Hello, hello; that you, Sue?" + +"Yes-Janet?" + +"Nobody else. Going to be at home for a while?" + +"Yes; can you come over?" + +"That is what I'd like to do, for what do you think?" + +"Anything exciting going on?" + +"Not exactly, but I've a letter from Betty Lee at last!" + +"Oh, then you will bring it over with you, won't you?" + +"Of course. That's what I'm coming for, although we might just as well +make plans for the Sunday-school picnic while I'm over. This is a real +good long letter. I thought she'd never write as she promised, to tell +me about everything. I'd almost begun to thing Betty _had_ forgotten us! +But she hasn't, at least she says she hasn't, and she's been so busy, of +course, and everything new. She wrote this at several different times. +But there, I'd better let her letter speak for itself. She said to tell +you all the news, and sent you her love and everything, so I'll just let +you read all of it, even the more or less private part if you want to. +I'll not get to your house for a little while, for I have to go down +street for Mother first. She has to have some soap and starch and other +groceries. She's been doing up something extra. But I thought I'd better +call you up to see if you'd be there." + +In due season Janet Light appeared at the home of her friend, where the +two girls repaired to the big swing in the back yard. There an old apple +tree spread wide branches over them and let the sunshine of late +September come through its leaves in fitful fashion, dancing with their +shadows on and about the slightly swaying lassies. It was Saturday +morning, hence their leisure after early morning tasks were over. + +"And see what I have to show you," said Janet, drawing from the envelope +the letter and something with it that fell on the floor of the swing, +almost going through its slats. + +"Oh, a new picture of Betty!" exclaimed Sue, reaching down carefully to +pick up the unmounted photograph, a small one. "Isn't that cute? And +it's good of Betty, too. Why, it doesn't look like a snap-shot." Sue +turned it over to examine it. + +"It isn't. It was taken at some shop. Betty tells about it in the +letter." + +"That's Betty's smile, and what a good light on her hair. Betty's hair +is a real gold, just like what you read about in books. I always wished +I had hair like Betty's. And I never saw such dark blue eyes as Betty +has. They look straight at you here. I think Betty is a real pretty +girl, don't you?" + +"Yes, but she's no doll. And I think Betty's 'gold' on the inside, too. +That letter didn't sound as if she'd forgotten us this soon. Read it." +Janet held out the thick packet of folded sheets. + +"Oh, you read it to me. It will sound twice as well in your +'mellifluous' tones. Kate had to put 'mellifluous' in a sentence at +school yesterday." + +Janet laughed. "I may leave out the messages to me, then, but I'll read +it if you want me to. Thank fortune, Betty writes so a body can read it. +And she says that we simply must come down to see her at the +Thanksgiving vacation. I can't wait to _read_ you that. Her mother says +so, too, she wrote. Do you suppose we could? I haven't said anything to +Mother yet." + +"Wouldn't it be _wonderful_? But-clothes and everything-I'm afraid not." + +"We have as good things as Betty has." + +"I haven't anything that would do to travel in, though, and I'm afraid I +can't have a new winter coat. My old one's a sight!" + +"Why it looked good enough to me last winter. But listen now. I'll +begin." + +"Dear Janet," the letter commenced. "I'll have to begin with apologies, +of course, and I'm hoping that you've received the two picture post +cards I sent. I meant to send some to all the girls and haven't. But +honestly, I've been so busy and it's all been so mixy, if you know what +I mean by that, that I just haven't gotten at a letter that would give +you any idea of how things are. It looks sort of hopeless now, to tell +the truth, but I'm going to start in anyhow, even if I have to write at +several different times. The longer I put it off the more there will be +to tell. You haven't any idea how much I've missed you and how I've +almost started to tell you things; that is, I'd think 'I must tell Janet +that,' and then I'd think again that you weren't anywhere around! + +"Talk about being lonesome! Of course I've had the family, but not a +single girl at first. I have several friends now that I know more or +less, but nobody that takes the place of the girls at home. You see I +still call it home. I'm not sure that the city will ever seem like home, +but it is very interesting and the place where we live is ever so nice. +It is all on one floor, which makes it easy for Mother, and we have +enough room, though we wouldn't have if we hadn't gotten rid of so much +stuff before we moved. Still, there is a little room on the third floor +where we can store some things, like our trunks and boxes. Mother likes +it, though she has been lonesome, too, for all the friends. But of +course Mother and Father used to live in a city, so it doesn't seem so +strange to them. Two people live on the floor above us, but there is a +separate entrance and stairs and everything separate in the basement. + +"There is a good church near enough to walk to it and Mother has been to +some of the missionary meetings and suppers and all, and we have, too-to +the suppers! So Mother and Father are beginning to be acquainted. I'm in +a Sunday school class, but I haven't had time to go to anything besides +just Sunday morning, for there are too many lessons and school things +that take my time. I just have to get a good start. But I'll have time +pretty soon. The class has monthly meetings. They wanted me to be in +some kind of a pageant, but Mother said I'd better not try it, for I +wouldn't have time to practice. + +"And now about the school. Honestly, girls, I don't know where to begin. +Not all the high schools are as fine as ours, for ours isn't as old as +some of them and Father says it is modern in every respect. They are so +crowded that they simply have to build new schools, which Father says is +a good thing. In some old schools they've been actually heating with +stoves, not even a furnace. So Father said. + +"Well, the building is big and the grounds are gorgeous, full of +beautiful trees and shrubbery. I'm no architect, so I can't tell you +about the building except that it spreads out and up three stories, +besides the basement floor, and Mother says we need wings! The basement +floor isn't under the ground or anything, and all the freshmen have +their lockers there. We put our wraps and books there when we do not +need them and get them out when we do. We have a 'home room' and a +teacher in charge of it, and we go there the first thing in the morning +and the last thing before we go home. She tells us things, the teacher, +I mean. Some days we don't do the same things. Sometimes we go to the +'auditorium' and hear somebody speak, or something happens there, but +not much yet. + +"At first I simply felt lost. Just imagine. Girls, there are +_twenty-eight hundred boys and girls_ that attend our high school and I +don't think that counts the pupils in the junior high. That is _more +than half as many people_ as are in our home town! + +"Dick and Doris are very much set up over being in a 'junior high +school'-though I don't mean that unkindly. But they think it as +wonderful as possible and like their teachers. Dick is more interested +in athletics than he is in his lessons and Father has to keep him at his +lessons a while in the evenings after he has been outdoors enough, as +Father thinks. Doris is working away to make good grades. She has her +eye on things that the other girls do and wear but that is only natural, +and I imagine that we need all the good advice Father and Mother give +us. Mother says not to join anything until we get a good start in our +lessons and learn more about living here. Oh, yes, I was to send some +message to Billy, but I told Dick he could just as well write himself, +and it may be possible that Billy will hear from him, though I couldn't +say positively. You know how much the boys like to write! + +"By the way, I'm putting in a little picture of myself. Mother let me go +down town with, one of the girls that lives not so very far from us; at +least we take the same street car home from school. So we went down one +day right after school. She invited me, and took me to a real good +moving picture, and we stopped in at a cute little place where they take +cheap photographs. We also had a grand sundae at a wonderful place and +came home not a bit hungry for dinner. And that makes me think-we have +dinner at night, for Father can't come home very well, it is so far, and +has a noon lunch down town. We children have one at school, and my, what +grand lunches we do have! They give it to us at about what it costs, so +it doesn't quite break us up to buy it, enough for the time we have to +eat it. But everything, street-car fare and all, costs more in a city. +Father drives us to school, mostly, and then goes on down to his +business. + +"I think that I shall have to stop, though I've been scribbling as fast +as I could, and I believe I'll just send this right off, though I'm not +half through with all there is to tell. I'll try to write something +about the folks we have met when I write again. More things will have +happened, too, I suppose, but I've got to stop now. Give Sue my love and +now I want you both to plan to come here for your Thanksgiving vacation. +Mother invites you, too. She said it would do me good to see some of +you. Auntie can't come for she's going to some family reunion or other, +and we can make room for you. Please try to do it!" + +But the letter was not finished with this. A dash and a new date began +the next part in which Betty said that since she had been interrupted +she might as well add something more to her "book" she was writing to +Janet. There followed more details with a comical description of "her +trip down in charge of the family," her arriving to find no one, and the +"time she had the first day of school." + +The "private messages" to Janet were only some loving remarks with which +she closed and those Janet let Sue read herself. + +"I'm sure she does miss you, Janet, just as I have missed my cousin +Moira. I don't see why Uncle had to move 'way out to California. I'm +afraid I never _will_ see her again." + +"Oh, yes you will-and wouldn't it be a great place to go to visit her?" + +"Y-yes, if I ever could. I'm glad I have you left, Janet. I know why you +and Betty have liked each other so much. You're both so cheerful and +stout-hearted some way." + +"Why, whatever made you think that?" asked Janet, surprised. + +"Mother said that about Betty, and I've noticed it about you, only I +hadn't put it into those words." + +"It's very nice of you to think it about me. I'm just as glad to have +you, Sue, and we'd better see a great deal of each other, just as we +have since Betty left. And if Mrs. Lee herself invites us to come, let's +try as hard as we can to go to visit Betty at Thanksgiving. We'd not +need much in the clothes line for such a few days, our school dress and +our Sunday dress, a change of underclothing, I suppose, and our wraps. +_Betty_ would never be ashamed of us if we didn't have new and stylish +hats and coats." + +"I believe Betty did say that her old coat would have to do this winter, +though I'm not sure. Perhaps it was you that mentioned it. Well, it +doesn't matter. I'll go if I can, Janet, and be sure to give Betty my +love when you write to her. I hope she'll write to me." + +"Oh, she will, Sue. Of course Betty will, if she is inviting you. But +you can see what a rush she's in. It must take a lot of time just to get +to places on the street cars. Mother said it would take over half an +hour to get down town from some of the suburbs. And maybe it's more than +that. I believe I'd rather live here, where you can walk to church and +school and to the groceries and picture show and everything." + +"I can imagine that Betty _is_ pretty lonesome sometimes," added Sue, +gravely looking at the letter which she still held. "But it seems just +like a nice adventure that you read about, and if we can go, we'll have +a share in some of it." + + + + +CHAPTER VI: FRIENDS AND FUN + + +Had Betty Lee imagined any faintly romantic attraction to her dainty +self on the part of Ted Dorrance, she would have been disappointed +during these first weeks in the new school. He always spoke when they +met in the halls provided he saw her; but he was usually with other boys +and very much engrossed in whatever he was discussing with them. +Hurrying crowds on the way to classes had little interest for Betty as +well. She, too, was absorbed by the busy and interesting life, and soon +had friends among the girls in her classes. + +Betty, though friendly, was by nature not inclined to make close friends +immediately. But girls that recite together and have the same lessons +will find much in common. Betty's good recitations and her hand that +went up often to answer the questions of different teachers were +sufficient introduction to her classmates, who heard her name, as she +heard theirs, when she was called upon to recite. She cheerfully lent a +pencil or pen for a moment, or answered some question before class about +the lesson, or sat upon her desk, opposite some similarly perched girl, +to chat about coming events. There were "hundreds of freshmen" and that +literally; but they resolved themselves into the comparative few with +whom she recited in her different classes. + +Long before the Thanksgiving visit, which she anticipated from her old +home chum, she was accustomed to school and work and thoroughly liked +many of the girls, especially a few who were "very chummy" with her, she +told her mother, and sat with her at lunch, or waited for her after +class, or planned their work or recreation together. + +Louise Madison, she found to be a senior, president of the Girls' +Athletic Club, a large association, indeed, consisting of all the girls +who "went in" for athletics. A certain amount of gym work was required, +but one could take more, to be sure. Yet Betty's parents were a little +hesitant just yet; and not knowing the wisdom of the teachers in charge, +preferred that Betty wait a little, except in swimming, which her father +said she ought to know as well as possible, so that she could "swim to +Europe" in case something happened to the ship before it reached port. + +At that remark, soberly delivered, the family had laughed, but Doris +asked in good earnest, "When are we going, Papa?" + +"Aw, Dodie," said Dick, "can't you tell a joke when you hear one?" + +"Well, we probably _shall_ go some day," airily said Doris, provoked at +herself for having spoken too soon, and none too well pleased with her +twin. "You think you're very smart!" + +"Doris," quietly said her mother with a reproving shake of her head, and +trouble was avoided. + +The freshman to whom Betty was most attracted, and that very soon, was +Carolyn Gwynne, a bright, warm-hearted, generous girl, alive to +everything and enthusiastic about many things, yet with a certain poise +that Betty decided was due to the fact that she had always lived in the +city. Her pretty brown head often bobbed along by Betty's fair one and +her face was alight with various expressions as she told Betty "all she +knew and more," as she herself said. + +"Everybody likes Carolyn," said Peggy Pollard, who had seen the grades +through with Carolyn. "It's because Carolyn goes out of her way to do +things for people. She has a lovely family, too, and that makes a +difference, don't you think, Betty?" + +"Oh, yes. Wouldn't it be terrible not to be happy at home?" + +"It certainly would." + +Peggy herself was a "darling girl," Betty thought, prettily plump, like +Carolyn, though shorter than either Carolyn or Betty. Her locks that +fell around her shoulders just now, being allowed to grow and variously +trained on different days, were of that dark brown red that belongs with +what seems to be the same color of eyes and a pinky complexion. But +Peggy did not go without a hat as much as the other girls, since +freckles "were one thing she wasn't going to have!" If she could only +_tan_ decently now! "You have a dimple on one cheek, Betty Lee," said +Peggy, "and Carolyn has one on the other. Those cheeks ought to be on +one person!" + +"Oh, aren't you funny, Peggy Pollard!" exclaimed Betty. "Carolyn's cheek +added to my cheek,"-then they both laughed, thinking of another meaning +for "cheek." They were in a mood for silliness anyhow, Peggy said, for +they were on their way to the auditorium for a "pep" meeting. The +occasion, of course, was fall foot, ball. Enthusiasm must be aroused for +the "Lions," soon to fight their first battles on the gridirons of +various schools in the city and suburbs. But Betty did have two dimples. + +In common with the rest of the scholars of Lyon High, Betty and her +friends were delighted to have an auditorium session, not only for what +usually went on, but for the cutting of recitation hours! + +"Carolyn's going to have a garden party, Betty," Peggy continued. "Has +she told you about it?" + +"No-I hope I'll be invited, though," laughed Betty, climbing the stairs +now for the recitation room and her freshman locker, just secured in the +last few days. "My, isn't it nice not to have to carry your books around +any more!" + +"Yes," and Peggy slid her hand up along the brass railing of the stairs. +"But I imagine Carolyn just decided about it last night. All their fall +flowers are so beautiful now. They have a wonderful big place, you know. +Have you anything else to do Saturday?" + +"No, only some shopping down town with Mother. I could put that off. She +has a lot of things to do for Dick and Doris." + +"You might get your shopping done in the morning, perhaps. I'll tell you +what cars to take, though it might be that Carolyn could come for you, +or somebody call for you in their car." + +"Oh, I could get there, I think, if it is not too far from the car line. +I'm getting used to going around now." + +"It isn't so easy sometimes, even for those of us that have always lived +here, and our fathers and mothers like to be careful of us, of course." + +"Will there be a large party? I might meet some of the girls somewhere, +wherever you have to change cars." + +"Yes, probably you could. Why, I think that there will be all our crowd +and some others we don't see so much of, real nice girls, you know." + +Betty was glad to be included in "our crowd," but there was no further +opportunity for conversation. Boys and girls were pouring into the +different entrances of the auditorium, seeking their regular seats, +which had been assigned. + +"Oh, look!" exclaimed Peggy. "We're going to have the band! Say, don't +they look fine in their uniforms? Well, 'bye-sorry I can't sit by you." + +The high school band did look resplendent. As Betty took her seat they +struck up a lively popular air and played it through while the school +was assembling. They were on the platform, where the principal stood +beside a chair, probably thinking that his presence would have more +effect if he stood. And the presence of the dignified principal always +did have a calming effect. No nonsense or disrespect was ever shown to +him, for the very good reason that he would not tolerate it. A school of +this size, and a city school, with its variety of composition, called +for no weakness in the men and women who had charge of its discipline, +though in this school all due consideration was given to the rights and +needs of its pupils. + +It was a pretty scene. Betty was glad that she sat on the end of one row +of seats, for she could see so much better. Eagerly she leaned forward, +not to miss any part of scene or action. But before they were seated, +they all turned as usual, at the signal from the principal, to salute +the flag, whose bright stripes and stars showed at the principal's +right. Already the pupils were trained to say in excellent unison the +phrases which pledged them to the flag of their country and that "for +which it stands." Together they made the right gestures at the right +time and Betty had not gotten over feeling thrilled to be a part of so +great a company, or over the patriotic tie that made them one. + +Carolyn sat not far away, in front of Betty, and as soon as they were +seated she leaned back to nod at Betty and form with her lips the words, +"I want to see you after this." + +Betty nodded her understanding. She _was_ going to be invited to the +garden party, she thought. But what was the principal saying? He sat +down, after making a few announcements and handing the conduct of the +meeting over to some boy, whom Betty supposed the president of the Boys' +Athletic Association, though she had not caught the last words of the +principal. The program was not so different from that of the meetings +which Betty had attended in the little school at home, when there was a +general gathering in honor of athletics, but oh, how much bigger +everything was. + +The band was several times as large, and how well they played! It must +be something to learn to play in a city where there is a symphony +orchestra, Betty thought. Ambition stirred. She just _must_ belong to +one of the musical organizations of the school, some time if not now! + +Now the yell leader performed, leading the school in different yells for +the team and school. Betty's face was one wide smile. These were new and +funny yells. The team had to come forward and some speeches where made. +Some of the boys were shy and awkward; others, used to it, said their +say with greater freedom. Some funny expressions were used. Betty +thought of how they must grate on the ears of her strict English teacher +who had been particularly severe in regard to slang at their last +recitation. What would she say if she heard some of the things that +Betty had been surprised to hear girls say, girls that seemed to be nice +and were undoubtedly attractive? Such girls in the village at home were +not welcomed to intimate friendship and as a rule belonged to a class +careless and unrefined at home. + +Little thoughts like these ran through Betty's young head as she +applauded with the rest and tried the yells, such fun to say; though she +did not know some of them. But they were easy to get, "crazy" as they +were. But the wilder the better, when it comes to athletics, or so the +modern rooters seem to think. The band indulged in funny little crashes +at quick signals from the yell leader. Betty, with one eye on the +principal, saw him smile occasionally. All this was allowed; but, after +all, it was an orderly performance, if wildly enthusiastic. "My, they +all know how to do it, don't they?" she said to Carolyn, who joined her +on their way from the auditorium. + +"Yes, but they wouldn't I guess if they didn't have people in charge +that won't stand for any nonsense. Got your Latin all out?" + +"Yes, though I'm shaky on some of it. It's terribly hard for me to +memorize. If she didn't have us go over it so much I'd never get it." + +"That's what teachers are for, I suppose," laughed Carolyn. "But what I +wanted to see you about was this: I want to have a garden party while +the weather's nice, so I'm asking everybody for Saturday-just informal +invitations, you know, not the way my big sister does when _she_ gives a +party! Can you come? We'll have a picnic dinner outdoors, unless the +weather does something awful. But it's pretty dry and I don't believe it +will rain. We had such a lot of rain last week and our flowers are so +pretty now. Please come." + +"Why, I'd just love to, Carolyn, and I think it's nice of you to ask me. +I don't know of any reason why I can't come. I'll ask Mother tonight and +let you know _sure_ tomorrow. It's practically sure, though, because I +can do what I like Saturday afternoon." + +"All right, Betty. I'll expect you. I'll give you the address and tell +you how to get there when I have time." + +The girls hurried along with the rest of the crowds going to recitation +rooms. It must be said that Betty's mind wandered a little occasionally, +whenever it was safe to let it wander, from the subjects of the lessons +to the delightful prospect of next Saturday. This was the first of the +week. What should she wear? She did not like to ask Carolyn, but perhaps +she could manage to bring up the subject with Peggy, or some of the +other girls, when she knew who were invited. Suppose there should be +some freshman boys. Peggy hadn't said and neither had Carolyn. + +That afternoon, after school, Betty rushed into the house with her books +for night study and deposited them on the table with a slight thud. Her +eyes were alight and the "one dimple" was much in evidence. "Mother, I'm +invited to a garden party! It's at Carolyn's on Saturday afternoon and +they're going to have a picnic dinner outdoors. Can I go? _May_ I go, I +mean?" + +"I shall certainly want to say yes, if you want to go, as I judge you +do." Mrs. Lee was smiling, too, as she looked at her glowing young +daughter. She folded a garment she had been mending and laid it aside. +"Tell me about it." + +"Well, you know who Carolyn is, don't you?" + +"I ought to by this time," and Mrs. Lee's eyes twinkled. "It occurs to +me that I have heard you mention her before." + +Betty laughed. "I suppose I _have_ raved about Carolyn. But she is the +dearest thing." + +"I am sure that it is a perfectly proper friendship, Betty," assented +Betty's mother. "The Gwynne place has been mentioned more than once in +the paper and I read of a large garden party given there by Carolyn's +mother, about two weeks ago, I think." + +"Oh, was that the gorgeous place that had the pictures of it in the +Sunday paper?" Betty looked a little dismayed. "Why, they must be very +stylish and wealthy folks-but Carolyn likes me-I know she does." + +"To be stylish and wealthy, my dear, does not always make people snobs, +and there are other assets that they may recognize in other people, too. +If you and Carolyn are congenial, there is no reason why there should +not be a pleasant friendship between you, at least now." + +Betty looked thoughtful. "You mean that after a while their way of +living might make a difference and that Carolyn would have different +friends!" + +"Perhaps. I don't know, Betty. Separation sometimes makes it impossible +to keep in touch. But don't let me start unhappy thoughts about this. I +shall do everything I can to let you have friends and a happy time. You +always have; why not here in the city? Just so you have none that will +hurt you. But you are not likely to choose that kind, I think. Please +remember, Betty, that you can't touch coal without getting black." + +"But you ought to be friendly with everybody, oughtn't you?" + +"Certainly, so far as being kind-but let the older folks do the +reforming, Betty. Well, all this about one innocent party? What should +you wear, Betty?" + +"Just what I was going to ask you! But I'll find out from Peggy. They +are going to play tennis and things. I wish I had a real 'sport +costume,' for I don't suppose they'll wear 'party dresses' to an outdoor +party like this." + +"Perhaps we can fix something up, Betty. If you only hadn't outgrown +everything so! We can't afford new clothes right now, after all our +moving and what we have had to buy to fix up this place. And social +prominence does not enter into our plans right at present." Mrs. Lee +smiled at Betty, who was sitting in a low chair now with her hands +folded on her knees. + +"It never does," laughed Betty, "but you usually can't help having it. I +should think it would be a rest not to be president of a club or +responsible for church things. Nevertheless, Mother, don't hide your +light under a bushel!" + +With this advice, Betty jumped up to run out into the kitchen and +pantry, for investigation of the cooky jar. Crumbs about showed that +Doris or Dick had been there before her, and she heard Amy Lou's +childish laughter coming from the back yard. But Betty's lessons were +hard for the next day and she returned to the living room to take one of +her texts back to her room and study a while by herself. + + + + +CHAPTER VII: CAROLYN'S GARDEN PARTY + + +The rest of the week went by in pleasant anticipation of the garden +party, Betty's first. To be sure there had been "loads of picnics," and +lawn fetes for the church, usually in the spring or early summer. But a +real "garden party" _must_ be different. There was much consultation +about clothes between Betty and her mother. One of the girls had said +that of course one wouldn't wear her _old_ clothes, or her Girl Scout or +Camp Fire Girl suits, as you would on a picnic to the woods. _She_ was +going to play tennis, and her mother had gotten her an "_awfully +pretty_" white sport suit! + +Well, what _was_ a sport suit anyhow? Mrs. Lee took Amy Lou down town, +one morning when Mr. Lee could drive them down, and spent a rather +trying morning trying to shop with a child. She looked at dresses and +patterns, with a view of fitting Betty suitably for the occasion. But +the new things were expensive. Finally, by letting down a skirt Betty +had and arranging a suitable blouse, or upper part, what Betty called a +"near-sport" frock was evolved. + +Then, after all the effort, Betty came home one afternoon with a new +idea. "Mother, it's turned so awfully hot-Indian summer, I suppose-that +Peggy says she isn't going to play tennis or anything on a court, and +she's going to wear her light green flat crepe that is her second best, +or else some real cool summer dress, whatever happens to be ready. Peggy +doesn't care! I believe I'll just wear my pretty thin blue and let it go +at that. I don't want to play tennis either, especially when I don't +know anybody much and not so very many can play. Carolyn says she's +going to pay all her social debts at once and have a big party, so I'll +be lost in the multitude." + +Like Janet, Mrs. Lee privately thought that Betty would never be "lost +in the multitude," but she did not say so. "So Carolyn is paying all her +'social debts,' is she?" asked Betty's mother, amused at the "social +debts" expression. "It is just as well that you have decided on the +blue. It will look pretty in the gardens and _I'd_ dress for the flowers +instead of the tennis court." + +"Aren't you poetic, Mother! It's a shame that you went to all the +trouble about the other dress, though." + +"That will be so much clear gain, child. You now have another frock, +which will come in for service at some time, no doubt." + +When the day and the hour arrived, Betty's father arrived home late for +lunch, as he could do on Saturday, unless there were some executive +meeting. That settled the question of how to get to the party, and Betty +called up two of her friends to say that her father was going to take +her and that she would stop for them if they liked. Naturally they were +glad of the opportunity, for the Gwynne estate was out at some distance, +_almost_ a "country estate," Peggy had said. "Call up," said Betty's +father, "when you want to come home, or rather, when I should start from +home in time to reach you. We'll take note of the time we spend getting +there. Then I'll bring a machine full of whomever you like." + +"Oh, that is so good of you, Mr. Lee!" exclaimed Dotty Bradshaw, one of +the freshman girls whom Betty had invited to ride with them. "But +perhaps Betty will want somebody else, though," added Dotty, happening +to think that perhaps she was taking too much, for granted. + +"Why, Dotty, of _course_ if we call for you we'll see you back home. +We're sort of new to the city, though, so perhaps you can tell me who +live places that wouldn't be too far away." + +"Most anybody that attends our high school would be all right," answered +Dotty, "because girls that live in other parts of town would go to other +high schools." + +"Of course! I didn't think!" + +"Well, I don't know about that," said Selma Rardon, the other freshman +in the car. "There are sometimes people way out, like Carolyn herself." + +Betty was already assured by the very different dresses of the girls +with her, and when she arrived at the beautiful place where Carolyn +lived she thought how silly she had been to worry about clothes. Still, +you wanted to be suitably dressed, and when you knew hardly anybody, +there was some excuse. And oh, there _were_ boys, too. She saw a number +of lads whose faces she knew by having seen them in the different +freshman classes. Then there were others whom she did not know at all. +By the time Betty and her friends turned into the drive which led to the +house, most of the boys and girls had arrived, it seemed and were dotted +in groups all over the closely clipped lawn which still looked like +velvet between its flower beds and shrubbery. Oh, wasn't it beautiful? +Betty was so glad that her father could see where the party was. + +"I was afraid you weren't coming at all, Betty," said Carolyn, squeezing +Betty's hands, "but there are still a few that haven't gotten here." + +"I waited for Father to bring us," replied Betty, "and we didn't quite +know how long it would take to drive out." + +"Well, you're here now and I'm going to ask Peggy to see that you meet +everybody. I'll have to be darting here and there and everywhere to see +that they all have something to do." + +Carolyn looked so pretty, Betty thought, and she wore the simplest of +summer dresses, to all appearances, though the material was fine and +sheer, a sort of chiffon, Betty thought; for Betty was just becoming +aware of styles and materials, matters which she had left to her mother, +and most wisely. + +There was the usual tendency of the girls and boys to separate into +groups of boys and groups of girls, but Carolyn had announced that first +they would stroll to see the flowers and go to the pool and the +greenhouse and that each boy must join some girls, not necessarily _one_ +girl. In consequence the groups were mixed by the time Betty and her +friends began their stroll around the grounds and Peggy took Betty into +the midst of one. Dotty Bradshaw accompanied them, though Selma had been +drawn away by one of her special friends. Dotty was "cute," Peggy said. + +Here were Mary Emma Howland and Mary Jane Andrews, the two Marys of +Betty's algebra class. Then Chet Dorrance, whom Betty afterward found to +be Ted's brother, was feeding the goldfishes in the lovely pool from a +box of something held by Kathryn Allen. Budd LeRoy perched on the stone +arm of a seat that curved artistically in grey lines, back a little from +the pool, and talked spasmodically to Chauncey Allen, Kathryn's brother, +and Brad Warren. Budd, Chauncey and Bradford were not freshmen, Betty +thought, but she wasn't sure. Who _could_ be sure about all the freshmen +there were? Chet Dorrance looked a good deal like his brother, though +his hair was lighter and Betty decided that he didn't look quite so +smart, but not many of the boys could touch Ted for looks. + +The boys all wore coats, though she knew that some of them, at least, +would have felt more comfortable without them, as she had seen them +Friday at school. Later on, however, when games and sports began, many a +coat was to be found hung on the back of a garden bench or over the +slats of a trellis. Carolyn may have given the word. Betty did not know. +She usually kept her eye out for what boys did, on account of Dick, +whose social etiquette she helped superintend, little as she knew +herself. Between three and four o'clock it was very warm indeed. Later +it began to cool off and seem like early October. + +"Isn't this the loveliest place?" she said to Chauncey Allen, by way of +making conversation. After introducing Chauncey to Betty, Peggy had +darted off to start Budd and Bradford in tennis, about which they had +inquired. Chet Dorrance and Kathryn Allen had finished feeding the +goldfish and sauntered to the big stone seat, where Chauncey suggested +that he and Betty also sit. Kathryn was a pretty, slight little girl +with an olive complexion, very black hair and dark eyes. Chauncey was as +dark in his coloring but was of a much larger build. + +"Pretty nice," replied Chauncey. "They've got fine gardens and a good +tennis court, that much is certain; but their house is pretty old." + +"But it looks so-distinguished," said Betty. "Those big pillars and the +wide porch and the drive with that sort of porch built over it-I never +can remember the name for it." + +"You can't prove it by me," grinned Chauncey. "I don't know either, +although we have one. Yes, the Gwynne place is considered a fine old +estate, so my dad says. Mother says she wouldn't have it for it isn't +modern enough to suit her. She doesn't like high ceilings and great +rooms that are hard to heat in winter." + +"Oh, I _love_ them," cried Betty, "though maybe it's because I never +have to bother about furnaces and things like that. I'd just love to +have a great house and big grounds like this." + +"Where do you live?" asked Chauncey. + +"In an apartment. My father's just come to the city this fall and we +took the best place Mother could find. We still have a home in my home +town, but I don't suppose we'll ever go back there to stay." + +"Would you like to?" + +Betty shook her head negatively. "I'm thrilled to death to be in our big +high school!" + +Chauncey grinned pleasantly. "It is pretty good," he acknowledged, "but +I hate to study sometimes. I hope football will go all right for our +team this year. There's one of the big high schools that is our greatest +rival, and O, boy-if we don't beat them this year!" + +Betty had not heard about that, but she loyally echoed Chauncey's wish. + +"How about going up to the house for that fruitade Carolyn said would be +ready pretty soon?" asked Chauncey, including the group, for two other +girls had come up to the pool and were now joining Kathryn and Chet. + +The suggestion was promptly acted upon and Betty now found herself +walking between tall pampas grass and well trimmed bushes of all sorts +along a path to the house and talking to Chet Dorrance, who asked her if +she had bought her season ticket for football yet. + +"No, I haven't. Are you selling them?" + +"No, but Ted is." + +"I'm awfully sorry, but Carolyn told me that if I hadn't promised, one +of the girls wanted to sell me one, so I promised." + +"Oh, that's all right. It was probably one of the girls on a pep squad." + +"What's a pep squad?" laughed Betty. "That must be one of the things +that I haven't heard about yet." + +"You'll hear a lot about it, then. Why, they have them in the G. A. A., +girls that talk it all up and make 'enthusiasm' and support the +athletics, you know." + +"What is the G. A. A., please? I must be terribly dense, but remember +all the things I've tried to take in. You're not a freshman, are you?" + +"Why, no-what makes you think that?" Chet was privately thinking that +there must be something after all in experience, though as he was no +larger than a very dear freshman friend, who had been left a little +behind in the race for high school, he had been "insulted" more than +once by being considered a freshman. + +"Well, I did think that you were one, since your brother is a +junior"-Betty had almost said that he looked so much younger than Ted +the tall, but she halted in time. "But you seem to know all about +everything, and even the freshies who live here don't always remember +everything." + +"I could get all that from hearing Ted talk, you know; but of course, +there isn't much about the school that I haven't _heard_ about-I +wouldn't say _know_, of course." + +"It must be nice," said Betty, thereupon pleasing her escort, who +immediately began to enlighten her upon the workings of the athletic +association and the girls' share in it. The G. A. A. was the Girls' +Athletic Association. + +"Oh, yes! Of course. I hear them call it a _club_. I've even had it +explained to me-but not the pep squads. I only wish I had time for +everything!" + +"You don't have to do everything your freshman year, Betty." + +"That is what Father said-so I'm not. But that doesn't keep you from +wanting to do things." + +"You're right it doesn't!" Chet was thinking of several things that he +had wanted to do and still wanted. + +A great glass bowl just inside the screened porch on the side of the +house away from the sun, supplied a cool drink of oranges and lemons, +whose slices floated about pieces of ice. A maid in cap and apron served +them and fished out a whole red cherry to put in Betty's glass. And +didn't it taste good! + +Then, in the shifting of position and accidental meetings of this one +and that one, Betty found herself with Mary Emma Howland and another +freshman boy whom she recognized as the brightest lad in the algebra +class. "Oh, yes," she said, in answer to Mary Emma's question whether or +not she knew "Sim," and brightly she smiled at him. + +"We never were introduced," said Betty, "but when you recite every day +together you can't help but know people, and whenever Mr. Matthews calls +on 'James Simmonds' he looks as if he expected to have a recitation." + +"There, Sim!" laughed Mary Emma. "I told you you were the teacher's +pet!" + +"Much I am!" and James Simmonds looked as if he did not appreciate being +complimented, even by two merry girls. He was a tall, thin boy, with +light, sandy hair, thin face and light eyes, but eyes that were keen +with intelligence when they did not twinkle with mischief. "And I'm +usually called 'Simmonds' by the men teachers." + +"So you are," acknowledged Betty. "But I didn't know they called you +'Sim'-I thought it was 'Jim.'" + +"I'm generally known as Sim," said the boy, "but sometimes it's 'Jim', +or 'Carrotts.'" + +Sim exchanged a look with Mary Emma, who giggled. "Sim's my fourth or +fifth cousin," Mary Emma explained. "He lives at our house to go to +school while his father and mother are away this year." + +As Betty looked inquiringly at Sim, he explained that his father was an +engineer and was in South America with his mother for the year. "I'm +going there some day," said he. "Say, they have mosquitoes and snakes +and all sorts of queer things, and there are some man-eaters down there, +cannibals, you know-oh, it's a wild country all right!" + +"That doesn't sound so very good to me," smiled Betty. "Do you really +want to go where there are snakes and things like that!" + +"Certainly! Mary Emma you bring Betty Lee out some time and I'll show +her the things they've sent us." + +"We really have some beautiful things from South America, Betty," said +Mary Emma, and Betty was thinking how interesting it would be to see +them. My, she was getting acquainted fast! But just as Mary Emma was +beginning to tell her about a handsome purse that had come for her +mother, Peggy came running out of the house door and stopped before the +porch bench upon which the three were seated. Peggy was wearing +something funny on her head and carried something, a straight piece of +pasteboard, in her hand. Large black letters said something or other. + +"Oh, here you are, Betty. I was looking for you. Carolyn wants you to be +one of the social engineers. We're going to have games for everybody on +the lawn now and you'll have to help. Come on! 'Scuse Betty, please, +Mary Emma-and Sim." + +Betty rose to follow Peggy inside. There were several girls, all +adjusting these pasteboard caps or hats, that looked like short +stove-pipes. Carolyn was apologizing, though Betty thought the idea +clever. "I didn't have time, girls, to make caps, anything pretty, you +know, and I went to a picnic where they had these. They looked cute and +I thought they'd do." + +"Of course they'll do," said Peggy, adjusting the cap to Betty's head, +merely by wrapping the two ends about and fastening them, top and +bottom, with ordinary clips. So that was what the big black letters on +the plain gray pasteboard said, "SOCIAL ENGINEER." + +"But Carolyn," protested Betty, "I don't know everybody and how can I be +a 'social engineer'? I suppose you're going to have games to manage?" + +"That's it, and it doesn't make a bit of difference whether you know +people or not. Your head-gear makes it perfectly proper to speak to +anybody. I'm sure you're good at things like this-from your looks, you +know!" + +"Thanks for the confidence," laughed Betty. "All right, I'll do the best +I can." + +For the next hour the lawn looked pretty with the groups that played the +old-fashioned games as well as those of a later date. Here were flowers +and shrubbery, light dresses, darting figures, much laughter and little +shrieks in the midst of excitement, when some one was caught or some one +became "It." Then tables were brought out upon the lawn. Carolyn and +Peggy pressed several of the boys into service to help place them, but +after they were set, with silver, napkins and flowers, a pretty vase in +the center of each table, the "banquet," as Betty later reported at +home, was served them as perfectly "as if they were grown up" by persons +whom Betty supposed to be the servants of the house. Mercy, she would +never dare invite Carolyn to their apartment! And she did _love_ +Carolyn! + +Not that Betty was ashamed of simple living-Betty was trying to think +why she had such a thought about Carolyn-but that could be puzzled out +later on. The present was too pleasant for a single disturbing thought. +It was cool now and seemed more like the time of year it really was. +Sunset hues were showing. And they were to stay till the Japanese +lanterns all about were lit, with some hiding game or treasure hunt that +Carolyn had mentioned to the "social engineers" as their last effort and +fun. And now, after the pretty ice-cream in the freshman colors and the +delicious cake with the double frosting, lovely baskets of grapes and +peaches were being passed. + +Betty slowly ate the juicy grapes of her bunch, one by one, as she +talked to Peggy on one side of her, or Chet Dorrance on the other. One +of the junior boys had been "fired," according to Chet, for "cutting +classes, disorderly conduct and disrespectful behaviour." Oh, no, he +couldn't come back now. His parents had been over to see the principal +and they might get the "kid" into some other school-Chet did not know. +And Betty was to watch Freddy Fisher carry the ball at the first +football game in the stadium. "If you go with Carolyn and Peggy," said +he, "they'll tell you who everybody is that's doing things. You've seen +'em all, though, haven't you?" + +"Yes, but I'm not sure I'll know them on the field. I guess I am going +with Carolyn and Peggy." + +"Of course you are," decidedly remarked Peggy, who had turned from her +other neighbor in time to hear Betty's last sentence. "What is it you're +going to?" + + + + +CHAPTER VIII: BETTY HEARS THE LIONS ROAR + + +Nothing could have been more appropriate for exciting athletic affairs +than the name which had been given to this high school in honor of a +distinguished public servant, interested in education. It scarcely needs +to be explained that the football team of Lyon High was called the +lions, on and off the gridiron, or that posters and the school paper +carried fierce-looking drawings and cartoons of the King of Beasts in +action. A golden yellow, relieved by black, in the costumes of the Lyon +High band and in the sweaters of the team was supposed to suggest the +tawny coat of what could "eat up" any other team in short order. Lions +figured largely in various badges and insignia of all sorts. Betty Lee +had early decided that she must some day wear one of the pins or rings +that bore the "Lyon High Lion." + +Oh, it was good to stow away books in the freshman lockers and hurry +with the rest of the big crowd to find seats in the stadium, seats where +one could see everything! + +The girls lost little time at their lockers. "Come on, Betty," called +Carolyn. "I've got some newspapers to sit on. Yes, I should _say_ bring +your coat! Your sweater won't be enough. I promised Mother to wear a +coat and wouldn't have needed to promise, either. I don't care to freeze +myself." + +This was not the first game. That had been duly played in the home +stadium, not so long after Carolyn's garden party, and Betty had felt +all the thrills of seeing the great stadium come to life for the first +time in her experience. After this big school, college could not bring +her more! Yet thrills could be repeated. Never would this place become +so accustomed, Betty was sure, that she would not have them. Then, this +was the GREAT GAME. It was the one between the two largest high schools +of the city and was an annual occurrence, long heralded, the great game +for which the teams prepared. There had been a lively meeting in the +auditorium beforehand, that very morning. The championship was at stake! +"Oh," said Betty, "I don't see how I can _stand_ it if the Lions don't +beat!" + +"Don't suggest such a thing," Peggy called back. "Of course we'll beat!" + +There was a large crowd, parents and friends included, as well as many +alumni of the high school, who were interested enough and loyal enough +to see at least this one chief contest every year. But Carolyn, Betty +and Peggy, with some of the other girls, were among the first among +those dismissed from the last Friday classes. Their season tickets were +punched at the stadium entrance before the stadium was appreciably +filled. + +"We've a grand choice, girls. Hurry!" Carolyn tripped rapidly down the +steps in the lead. + +"Down there, back of those boys, Carolyn!" called Peggy, who knew as +well as Carolyn the "strategic point" that they wanted to reach if no +one were ahead of them in securing it. "First come, first served here, +you know, Betty," Peggy added, hopping from one high step to another in +a short cut. + +Carolyn was spreading newspapers and holding them to keep them from +being blown away in the slight breeze. "Sit on 'em in a hurry," she +laughingly urged, and settled herself on the further one, next to two of +the teachers, who were spreading out a steamer rug. "Sensible girl," +said one, smiling down at Carolyn. "Is your coat warm enough?" + +"Yes, Miss Heath, and we have on our sweaters beside. Peggy and I nearly +froze at the University stadium last week, so we bundled up this time. +Did you see the game with State, Miss Heath?" + +"Indeed I did." + +"Good for you," chuckled Carolyn. "You like athletics, don't you?" + +"Very much-when some one else does it." + +"But _you_ wouldn't have time," suggested Carolyn. This was the Miss +Heath whom all the girls liked so much, girls of any rank from freshmen +to seniors. She was always fair, though you had to work for her. No +"getting by" with poorly prepared lessons. + +"No," assented the adorable Miss Heath, "I'd have no time, not even for +setting up exercises." She looked at her teacher friend, a lady from the +rival school, and laughed. "What do you think, Carolyn, would it be +polite for me to sing with you our school songs or do any rooting for +Lyon High when my friend from our rivals' school is sitting right by me? +By the way, Miss March, this is Carolyn Gwynne, one of our freshmen. You +know the Gwynne place, out on Marsden Road?" + +"Oh, yes, quite well. How do you do, Carolyn. I think I have met you at +your home. I belong to a club that met there last year." + +Carolyn said the appropriate remarks in reply and was fortunately not +obliged to decide what was the polite course for Miss Heath to follow. +So far as she was concerned, no scruples would have prevented her +enthusiasm for Lyon High, for the good reason that Carolyn forgot +everything but the game when the contest was on. + +Peggy, and Betty, too, third in order from the teachers, leaned around +Carolyn to bow in friendly and respectful fashion, but at once they gave +their attention to the crowd and the field. On the track a few runners +were practicing, their costume looking very cool for the chilly fall +breezes. A few boys were standing about on the field or central +"gridiron." + +Betty filled her lungs with the fresh air that was not blowing too +sharply. She was accustomed to the curving concrete that rose high +behind her and stretched to right and left, to the field before her and +to the gymnastic or athletic performances that had seemed so queer at +first because of the larger numbers and the better equipment. By this +time, too, she knew the team, its best members and what they were likely +to do, though in the confusion of the game it was sometimes hard for her +to recognize a play. + +As the game was with a city school today, there were as many or almost +as many rooters for the visiting team as Lyon High itself could offer. +As the seats filled rapidly, competition between rooters began. Rival +bands with tooting horns and rolling drums made a dramatic appearance, +paraded, and finally took position. Rival yell leaders led rival cheer, +though Lyon High, trained by its athletic director to good +sportsmanship, gave a complimentary yell or two for its guests, using +their own battle cries or merely giving hearty rah-rahs for the rival +school and team. + +Then the pandemonium was at its height when the teams ran out upon the +field and the excited youngsters on the stadium seats rose and shouted +their greetings. Betty stood and waved and gave the yells with the rest. +She might not have been long in Lyon High, but she was a part of it now! +It was her school! There! That was Freddy Fisher, upon whose plays so +much depended. There went that mysterious tall boy that somebody said +came from Switzerland and somebody else said was a Russian. My, but he +was an active chap! He was almost as good as Freddy, Chet Dorrance had +told Betty, but he didn't always understand the signals and occasionally +the team was penalized for something that he did either accidentally or +on purpose. "He's a hot one when he's mad," said Chet, "and I guess he +still thinks in his own language, whatever that is, though he likes to +play and learn all the new signals pretty quick, the coach says." + +"Peggy, there is your hero," laughed Carolyn. + +"Who?" inquired Peggy. + +"The 'Don.'" + +"Oh, yes. I did say that he deserved as much glory as Freddy for that +last game, didn't I? He gave such fine interference." + +"The 'Don'?" inquired Betty, puzzled. + +"They have him Spanish now, Betty. He's been Russian, German, Hungarian +and I don't know what all and I think the boys like to tease us girls by +making up something new about him all the time. But isn't he sort of +handsome?" + +"I'd hate to say, Peggy, if you like his looks," countered Betty. + +"Betty likes them fixed up and awfully clean, like Ted Dorrance, Peggy," +mischievously said Carolyn. + +Betty flushed a little, but smiled. "I have a brother, girls. He's +better now, but time was when Dick would just as lief never wash from +'early morn till dewy eve' as Father used to say. 'Aw, what was the use +of washing before breakfast when you had to wash right after it?'" Betty +gave a comical imitation of Dick's tones. + +"So after assisting in rounding up Dick to be washed and being +embarrassed more than once by his grimy looks, it's no wonder if I like +'em clean at least. But I suppose I went through that time of hating to +be washed myself." + +"I doubt it, Betty," answered Carolyn. "I think you are always dainty, +if you ask me." + +But now the time of the contest was at hand. More excitement and cheers +called for the attention of the rooters to duty. They yelled for their +own teams now, under the frantic leadership of active yell-leaders. The +Lions' little mascot, arrayed in his mask of a lion's head and a suit as +tawny as the coat of the biggest lion in the "Zoo," ran up and down, +waving large paws and trailing a long tasseled tail. + + "Lions, rah! + Rah-rah-rah-rah, Lions! + Eeney, meeney, money mi, + Lions win when they half try-- + Eeney meeney money mi, + Chew'em-up! Chew'em-up! _Lions_" + (Roar) + +The influence of the living models at the Zoological Gardens, on whose +fearsome roars many of these high school pupils had been, figuratively +speaking, brought up, made this characteristic roar, with which many of +Lyon High yells closed, very realistic. It had been with a mixture of +startled surprise, amusement and admiration that Betty, Doris and Dick +had first heard it that fall. But now even Amy Lou tried to imitate it. + + "Hickity, rickity, spickity jig! + Zippity soom and lickity rig! + The Lions are loose, + Get out of the way! + They'll romp to the finish. + And Capture the Day Gr-rr-rr--LIONS" + +Another favorite yell was both prefaced and ended with a student roar +from the Lyon High part of the stadium. It was short and vigorous: + + "Lions! Lions! + And they're not tame! + Go it, Lions, + And _win that game!_" + +Some unexplained delay gave time for a brief rendering of a short high +school song. "Make it peppy!" called the leader, "one stanza and a yell +for the team!" + +This closed the preliminaries and in a tense stillness on the part of +the spectators the game began. From the first it was exciting, for the +teams were well matched. "Now let the Lions Roar," was balanced by "Now +let the Eagles Scream," in several good plays by each in the first +quarter. + +The Eagles kicked off but lost their advantage almost at once. For a +little the struggle resulted in little gain for either side. A trick +kick failed. Line plays gained little. Both teams resorted to punting +and the Lions gained some yardage. Betty, Carolyn and Peggy shared some +tense moments when the Eagles' quarterback made a good ran of +thirty-five yards before he was pulled down by Peggy's new hero, the +"Don," who came in for much cheering from Lyon High rooters. + +"Oh," said Peggy, sitting back weakly, "I thought he was going to make a +touchdown! How did he get away?" + +"I don't know," answered Carolyn, "but he's a smart player, the best +they have. He's Bess Pickett's brother, you know." + +"He _ought_ to be somebody, then," replied Peggy. "What a pity he +doesn't go to Lyon!" + +"We don't need him," proudly said Carolyn. "Wait and see Freddy Fisher +wiggle and twist out of-" but Carolyn did not finish her sentence for +interest in what was going on. She was, however, a true prophetess, for +as the quarter was drawing near its end, their Freddy caught an Eagles' +punt on his own ten-yard line and raced through the entire Eagles' team +for a touchdown, almost caught several times, while the excited +spectators stood and shouted. + +"Get-that-man! Catch him! Catch him!" called the Eagles. + +"Look out, Freddy! Go it! Get there!" shouted the Lyon High rooters. "A +touchdown Freddy! Atta-boy!" + +The Lyon High band struck up a victorious strain, while Freddy, once +more the conquering hero, lay upon his ball to get his breath. + +During the second quarter there was no scoring. The Eagles were +determined to prevent further scoring by the Lions and risked little +punting. They were able, however, to spoil any fine little plans of the +Lions. Betty, who could not remember sometimes the various positions of +the players, though she could note their work, watched the vigorous +tackling and the opening struggles of the plays and found it necessary +to make an effort not to become too worked up over the contest. But the +Lions must win this time! They had barely won over the Eagles the year +before, but the championship was not at stake then for an outside team +had developed into one that had beaten both Eagles and Lions, and the +Eagles had lost one other game. + +Time out saw some of the boys going out to the side lines and as they +returned, Ted Dorrance saw a vacant seat just below where our three +girls sat and vaulted into it. "Hello!" said he. "This is a better place +than I had before. Anybody rented it?" + +"Not that I know of," laughed Carolyn. "Some freshman we don't know or +some outsider sat there, I guess." + +"He's lost out now," said Ted. "How are you ladies enjoying the game?" +Ted looked up at Betty as he spoke. + +"It is a wonderful game," sighed Betty, "but I can't feel easy about our +beating yet!" + +Ted laughed, drew a package of peppermint "life savers" from his pocket +and handed it up toward the feminine fingers. "Perhaps these will do you +some good," said he. "As to feeling easy, nobody does, though some would +say so. But take it from me, girls, and keep it under your hat, +something is going to happen." + +"Oh, tell us, Ted!" exclaimed Peggy. + +Ted shook his head in the negative. "Official secret. I happened to get +hold of it. Sh-sh!" + +Betty, with both dimples showing this time, for she really had two, +exchanged an amused glance with the merry Ted, who now whirled around as +several boys returned to take seats beside him, and one, looking up from +below to see no room there, hopped into another vacancy lower down. + +"You'll not have to fight for your seat, Ted," remarked Carolyn. "Aren't +you seniors proud of Freddy?" + +"Yeah. But I wish this was a game where the coach could put in a few +substitutes. However, the other team is as bad off." + +As he spoke, the attention of all centered on the gridiron once more; +but Betty was handing Ted the little package of "life savers," and as he +took it, he leaned back to whisper near her ear as she stooped, "Watch +the Don!" + +Inquiring eyes met Ted's with interest. He nodded. "Do as I said," he +said jokingly, as he, too, turned to give his full attention to the +field. + +Betty wondered. The "Don" was noted for his good interference. Were they +going to let him do something else? Anyhow she would watch him, as Ted +directed. How nice it was of Ted to tell her! But Carolyn had given her +an amused glance just after Ted had turned away. She must be careful or +those ridiculous girls would keep on teasing her. Not that she cared. + +Very conservative, indeed, were the plays of the third quarter. Very +watchful were both teams. But the Eagles must score if possible, of +course, since the only score had been made by the Lions. Hard they +fought. Alas-the Lions were penalized for some breach of the rules by +Don, nothing serious, Ted said, just some little regulation about +"time"! + +"That old heathen!" exclaimed Ted, looking back at Betty, who wanted to +ask Ted if this were what she was to watch Don for. "But just wait. +We'll show them!" + +Next in excitement came a fifteen-yard holding penalty imposed on the +Eagles. But as if in desperation, toward the last part of the quarter, a +forward pass by the Eagles was successful, and Jim Pickett, clearing all +interference, made a seventy-five-yard run and a touchdown. + +"_Now_ hear the Eagle scream!" exclaimed Ted. "What's the matter with +our team that they let Jim get away with that? But it was a pretty run. +Jehoshaphat, we're even now! No-they've lost the kick! Hooray, we're one +ahead!" + +Ted was either talking to himself or to the boys around him, but the +girls followed his boyish discourse with interest. And the next calamity +was even worse. In the next play one of the fiercest Lions was hurt. +They walked him off, but one arm hung limp and Ted, who again rushed +away to find out the damage, returned with the information that "Skimp's +arm was broken!" + +"Oh, will that let them beat us, do you think?" asked Betty, leaning +forward. + +"Not necessarily," replied Ted, "but it's a big loss," and Ted looked a +little grim. "Besides that, Freddy's twisted his ankle, mind you!" + +"But we mustn't give up, Betty," urged Carolyn. "We have to root all the +harder to encourage the team!" + +What had become of the play Don was to make, Betty wondered-if that was +what Ted had meant? + +The play of the third quarter, interrupted by much time out, went on to +the finish, the Lions discouraged and not doing their best, Ted said. +The Eagles made apparently easy gains and took every advantage, until +after a rapid advance toward their goal and in the last few minutes of +the quarter Jim Pickett made another touchdown by catching the ball +punted to his position and running free to the goal. In the excitement +the final point to be gained by the kick was again lost. But now the +Eagles' score stood ahead! Where were the brave Lions? + +"Well," said Carolyn, "now comes the tug of war. It's the last quarter +and everybody is tired out, and Freddy is limping off the field and it +doesn't look so good!" + +"Never say die, Carolyn," Peggy cheerfully put in. "The boys aren't +going to lose the championship without a fight!" + +Ted had disappeared again. The Eagles were having a snake dance and +their band was parading, the forty pieces blaring triumphantly. "My, +they do play well," said Betty. "It's grand that the high schools are +big enough to have such music!" + +"I can't say that I appreciate the Eagles' band right now, Betty," said +Peggy, "and you won't either, when you've been here a little longer." + +A gleam of hope seemed to arrive with bright Ted, who came jumping up to +his seat just below the girls and smiled as he sat down. "We'll lick 'em +yet, girls," he cried. "Freddy is resting a little and getting his ankle +bound up, and he's going to play all right. They've a pretty good +substitute for Skimp; at least I think that Bunty will play a good game. +So all is not lost. Cheer up!" + +The Eagles' heroes were just as glad for a short rest as Freddy or any +of the weary Lions. Recumbent forms lay about the field, presumably +drawing strength from Mother Earth. Then, as the immense audience began +to grow restless over delay, heads were bent together, in conference +over coming plays, and the formation was made, while encouraging though +brief cheers came from the rooters. After all the singing, cheering and +rooting in every known way and the expenditure of considerable energy +and enthusiasm, the band, the cheer leaders and the occupants of the +seats in the stadium were tired enough to long for the close of the +game. Yet tensity marked the opening of the quarter. + +"Let's go," suggested one of the teachers next to the girls. Carolyn +looked around in surprise, to see if it could be Miss Heath, usually so +loyal to the Lions. But possibly with the teacher from the other school +she rather hated to see the finish. + +But no, it was not Miss Heath who had suggested going. "If you like, +certainly," she was saying, "though it may be a little difficult to get +through the crowd." + +"That is so," replied the other, "but I think the game is practically +over. Your big runner is injured and I scarcely think that the Lions can +do much, with the substitute that they have for that other boy. I saw +him play once before and he lost advantage once by fumbling when he +might have done something." + +"Oh, _can't_ we 'do much'!" said Carolyn, in a voice low enough not to +be heard by Miss Heath or her friend. "She thinks she's so sure of the +Eagles!" + +Peggy and Betty grinned back at Carolyn, but settled themselves to watch +the fray. + +Again the struggle was on. Good! Freddy Fisher was running about as +actively as ever, watched by the Eagles. Twice the ball was given to +him, but although he did not appear to be lame as he ran, he could make +little headway before he was downed. The Eagles "screamed" again, +rooting loudly, and hoarse encouragement came from the ranks of the Lyon +High rooters. "Atta-boy! Freddy, rah! Fight, fight, fight, fight!" + +Then came the surprise. Betty had forgotten to follow Ted's advice in +regard to watch "Don." + +Who had the ball this time? Betty was as surprised as any one to see +"Don" with the ball, freeing himself from immediate interference and +starting off. Oh, could he do it! + +The surprised Eagles pounded after the mysterious foreigner while from +the Eagles' rooters cries of "get that man! Get that man!" were wildly +repeated. + +Betty's heart was in her mouth. "What did I tell you!" Ted was shouting +to the boy next him, as the Lion rooters stood up in a body and cheered. +"Run for it, Don! Watch out for Matt! Look out there, Don! Hooray, they +didn't get you that time!" In these and like phrases, the boys in front +of Betty and others expressed their feelings, while the lad on his way +was trying to escape his enemies, all too ready to recover from their +surprise and take measures to stop him. + +Betty's view was unimpeded. Now a tackler launched himself at Don. Oh! +Don stumbled a little! No, he got away and the tackle clutched the air. +"He's free! he's free!" cried Carolyn, jumping up and down. + +Gaining a little on the pursuit, running with more confidence, the "Don" +sped down the long path toward the goal, the ball held tightly. Cheers +arose and the fierce roar of Lyon High in rejoicing followed the running +lad. A few Eagles still followed-but Don had escaped! The "mysterious" +player was to divide honors with Freddy in the championship game and +equal the number of yards won by the Eagles' quarterback, Jim Pickett. + +"He's made it! He's made it!" shouted Ted, embracing the boy next to +him, as Don completed his spectacular play and won his touchdown. +"Girls-what did I tell you, Betty! _Now_ watch the Lions do a snake +dance!" + +The Lions' second touchdown put them ahead and after that there was +nothing but grim effort, defence, blocking and wary play on both sides +until the quarter ended. The Eagles, indeed, tried one or two desperate +chances in the hope of scoring, but the Lions, with equal determination, +blocked their every attempt, while an almost silent stadium of +spectators watched closely every play. + +Miss Heath was behind her friend as they climbed the steps of the +stadium, but happening to pass Betty and Carolyn, she gave Carolyn a +meaning smile and reached for Betty's hand to give it a squeeze. + +"She can't _say_ anything, to gloat over our victory, of course," said +Carolyn, "but I can't help be mean enough to be gladder because that +other teacher was so _sure_ we were defeated!" + +"What about the Don now, Betty?" asked Peggy. "If he isn't so 'slick' as +some of the boys in dressing up, he was 'slick' in winning the game for +us, wasn't he?" + +"Oh, the Don's all right!" said Betty. And just then she felt a hand at +her elbow. It was Ted, who thus boosted her up a few steps, telling her +that the plan was to make "them" feel secure and then "spring Don." "So +long, girls-good game, wasn't it?" Ted finally inquired, leaping up the +rest of the way and again joining the boys. + +A tired but happy Betty clung to the straps of the crowded street car on +the way home. Doris was riding home in an automobile, with the little +daughter of a neighbor, but Dick grinned at Betty from the far end of +the car and joined her when they left it at their corner. + +"Say, did you ever see a fellow as heavy as that foreign fellow looks +run like that? But he isn't quite as slippery as Freddy. They might have +caught him if they hadn't been so surprised. What became of Doris? I +didn't see her there at all. I hope she didn't miss it." + +"No; Marie's folks were there, with her and Marie, and I saw Doris +getting into their car while we were waiting for the street car." + +"Just to think! We're the champions of the scholastic what-you-call it. +Didn't I _yell_, though at the last shot, when the last quarter was over +and the game ours!" + + + + +CHAPTER IX: SHOWING OFF LYON HIGH + + +The game that won the championship for the Lyon High team passed into +history without much effect upon Betty's relations to any one. It must +be said that the Lyon High boys and girls could not always forbear to +mention their victory in the presence of their rivals from the other +school and were immediately dubbed too "cocky" over the "accident" or +"trick" which permitted the result. But argument died out in the +interest of other things and the football season closed at the usual +time. + +The next bit of excitement for Betty was the visit of her friends from +home. "_Please_ arrange," she wrote to Janet, "to come in time to visit +the school on Wednesday at least. Of course, I could take you to see the +buildings; but it will be so much more interesting for you to see them +full of all of us. And I can introduce you to the girls and everything. + +"You must meet Carolyn and Peggy, that I've told you about, and then +there are such a lot of other nice girls; and we'll probably have an +auditorium session Wednesday morning with something or other that you +would enjoy seeing go on. It isn't going to hurt you to miss a day or +two of school-_please!_ Get the teachers to let you make it up and tell +'em why." + +In consequence, two bright-eyed and inwardly excited girls descended +from their car at the railway station, to find Mr. Lee meeting the +crowds that were hurrying along with their bags inside by the long +train; and Betty was close to the iron gates, watching with eager look +to catch the first glimpse. + +Betty had not known Sue as intimately as Janet, but she had always liked +her and Sue belonged to her Sunday school class as well as to her class +in school. At any rate Sue was as warmly received as Janet and tongues +went rapidly indeed on the way home. + +"Tell me everything," Betty had said, and in reply Janet had suggested +that Betty "show them everything." But the sights had already begun, for +Mr. Lee went home by a roundabout way to drive through one of the most +beautiful parks, from which they could see the river and its scenery and +villages on the other side. He also drove past the high school which +Betty attended and Betty was quite satisfied with the exclamations of +her friends. + +"I met Father down town," Betty explained, "for I went right down after +school, with some of the girls, and we had a soda. Then I went to +Father's office and waited for him to be ready. Did you girls miss much +school?" + +"Only this afternoon, and tomorrow, of course," Sue answered. "Janet's +father drove us to Columbus, so we caught this train." + +"It's pretty yet, isn't it?" remarked Janet, looking about at the trees +and bushes in the park, "and not a bit of snow." + +"We had a wee bit one day; but you can notice quite a difference, one of +the girls said, between the climate here and where we used to live." + +"Doesn't that sound awful, Janet?" asked Sue, "where she _used_ to +live!" + +"But then you couldn't visit me here, you know," Betty hastened to say, +and Janet smilingly replied "Sure enough." + +"Anyhow, you still _own_ your house and the lot next to it, don't you?" +queried Sue. + +"I guess so-don't we, Father?" answered Betty, who did not pay much +attention to business affairs, and Mr. Lee nodded assent as he drove +rapidly along the boulevard, now homeward bound. + +"Do you know, Betty," said Janet a little later, when they were almost +home, "I never was inside of an apartment house!" + +"I never either," laughed Betty, "till I came here; but we don't live in +a real apartment house. Ours is what they call a 'St. Louis.' And don't +you know when one of the girls called it that-her own place, I mean-I +thought she said she lived in St. Louis! I didn't like to ask her to +explain how she lived in St. Louis and went to school here, so I kept +still and afterwards heard somebody else speak of a St. Louis flat!" + +"I'm going to keep still, too," said Janet, with some firmness. "You +shan't be ashamed of your friends from the 'country.'" + +Mr. Lee spoke now, with a kind smile. "Betty isn't one to be ashamed of +two such nice girls, and moreover, girls, I think that you may vote for +the country, or at least the lovely little village that is still home to +us, when you see how every one except the wealthy must live in the city. +I own to my wife that there are some conveniences and advantages. She +rather likes it now. But it's pretty crowded and unless you like that, +the small town is better. Fortunately we live away from the street cars, +a few squares, so you may be able to sleep at night." + +"Mer_cee_," exclaimed Janet. "But I shan't mind not sleeping-I'm not +sure I could anyway. Just to think of being here with you, Betty!" and +Janet squeezed Betty's arm in anticipation. + +"Here we are," cried Betty just then, and Mr. Lee, driving in, ordered +them facetiously to "pile out." + +They "piled," while Dick and Doris, still disappointed that they, too, +had not been permitted to meet Janet and Sue, came running out, followed +by Amy Lou, whose mother was trying to hold her back or at least to +throw something around her to protect her from the frosty air. "O, +Janet, it's going to be such a glorious Thanksgiving!" exclaimed Sue in +Janet's ear, as she followed her up the steps and into the house. And +Betty was crying to the welcoming mother, "O, Mother, they can stay over +Sunday and don't care if they miss school on Monday!" + +"Well, isn't that fine," warmly responded the hostess. "I'm glad, too, +to see the girls from the old home and thankful to have room enough to +tuck you away. Take the girls back to your room, Betty, and have them +get ready for dinner. Doris, you may set the table if you will, and +Betty will help me take up the dinner presently." + +This was the beginning. On Wednesday morning, Betty took her guests to +school with her, for Janet, particularly, wanted to visit a few of the +classes. Sue told Betty that she could "dump her any place" if she +liked. Impressed with the numbers and the apparent complexity of the +system, the girls visited one or two classes, met Betty's home room +teacher and the others, in a hasty way between classes, and then waited +for Betty in the auditorium or the library, where there was much to +interest them. + +There was an auditorium session, with a few exercises appropriate to the +Thanksgiving season and then a brief organ recital by a visiting +organist, whom the principal had secured for a real treat to the entire +school. + +"Oh, I'm _so_ glad that you heard our big organ," said Betty as she took +them to the library to leave them there while she went to her last class +before lunch. + +"And it was great to see that immense room filled with nobody but high +school pupils, and their teachers, of course," added Janet, "only-only, +I believe, Betty, that I'd be too confused. Some way, I like the little +old high school at home, and we have such a pretty building, even if it +is small." + +"Oh, you'd get used to it," Betty assured Janet. "I have, and still, +there's something in what you say, of course. Now I'll be right up to +take you to lunch; it's on the floor just above the library, you know, +and I'm going to bring Carolyn and Peggy along so we'll sit together at +lunch and talk. Don't you think they're sweet?" + +"Peggy's a perfect dear," promptly Sue replied, "and Carolyn is too nice +for words, simply adorable." + +After this tribute, the girls followed Betty into the library, where +Betty spoke to the librarian in charge and took them to a seat at one of +the tables. "You can look at the books, if you want to," she whispered. +"I spoke to Miss Hunt, so it will be all right." + +The time did not drag, for boys and girls were coming and going, or +sitting at the tables to read or examine books. The girls felt a little +timid about investigating any of the shelves, but the pleasant librarian +came to speak to them and to suggest where they might find books of some +interest. Accordingly, each with a book spent a little while in reading, +though, it was hard to put their minds on anything requiring consecutive +thought. + +And now bright faces peeped in, for Janet and Sue sat not far from the +door. Betty was beckoning and leaving the books upon the table, the two +guests joined Betty, Carolyn, Peggy and Kathryn Allen, whom they had not +met. + +"This is Kathryn Allen, girls," said Betty in the breezy, hurried way +made necessary by the rapid movement of events. "I've told her who you +are. Let's hurry in and see if we can get places together. Mary Emma +Howl and said she'd try to save places for us at that table by the +window that we like. She's in line now. Look at that long line already! +I'm glad we happened to have first lunch, Janet, since you're here." + +"What is 'first lunch,' Betty? Do you have to take turns?" + +"Yes. There are several periods. Father says that that is the only thing +he doesn't like about this school, that there isn't enough time to eat +without swallowing things whole. But it isn't as bad as that, really; +and most generally we don't try to eat a big meal. Still, things are so +good, and you get so hungry, you know, especially if you can't eat a big +breakfast." + +"I don't like all your stairs," said Sue, "but I suppose it can't be +helped. I guess your mother's right-you need wings." + +"Oh, you get used to where rooms are and it isn't so bad. Of course, the +building does spread out awfully and up the three stories and basement. +And by the way, we can eat all we want to this time, for I saw Miss +Heath and told her that I had company, and if I was a little late to the +first class would she give me a chance to make it up-and she was in an +awful hurry and said, maybe without thinking, that I could." + +The tables did look tempting. "First lunch" saw the whole array of +pretty salads and desserts, the chief temptations to the pupils, the +steaming meats and vegetables, so good in cold weather. Cafeteria +fashion, the long line passed, choosing what to put on their trays, and +oh, the noise, within the concrete floors and walls! Sue said to Janet, +as they walked along, that she was fairly deafened; but she had no +sooner sat down with the other girls at the table where places had been +successfully held for them by Mary Emma, then she began "shouting" with +the rest to be heard. + +Betty saw to it that her guests had a good selection of viands, for +neither Sue nor Janet were inclined to take enough, not wanting to run +up the price for their young hostess. "Mer_cee_, Betty, do you want to +kill us?" asked Janet as Betty placed a particularly toothsome looking +fruit dessert in her tray, in addition to the modest piece of pie which +she had herself selected. + +"Oh, no, not yet, Janet. Remember the turkey we're going to have +tomorrow; but you must have nourishment!" + +Carolyn's tray was slimly furnished, Janet thought, and she wondered if +she could not afford to get more; or did she just like desserts? Peggy +had meat, dressing and gravy and a fruit salad, of which she began to +dispose with some haste, though daintily enough. Sue and Janet concluded +that they must not look around too much, though the surroundings were so +interesting, but apply themselves to the contents of their trays, not a +difficult task, since everything was so good. + +"Is there anything else you'd like, girls? I can go back as easily as +not," said Betty, pouring milk from a bottle into her glass. + +"No, indeed," answered both the girls together. "We have too much now," +added Janet. + +"If you can hear what I say," called Carolyn across the table, around +whose end the girls had gathered, "will you, Janet and Sue, come with +Betty to our house Friday evening after dinner? Say about half-past +seven or eight o'clock? I'll call up, too, Friday some time. I'm going +to have a few of the boys and girls to meet your cousins, Betty." + +"Oh, how lovely, Carolyn, but I should have the little party myself. I +can't let you do it. I was going to ask you and Peggy and Mary Emma and +several other girls for Saturday. I had to wait to make sure that the +girls really got here, you know." + +"Well, that would be just as nice as can be, Betty. I'd love to come, +but I know such a lot of the boys and girls, so please come to our +house." + +"We could do both, then," said Betty. + +"All right, we'll see about it, then," assented Carolyn. "Oh, yes, Chet, +see you right after school!" + +Carolyn had turned to answer Chet Dorrance, who spoke to her, tipping +his chair and leaning back from the next table. A crowd of boys there +were not uninterested in the little group of girls, whose demure glances +had been cast in their direction occasionally. + +"That's Budd, Janet, next to Chet," Betty was saying, "and Kathryn's +brother Chauncey is right across at that other table, the boy that just +sat down there with his tray. They're all sophomores. But there's a +freshman bunch at the next table. I told you about Budd and Chauncey and +some of the rest when I wrote you about Carolyn's house party, didn't +I?" + +"Maybe you did, Betty, but I can't remember, only about those you 'rave' +about, like Carolyn." + +"I imagine that you'll meet a lot of them at Carolyn's. Isn't it +wonderful of her to entertain for us? I think I did say to her not to +have too much planned for Saturday and that I was hoping that nothing +would happen to keep you girls from coming. I was pretty scared about it +when I heard from Sue that her mother was half sick; but you did come, +thank fortune!" + +It was more easily possible for bits of conversation with one person to +be held, since when more were included it was necessary to raise the +voice. The general conversation and laughter, the jingle of silver and +the clatter of trays and dishes seemed to be louder than the numbers +served would justify, although there was no special carelessness among +the boys and girls, and oversight made rude scuffling or trick playing +impossible, had there been any temptation or time for it. "It's just +this big, echoing room, Sue," said Janet, for both visitors noticed it. +"But it's lots of fun, and such good eats for next to nothing, according +to what Betty says." + +"They just charge enough to cover expenses, of food and help and so on," +said Betty, who had turned back from talking to Kathryn in time to hear +this last. "How was the pie, Janet?" + +"Grand; good as home-made." + +"It _is_ 'home-made.' I wish we had time to go back and see all the +place they have to cook and bake. Well, we can't do everything in one +day, can we?" + +"We are doing enough," replied Janet. "My brain is whirling as it is, +going from one thing to another and trying to remember who is who and +what is what." + +"Don't try," said smiling Betty. "I'll tell you again, or remind you. I +felt the same way at first, and remember that I had to learn to live it +and do it-them-everything!" + +On the way out Betty had a chance to point out, figuratively speaking, +both Freddy Fisher and the "Don" of football fame, and she almost ran +into Ted Dorrance in the hall. "Say," said he, catching Betty's shoulder +for a moment, "we seem to run each other down, don't we? Oh, beg +pardon!" The last expression was addressed to Janet, whom he had brushed +against in avoiding Betty and a crowd of teachers that were coming from +the opposite dining hall, sacred to the instructors of youth. + +"Please stop a second and meet my friends that are visiting me-Miss +Light and Miss Miller, Mr. Dorrance, a prominent junior, girls." + +Betty smiled up at Ted as she added the last in complimentary fashion, +but he shook his head at her, pleasantly acknowledging the introduction. +"She doesn't say what I'm prominent for, you notice," but with a salute +from his hatless forehead, Ted was gone. There was no standing on +ceremony when school hours were on and everything, even lunch, ran on +schedule. + +"I'll not have to hurry as much as I thought, girls, since it was first +lunch. I'm about crazy today, I suppose, with delight at your being here +and wanting you to know about everything and everybody. What would you +like to do while I'm in class and study hall? Want to visit both of +them?" + +"How many periods have you this afternoon, Betty?" + +"Three, but one of them's in gym." + +"All right, we'll visit study hall and gym and stay in the library or +auditorium during your class." + +So it was decided. "Gym" proved most interesting. Study hall was full of +possibilities, Sue said, for it was interesting to see whether this one +or that one studied or not, to guess who they were and to recognize +those whom they met. And after the last gong had rung, how odd it was to +pass through those crowded halls, where pupils were putting away their +books in their lockers, getting their wraps from them, and going to +their home rooms until dismissed. It was all on a bigger scale than in +their home school. And the crowded street car was another feature, not +so pleasant, perhaps. + +But Betty looked out for the girls, to see that they had each a strap, +until Chet and Budd and a freshman boy Betty knew, who were, happily, +near, caught Betty's eye and signaled the girls to come where they were +sitting, half rising, yet holding the seats until the girls should be +ready to slide into them. + +"Now, then," said Chet, hanging to a strap in the aisle, after a brief +introduction to Janet and Sue, "what do you think of our school? I +noticed you had company, Betty." + +"We're quite overwhelmed by the school, really," answered Janet, +politely, and smiling up at the boy whose seat she was occupying. "But +we have a good school, too, and I think you can learn anywhere." + +"I suppose you can," said Chet, "if you work at it. Did you see the +stadium?" + +"Yes, and it's just marvelous. I don't wonder Betty raves over +everything!" + +This satisfied Chet, who did not much care for the remark about learning +anywhere. "I'm invited to meet you at Carolyn's Saturday, no, Friday +night, so I'll see you there. Yep, coming," and Chet moved down toward a +boy who had beckoned him. + +Gradually the jam lessened, as one after another reached a stopping +place. By the time Betty and her friends had reached their own stop, +every one was seated. Budd was the last one to swing off, and like Chet +he parted from them with a "So long, girls, I'll see you Friday night." + +"Those boys must know you pretty well Betty," said Janet. + +"They do. Ever since Carolyn's party." + + + + +CHAPTER X: MORE FESTIVITIES + + +"Thanksgiving always means turkey and mince pie to me," frankly said +Dick, as he sniffed savory odors and executed a clog dance on the +kitchen floor to the detriment of its bright linoleum. + +"Scat!" said an unappreciative sister at the close of the brief effort. +"This kitchen isn't big enough for any antics." But Betty was grinning +and Janet, who was wiping dishes, tapped a toe in time. "We're clearing +the deck for Mother's greatest efforts," Betty continued. "Nobody can +have the roast turkey just right as she can. Thanks, Janet. There's the +place to hang the towel. Now you girls get ready, while I peel the +potatoes and do a few other things. Mother, shall I wash celery now?" + +"Why, that will be very nice. You are bound to leave me nothing to do, I +see." + +"That, my dear Mother, is your imagination and a beautiful dream. When +we come home from church and find the turkey cooked and the potatoes +ready to mash and the mince pie sizzling hot-yum, yum!" Betty was +hanging up the dish pan and hurrying to put the celery in cold water. + +"Church!" sniffed Dick, still hanging around. + +"Just for that," grinned Betty, "I believe I'll urge Father to take you +with us." + +"If you _do_," threatened Dick, shaking a fist, though, grinning, as he +disappeared altogether from his position in the kitchen door, and they +heard him scampering down the hall. + +"Now he'll get out a book or something," said Betty to Janet, "and +settle down for awhile. The point is, we really think it better to have +Doris, at least, at home, to amuse Amy Lou and keep her out of Mother's +way a little; and since they didn't want to go to church with us, it's +all right. Oh, you are going to enjoy the service, I think. One of our +very best preachers is to give the sermon at the sort of union service +of the churches; and it's in one of the very prettiest churches, too, +with a big vested choir and everything! There will probably be some +grand solo, or quartette, or something special, and we want to get there +early enough to hear the chimes." + +"Sue and I will get ready, then, right away-shall we?" + +"Please, and I'll whisk into something and we'll be off in a jiffy, when +Father's ready to go." + +In such active fashion Thanksgiving Day began for this household and its +guests, with everybody in fine spirits. The air was cold and Dick was +hoping for snow. "Gee, I bet the boys are skating up home," said he as +he followed his father to the garage. + +"I doubt it," replied his father, "but you're not going to get as much +snow and ice as you want here, I suppose." + +Three happy girls, warmly clad, climbed into the machine with Mr. Lee +and they were soon whirling on their way toward the church, whose +service was almost as new to Betty as to her guests, with beautiful +music and an impressive message. And then came the return to the warm +house, the smiling mother with her face a little flushed from frequent +bastings of the turkey, and the good old-fashioned Thanksgiving dinner, +which makes every one thankful whether he was in that mood before or +not. + +As usual, Mr. Lee stopped to let his passengers enter by the front door, +while he drove to the garage, and Betty was rather surprised to have her +mother open the door for them, though probably the night latch was on. +Mother kept things locked up as a rule, since coming to the city. + +"Hang up your wraps here in the closet, girls," breezily directed Mrs. +Lee, "and go into the living room to meet our guest." + +"Guest!" thought Betty as she gave her mother an inquiring look. Who in +the world had come? + +"It is one of the boys that your Father knows, Betty," replied Mrs. Lee, +speaking softly in reply to Betty's unspoken question. "It seems he +asked him to come for Thanksgiving dinner and forgot to tell me-so by +all means make him welcome. I think he goes to one of the high schools +and works in between times." + +Betty, wondering, and guessing at the cordiality which her mother must +have used to cover up her ignorance and make the boy feel at home, +followed her mother from the hall to see a tall, rather heavy boy rise +and stand a little awkwardly to be introduced. Dark eyes, unsure of a +welcome, met Betty's. Why-why, it was the "Don!" + +From the rather sober, polite girl who was ready to make a stranger +welcome, Betty became a wide-awake, welcoming friend. Her mother, in a +low but cordial voice, was mentioning a name that Betty had heard but +never remembered, and then she was giving the girls' names to the guest. + +"Why, Mother, _this_ is the hero of our championship game!" Betty was +stretching her hand out with a smile. "Does Father know it? And where is +Dick? He ought to be worshipping at your shrine!" Betty hardly knew what +she was saying in her surprise. The other girls, following Betty's +example, shook hands with the tall lad, who seemed to lose a little of +his shy attitude under this complimentary greeting. It was nothing so +unusual, to be sure, for the Lees to have some lonesome body to share +their Thanksgiving dinner, yet her father's forgetfulness and the +surprise of his acquaintance with the "Don" were two unexpected features +of the situation. But trust Mother to handle it! + +"Dick went off somewhere almost as soon as you went to church, Betty," +Mrs. Lee was saying. "I'm glad to know that he will find a friend in Mr. +Balinsky. Please excuse us all for a few minutes. I'm going to ask the +girls to help me take up our dinner. Mr. Lee will be in shortly and Amy +Lou will keep you company, I suppose." + +Amy Louise, who had reached the point of showing one of her picture +books to the "big boy," soberly nodded assent. Doris was nowhere to be +seen, but she was found cracking nuts for the top of the salad and +announced to Betty, "We have everything ready now, I think." + +"Well, you certainly have been a help to Mother," said Betty warmly, +"and did you know that Ramon Balinsky is the 'Don'?" + +"Why Betty Lee! How wonderful! No, I never saw him close enough at +school; and then you couldn't tell, on the field, in his football +clothes! My, won't Dick be simply stunned? I'm going to see where he is +and call him!" + +"His name has been in the school papers, but we've always called him the +'Don', so for a minute I didn't know him, all dressed up, too, in his +Sunday clothes, I suppose. He usually looks so dingy at school, but +Mother says he works, so of course, poor kid!" + +"Maybe he doesn't have enough neckties and shirts, Betty," added Doris, +in a sepulchral whisper. "Bet he'll like our dinner all right!" + +Dick needed no rounding up, for he breezed into the back door just then, +to be told by Doris to, "just go into the front room and see who's going +to be here for dinner!" And the girls busy with trips back and forth, +from kitchen to dining room and dining room to kitchen, smiled to hear +the whoop with which Dick welcomed the older boy. It was not loud, but +enthusiastic, and an immediate sound of conversation in Dick's boyish +treble and Ramon's deeper tones indicated, so Betty whispered, that Dick +was finding out everything that they "wanted to know but wouldn't ask." + +Mr. Lee came in from the garage and held up his hands as he heard +Ramon's voice. Then he pretended to be frightened and whipped outside +again into the little back hallway where the refrigerator stood. "You +are forgiven, sir," laughed his wife. "Come and carry the platter with +the turkey to the biggest place I've prepared, and do not drop it on +pain of dire consequences!" + +"Honestly, Mother, I forgot all about it, but you don't mind, do you?" + +"Not a bit. I supposed he was some lonesome youngster that you had +found, but you can tell me all about it later." + +"I knew you would have a big dinner as usual"-but Mr. Lee now accepted +the hot platter with the turkey and reserved further remarks for the +future. And soon both young and older heads were bowed around the long +table while Mr. Lee said grace. + +"Our heavenly Father, we thank Thee for these evidences of Thy goodness +and bounty and for all the mercies of the year-for health and strength +and work and human love and friendship. Bless us all as we offer our +gratitude. Forgive us if we have not served Thee well, strengthen us for +the future, and keep us in Thy care, for Jesus' sake. Amen." + +Ramon's solemn black eyes looked respectfully at Mr. Lee as he raised +his head after the blessing; but Amy Lou made them all smile by a long +sigh and a little leap in her high chair as her father picked up the +carving knife and fork There was plenty of conversation at once, in +which Ramon could take part if he liked; but no one expected anything, +it was evident, and the chief interest, it must be said, centered in the +good dinner, with compliments to the cook. Never was there such good +dressing, or a turkey so well done and juicy at the same time. The +cranberry jelly was a success and Betty's mashed potato was a marvel of +whiteness. It was fortunate that there was plenty of gravy. Janet had +brought the spiced peaches from the home town and felt much honored that +Ramon liked them better than the cranberry jelly with his turkey, not +that he said so, of course. + +As usual, there were too many things, but there would be other meals, as +Mrs. Lee said when her husband told her that nobody was eating "the +other vegetables" and that dressing and mashed potato would have been +enough. Ramon cast a look at the great dish of grapes, oranges and other +fruit on the buffet, with a little bowl of cracked nuts and a plate of +fudge, and then viewed the hot mince pie before him. "You must have a +piece of Mother's pumpkin pie, too, Ramon," said Betty. "She always +bakes pies for the suppers and things at home, church suppers, I mean. +And do you remember, Mother, the time we had the dining hall at the +fair?" + +"Do I?" smiled Mrs. Lee. "Our aid society made enough money to buy new +dishes and carpet the church, but oh, how we worked!" + +"I think that it is cake where your Mother excels," said Mr. Lee, "but I +suppose we shall not have any this noon." + +"If you want it, Father," said Betty. + +"We shall reserve that for our supper lunch, Betty," said Mrs. Lee, "and +we want you to stay for that, Ramon." + +"Thank you, madam-that would be too much, I'm sure. I expect one of the +boys, I think. I-I ought to call him up, I suppose, for he was to come +for me at three-thirty or four and I may not be able to get back to +where I board by that time." + +"Call from here, Ramon," said Betty. "Oh, Mother, I'm glad you did put +those fat raisins in the mince meat!" + +But all the conversation did not center upon the food. Mr. Lee drew out +in the course of the dinner some facts from Ramon in which the girls +were very much interested. He had, indeed, come to America directly from +Spain, but his father was Polish and Ramon had seen Paderewski in +Poland. He had attended school for several years in a small eastern town +where he studied "English and American," he said. + +"I was so behind in everything English, you see, that I had to be put in +a lower grade at first than I would have been in in my own country; but +I made three grades in one year because I could do the mathematics and +such things; and so when I learned to read and speak your language +pretty well, it was not so hard. A friend of my father's brought me +here, but he died." + +"Oh, do you understand all the football language now?" asked Dick. + +"He certainly must, Dicky, or he wouldn't have done what he did," +suggested Betty, who did not think that Dick should have asked that +question. But Ramon only laughed a little. + +"I know most of it now, Dick," Ramon replied, "and I can stand being +punched or kicked without wanting to knock the player down. Is that what +you call 'good sport'?" + +"Yep," said Dick. "That's good football." + +"Do you expect to finish high school here?" kindly asked Mrs. Lee. + +"If I can," answered Ramon. + +After dinner all but Betty and her mother went into the living room to +visit; but the two made short work of putting away the food and making +neat piles of the soiled dishes, and soon they joined the rest. Amy Lou +was sleepy but would not leave the scene without a fuss. Consequently +she was permitted to stay. Ramon called up the "boy," who proved to be +Ted Dorrance. + +A little music and a few quiet games were all that the time afforded +before Ted alighted from a big car and ran into the yard and up the +steps to ring the doorbell. Betty answered the ring and friendly Ted +strode in. "Can't stay a minute," said he, "the 'Don' here?" + +"Yes, come in." + +"In a moment. Say, Betty, I'd like to have a hand in giving the girls a +good time. How about a little fun tonight? Chet has an idea." + +"I'm sure we are free for anything, Ted, and it is good of you. Father +and Mother say that Ramon must be brought back here for supper tonight, +so why can't you come, too? Or, I tell you what-would some of you come +for a taffy pull? Come to supper, too, of course." + +"I couldn't do that, Betty-had such a big dinner and all the folks are +around at home. But do you give me leave to bring whom I can tonight?" + +"I _think so!_ Bring Louise and somebody else for Ramon." + +"Great idea. Let's see, three of you, all freshmen?" + +"Yes. The girls were in my class." + +"All right. It's a surprise party, then, just as Chet had the nerve to +suggest. Tell your mother and surprise the girls." + +"Glorious. I'm delighted that he though of it. Do get Carolyn and Peggy +if you can." + +"They already know about it, in case it is decided." + +"Oh, then you really meant to do something!" + +"She doubts my word! Listen-don't get refreshments ready, unless you +have the stuff to make the taffy. I don't know whether the girls could +bring that or not and the stores are closed. We were just going to order +ice-cream sent around, and what else we could get." + +"Listen, Ted, yourself. Mother has the most delicious cake, extra big, +because we baked up for company, you know. Have the ice-cream if you +must, but not another thing, please." + +What fun it was to plan something with Ted! Betty felt quite grown up. +First they had a senior to dinner, now here was a junior, with probably +Louise coming and loads of fun ahead! + +The girls and Ramon were both wondering what could detain Ted and Betty +in the hall, but Ramon hesitated to rise until Ted should appear. That +he did at once, however, with a last word to Betty. He was properly +respectful in meeting Betty's father and mother and bowed a friendly +greeting to the girls, Dick, Doris and little Amy Lou, who had wakened +and was sleepily arranging a row of tiny dolls on the window sill. + +"The boys have something on hand and want the 'Don' this afternoon. I'll +deliver him in two or three hours or so. Supper will not be too early, +will it?" + +"Not after a late dinner," Mrs. Lee assured Ted, "but it would be better +to 'deliver' our guest by seven at least." + +"Before that, I promise you," answered Ted. "Don't forget, Betty, our +little scheme." + +"How could I?" replied Betty. + + + + +CHAPTER XI: THE "SURPRISE" PARTY + + +"What is the great scheme, Betty?" asked Doris. + +"I'm not telling, Dodie," said Betty, "but you will know before long +perhaps. It's just something the boys and girls are going to do. By the +way, Mother, may I consult you about something? I need permission for +something not to be divulged as yet." + +"You are making us curious, Betty," lightly said Janet. "Come on, Sue, +try that new tune of yours on Betty's piano." + +Mr. Lee had left the room and Dick followed him to ask that the car be +gotten out for a ride. "All right, son. Perhaps the girls and Mother +will like to go." + +Betty and her Mother escaped to the kitchen, where they started on the +dishes, hoping that the sounds of china would not be noticeable in the +front room. The visitors were only too good about offering their +services. "You must go, Mother, with Amy Lou, because you've been in +working all day," said Betty, with decision, "and that will never do on +Thanksgiving. Besides, there's something else on hand and I don't know +what you'll think of it!" + +"Confess, Betty," said Mrs. Lee, smiling and making a fine suds for her +glasses and silver. + +"First tell me that you'll go, Mother, for I'll stay and finish these up +and begin to fix things for our supper." + +"All right, child. I'll go. Now what?" + +Betty at once told about the surprise party "all rather on the spur of +the moment, Mother, at least as far as having it tonight is concerned. +And I think Ted is in it only because he found Ramon here and thought it +would be good for him to stay." + +"Why do you think so-because Ted is older?" + +"Yes. But it gives him a chance to take Louise to something different, +you see. I think that Ted has a sort of 'case' on Louise Madison." + +"I see. Yes, Betty, I think we can manage it. Haven't you any idea how +many are coming?" + +"No-that's the mischief, but I suppose not a great many." + +"We are well prepared for things to eat. If the cake does not last as +long as we thought, it does not matter. Your friends will be welcome. +There is that fruit cake that I baked for Christmas, too, and we can use +that if we run short. We'll make a hot drink and the cake and ice-cream, +with taffy, ought to be enough in all conscience, especially on +Thanksgiving. If your father is ready before we finish, whisk off the +tablecloth, Betty, and use the lunch things for supper. But don't +concern yourself about the meal. Just get your room ready for the girls +to take their wraps to and look around to pick up anything that is out +of order. Fortunately, Amy Lou will want to go to bed before they come." + +"Yes, and everything is all fixed up for company, even if it doesn't +exactly stay put with all of us. Oh, you're so nice, Mother! It's such a +relief!" + +At this point, Janet and Sue ran out to the kitchen and took aprons from +the hooks upon the wall. "Did you think that we wouldn't want to help?" +asked Sue, reproachfully. "Let me wipe and you put away, Betty, for I +don't know where things go." + +"Well, since you insist," laughed Betty, pulling a dry towel from a +drawer. "Come help me take off and fold up the big tablecloth, Janet, +and a lot of the dishes and nearly all of the silver can go back on the +table. Where are the other linen things, Mother?" + +"Same drawer as usual. After lunch we'll take out the leaves and,"-but +Mrs. Lee did not finish, for she had nearly told the reason for making +more room in the dining room. The two large rooms ought to hold quite a +number of boys and girls, she thought. But Mother was tired, as Betty +had surmised, and she knew that she needed to get away for a few minutes +at least. + +Mr. Lee had been obliged to do something to the car, or change a tire, +though no one inquired what, when, after just time enough to get the +main part of the dishes done, they heard a honking in front. "That +couldn't be Ted back with Ramon, could it?" thought Betty, rather +panicky. But it was only the family car honking for passengers. All was +well! + +"Aren't you coming Betty?" asked Janet, surprised. + +"No, Janet, I want to start things and some one ought to be here in case +Ramon comes back early. He has to come when they bring him, you know. +Moreover, if you all go, it is just as well not to be too crowded." + +Betty was glad to be by herself for a little while. She finished putting +the kitchen in order, washing the last pan. Then she flew back to the +bedroom to see that dresser and all were neat and to hang away a few +things that she and the girls had left out. She decided that there was a +prettier set of lace covers for the little dressing table and put them +out. She hoped that the girls would not notice particularly and she +looked up some embroidered guest towels, ready to whisk them into place +when the guest should first arrive. Or her mother could put on the +finishing touches in the bath room if she were welcoming the crowd. +Betty felt a little excited, wanting her friends to like her home and +knowing that some of them, Carolyn among others, had so much more room. +It was hard to be so crowded. No, it wasn't. It was all right when they +were by themselves, and she was sure that anybody that _was_ anybody +would like her for herself! It was Betty's first feeling of +responsibility for the appearance of a house, a temporary one, to be +sure. She had been accustomed to do what she was told, but the roomy old +place "at home" had no such problems as this apartment. + +There was a ring of the bell before Betty had thought about the light +supper, though to be sure her mother had said she was to feel no +responsibility for that. Betty rushed to the door, to find Ramon there. +Again he looked apologetic and hesitatingly said, "I'm afraid I'm too +early, but Ted and the boys brought me on. Ted is driving around to see +one or two of the girls." + +"Come right in," cordially Betty invited. "Sit down and read the paper +or something till I start things a little in the kitchen. I think the +earlier we get our supper, or lunch of a sort, out of the way the +better, don't you? Or did Ted tell you what is going on?" + +"Yes, he did," replied Ramon, as he obediently walked into the living +room after having divested himself of his overcoat and hat. "Say, Miss +Betty, we had such a wonderful dinner that you surely won't do much for +supper, will you? I feel as if it's an imposition for me to come back, +and yet,--" + +"And yet what would be the use of going home and then coming right back +to a party?" finished Betty. + +"Well, that was it, of course; and then it is so homelike here and so +different from what I have all the time." + +"Do you really like it, then?" asked Betty, pleased. + +"Who could help it? And now why couldn't I help be _chef_? It would be +what you call fun. I could tell you of so many things that I have done +since I came to your country, and I earned my meals one time in a +restaurant. I do not always tell that to the boys and girls, for they do +not understand, and yet my people in Spain and Hungary and Poland are of +the best." + +"Father thinks it is what you are, inside, that makes you," said Betty, +nodding a determined little head. They were still standing just within +the living room door. + +"Oh, your father! He is a big man! I fix his car at the garage where I +work after school, and before school, too. And he forgot to tell your +sweet mother and yet she made me welcome." Ramon was smiling in +amusement as well as appreciation. + +"Oh, could you tell that?" Betty chuckled. "Mother thought that she had +successfully concealed her surprise. But she was glad to have you come, +you understand that, don't you?" + +"Yes, and all of you helped." + +"Well, now let's see, Ramon. Come on into the kitchen and help me decide +what we want. We've got a lot of that salad fixed and if you will crack +a few more English walnuts we'll fix a pretty big glass bowl of it and +pass it instead of putting salad around at each place. Nobody could +finish his salad at dinner time. And I'll put on the lunch cloth or +what-you-call-it-and you can set down all that fruit and the bowl of +nuts on the buffet. My, imagine me bossing the gr-reat football hero of +Lyon High, and a senior at that!" + +Ramon only laughed at that and took the large apron, soberly offered him +by a Betty with twinkling eyes, and tried to fasten it around himself. +But he was not used to tying a bow in the back, Betty told him, so she +would finish the operation. "Now see what an artist you are in the +dining room first, Ramon." + +Thus Betty, while she arranged the linen pieces on the table, waved a +hand at the buffet and flew into the kitchen herself. "Won't they be +surprised when they come back?" she called, appearing in the door with a +whole head of lettuce in her hands. "And it will be fine to have you to +help us make the table small after supper. Father always has to help +with that because the table sticks and we can hardly push it together. +Do you think you would be strong enough?" + +Ramon gave Betty an amused look. "Yes, Miss Betty, I think I'm strong +enough and I'd do anything for any of you!" + +"Well," sighed Betty, "I really don't believe in having your company +work, but under the circumstances it is a great help! You see Mother had +been doing so much cooking, so I made her promise to go out for a ride." +With this Betty disappeared from view, to wash the lettuce under the +faucet and run into the pantry for the big glass dish or bowl. + +Ramon finished arranging the fruit and nuts and went out into the +kitchen declaring that he was no artist and that she could change +anything that he had done. Betty managed to keep him busy, but it was +only about fifteen minutes before the whole family arrived, Dick to +utter another whoop at seeing his hero in an apron, and the girls to +join the activities with much fun and lively conversation. Mrs. Lee was +allowed only to supervise and make the coffee and Mr. Lee declared that +he would not think of being underfoot in such a busy kitchen and dining +room. + +"The boy looks happy," he said to his wife. "I'm glad I asked him to +come. He's a very sober, lonely chap, so far as home is concerned. He +probably has a good enough time at school, especially since he made such +a hit in football, as you tell me." + +"I wonder how he gets his lessons, if he works so hard," said Mrs. Lee. + +"How do any of them get their lessons?" asked Mr. Lee in return, "with +all that is going on. It hasn't hit Betty yet, thanks to our +management." + +Young appetites were ready for the supper that spread so invitingly on +the pretty table; for it was decided to set everything conveniently +near, since they were their own servants. Then afterwards the girls +quickly cleared the table, and Ramon, without remark and under Betty's +direction, took out the leaves and made the table small. Betty and Janet +together at one end pushed against Ramon on the other. "It will give us +more room and look better," explained Betty to the girls, who were still +ignorant of what was to come. Betty, too, was ignorant in regard to +_who_ was to come. She was as uneasy and restless as a girl could be and +not show that something was on her mind. Ramon was wondering what excuse +he could offer for staying so long, but it took some time to clear away +the supper and while Mrs. Lee told Betty to "go and entertain her guests +and she would finish up the dishes," Betty, by way of camouflage, said, +"we _could_ leave them till morning of course; but it will be nicer in +the morning not to have them before us." Sue rather wondered at Betty's +easy compliance. + +At last the bell rang, not a steady ring with perhaps another, but a +series of rings in rhythm. Janet and Sue looked up surprised from a +puzzle that Betty had given them and Ramon to work out. But Ramon +grinned and Betty laughed, running to the door. "_Something's up_," said +Sue. "I _suspected_ it!" + +Laughter and greetings filled the hall. "S'prise Party!" called Peggy's +voice. + +"Ted again!" exclaimed Janet, rising, "and Peggy Pollard and Carolyn +Gwynne!" + +And now they thronged in, bringing the cold air with them from the open +hall door. The girls entered first, surrounding Janet and Sue, to shake +hands in the spirit of fun and surprise, while Carolyn saw that the +names of the girls were understood by Janet and Sue who might not have +met them all or had not remembered their names. Carolyn was always +thoughtful. + +Betty, after telling the boys to leave their hats, caps and coats in the +hall, came to the group of girls and led them back to the room where +they could take off their wraps and powder their noses if they liked. +Mother, bless her, had swiftly put on the finishing touches and the +guest towels in the bath room after Amy Lou was in bed and the various +washings up after supper were completed. + +"Yes, Betty," Carolyn excitedly told Betty, "we had thought of doing it +and then pretty nearly gave it up because we weren't sure of your liking +it; and I hadn't been in this ducky apartment before and wasn't sure +that you had room for a party. But when old Ted called up and told me +what boys he'd rounded up, I telephoned then to the girls and we all met +at Louise's." + +So it was a "ducky apartment," was it? Trust Carolyn's generous soul. +Betty was sure that Carolyn liked her for herself! + +Naturally Ted had a "few souls" old enough for himself and Ramon. There +was Louise Madison and a pretty junior named Roberta Ayers. The Harry +Norris whom Betty had first seen with Ted Dorrance was there, a good +friend, evidently, of a small, fair sophomore girl, Daisy Richards. It +was rather unusual, of course, this mingling of ages or classes at a +small party, but the invitation to Ramon was the cause of it all, and +Betty was so glad to have Ted, who had been so "nice" to her, she +thought, at a party in her house. Yet, of course, she had not given the +invitations. Where would she have stopped if she had? For not all the +girls and boys that she would have wanted were here. + +Of the younger boys there was Chet Dorrance, Chauncey Allen, Brad +Warren, Budd LeRoy, James Simmonds and two freshmen boys whom Betty +scarcely knew, Andy Sanford and Michael Carlin, whom the boys called +Mickey or Mike according to their fancy. + +Janet and Sue found themselves surrounded by the group of boys when they +came in from the hall and Betty had escorted the girls back to the +bedroom. Ted did the honors of introduction, but it was only a few +minutes before Betty was back and acting as hostess. + +Mr. Lee had disappeared long since. Mrs. Lee was putting Amy Lou to bed +at last accounts and the door of bedroom and dressing room was shut. +Dick and Doris, feeling rather out of it, had moved into the kitchen +till Betty, at last seeing everything started, thought of them and +looked them up. + +"No, Betty," said Dick, "I don't want to be introduced all around! But +I'll come into the dining room, if you want us, and talk to some of the +boys, if it happens that way." + +"I'd like to have you at least see the fun and of course when the +refreshments are served you must be with us. I'll probably need you. +Would you mind?" + +"I'll help," said Doris. "It would look better." + +"So it would. And will you, Dick?" + +"Yes." + +"And you can help pull the taffy. I do hope Mother will know how to cook +it, though perhaps Louise knows." + +"I'll tell her," said Dick, and Betty felt relieved about the family. +Everything was just all right! And Mother did know, she said. + +Ted and Louise were good at starting games. Brad, however, was prevailed +upon to play some lively tunes upon Betty's piano and the rest hummed to +tunes or sang when there were words to the melodies. + +Pencils and paper were called for by Louise Madison, who announced that +five minutes, or less, would be given for every one to make words out of +what would be given them when they were ready to commence. Betty hurried +to get paper and as many pencils as the family could command. +Fortunately, most of the boys carried pencils in their pockets, Dick and +Doris had a supply of stubs among their school things, and with much +whirling of the pencil sharpener in the kitchen, they were soon ready. + +"And, O, Mother, won't you please start the candy to cooking? It has to +cool and be pulled after that, you know." + +"Yes, I know," said Mrs. Lee, who rather regretted sacrificing the +excellent syrup from the home town, so much better than that she bought +in the city. But it was worth while, for Betty's pleasure, and to +entertain her friends, after all. "I will see to it and call you when it +is ready. Luckily Amy Lou is sound asleep." + +But no sooner had Betty remarked to Louise, as she handed her the +supplies, that her mother was starting the syrup than Louise cried, "Oh, +I have to learn how to do that. I never pulled candy but once and it was +such fun. Would your mother mind having me around?" + +"I'm sure she wouldn't." + +Immediately the kitchen was invaded by several of the girls, but all +except Louise came back for the game. Ted, thereupon, told the "Don" to +"call time," and he vanished in the direction of the kitchen, while a +few smiles were exchanged among those that were left. "Ted will know how +to boil candy for taffy after this," said Kathryn Allen. + +"Well, somebody has to try and taste it." smiled Betty. + +"Everybody ready!" called the "Don," quite at his ease by this time and +with a real home atmosphere back of him. Had he not been the only one of +them invited to the Thanksgiving dinner? And Mr. Lee had not known then +that he was a football player, either. "Don" was not aware that that +fact would have made no difference to Mr. Lee, one way or another, +though he was not opposed to the game. + +"Five minutes, Louise Madison said," he continued. "I will now announce +the words. No proper names, or foreign words, Louise says. It's 'Lyon +High School.'" + +The scribbling began. "Can you use slang?" inquired Brad. + +"Better not." + +"Why isn't there an 'e' or a 't' in it?" remarked Janet. "I could make +so many more." + +Carolyn was writing fast and furiously. "Oh, give us five minutes more, +so we can really _think_ on each letter!" she begged. + +"Of course a girl will beat," said Chauncey. "They're so much better in +English!" Chauncey was pretending to scratch his head and think. In +reality he was too lazy to bother with a game he did not enjoy, though +too polite to beg off. He had sixteen words and that was enough. He bet +nobody else had "solo." + +But Chauncey was right on the girls' having the most words. Several boys +had twenty words in the five minutes, but the girls made a business of +it and Kathryn Allen had the largest number, though Andy Sanford, who +was on the staff of the school paper, came within two of her number, +forty-five. + +"How did you do it so fast, Kathryn?" asked Mary Emma. + +"I just went lickity-cut in any old order till I got through the letters +that way. Then I went back again and did a little thinking that time and +had the other few minutes to do it in. I took _ly_ and _li_ and _lo_, +and did the same way with all the letters." + +"Did anybody else get _solo_?" asked Chauncey. + +Alas, Kathryn had that, also _holy_, of which Chauncey had not thought. + +A delicious odor of boiling syrup was commented upon by several. Louise, +carrying the glass in which she had just tested the candy, came in to +inquire who had the most words and how many. "All right, Kathryn gets +the prize. Ted, _where's_ that prize?" + +From the kitchen Ted appeared, hunting in his pocket for something. + +"Nobody said there was to be any prize. That's not fair," said Sim, +grinning. + +"Would you have worked harder, Sim?" Ted inquired. "Here it is, +Kathryn," and he handed her a long, slim package tied with a blue +ribbon. They all watched while Kathryn took the ribbon and tissue paper +from what was so evidently a gift "of pencils. Two five centers, +Kathryn," said Ted. "May they bring you to fame." + +"You did well, Kathryn," said Louise. "Somebody got fifty at a senior +party the other day, but I'm not sure but we had more time." + +"Help me, Andy," said Kathryn, "and let's see how many we can get. +Please give me all the papers, so we can compare." Consequently, while +Ted, accused of "licking his chops" over all the candy he was tasting, +followed Louise out to the kitchen, and somebody started up the music +again, Kathryn and Andy, helped by Betty, who gathered up all the other +efforts, made a fairly full list. "I had just started on the s-h's," +said Andy. A little later, after working as much out themselves as they +felt like doing and comparing their papers, they announced that they +could read what they had if any one wanted to hear. + +_"Let's_ hear them, Andy," called Chauncey from near the piano. "How +many words can the experts make out of the old school name?" + +"Leaving out abbreviations, plurals, and odd words, here they are: +_lying_, _lingo_, _lion_, _lo_, _log_, _loch_, _loo_, _loon_, _loin_; +_yon_, _yo-ho_; _O_, _oh_, _on_, _oil_, _oily_, _only_; _no_, _nigh_, +_noisy_; _high_, _ho_, _hog_, _hill_, _hilly_, _holy_, _his_, _hollo_, +_holly_; _I_, _is_, _in_, _ill_, _illy_, _inch_, _inly_; _go_, _gill_, +_gin_; _scion_, _shiny_, _shin_, _shy_, _si_, _sigh_, _sign_, _silo_, +_silly_, _sill_, _sin_, _sing_, _sling_, _soil_, _solo_, _soon_, _song_, +_son_, _sol_, _so_; _chic_, _chill_, _chilly_, _chin_, _cling_, _clog_, +_cog_, _coil_, _coin_, _colon_, _con_, _colony_, _coo_, _cool_, +_coolly_, _coon_, _cosy_, _coy_-and we forgot _lynch, shoo_ and +_shooing_, and Andy says that _colin_ is another word for _quail_ and +that _shoon_ is in the dictionary. So that's over eighty and pretty +good, we think." + +Chauncey started a mild applause and remarked that Andy and Kathryn +would probably teach English some day. + +"Not on your life," said Andy, "though I may run a paper at that!" + +Mrs. Lee could not help wondering if every one would be careful not to +drop his candy while it was in the process of being pulled, but she said +nothing and provided plenty of greased receptacles. Ted and Louise +started several other quiet games while the candy was getting to the +proper temperature. Then they began to try a small portion. + +"How many want to pull?" asked Ted. Every one wanted to try "just a +little bit," which was well, or the supply would not have been +sufficient. Those who had never pulled candy before were instructed, +that there should be no sticky or slippery masses clinging more +unhappily than wet dough to the greased hands-after a great performance +of hand-washing in the kitchen. + +All this made much laughter and general merriment, not to mention +certain antics of Ted and Harry and a few of the younger boys. But no +one tried any "sticky" tricks, as Betty put it; for once upon a time, +Dick had come home from a party with his hair full of taffy, horrible +dictu! + +In various stages of whiteness, the separate pieces of taffy were +carefully laid upon the owner's saucer or plate, with a clean white +label bearing the "name of the author," said Betty. Much had been eaten +during the pulling, for some "preferred their taffy hot," they claimed; +but each was to take a little home, to prove that they had pulled it, +Ted said. Oiled paper would be in demand, thought Mrs. Lee, who hunted +up a roll to have ready. + +But the ice-cream had arrived. The big white cake was cut, also a loaf +of fruit cake; and in the chairs which had been gathered up and brought +to the front of the house with the appearance of the guests, the girls +and boys sat to eat slowly the cold cream, enjoy their cake and lay the +foundations of future friendships or cement those already formed. The +high school "case" between Ted Dorrance and Louise Madison was not +particularly serious in its outlook; for Ted, like many boys, was +admiring a girl older than himself just now, but some demure young miss +of a younger class, or not in his school at all, was likely to take his +later attention. + + + + +CHAPTER XII: A CHANGE OF PLAN + + +"Is this Mr. Gwynne's residence?" asked Betty, a little timid, for a +deep masculine voice had answered her ring at the telephone. + +"Yes," the response came, pleasantly. + +"May I speak to Carolyn, please? It is Betty Lee." + +"I'll call Carolyn." There was a few moments of waiting. + +"'Lo, Bettykins. I was just going to call you." + +"Were you? What were you going to tell me?" + +"You say what _you_ were going to first." + +"I'd rather not." + +"Please." + +"Well, though I just hate so to tell you what I'm going to." + +"So do I hate to tell you!" + +Betty's little laugh, came to Carolyn over the wire. + +"Wouldn't it be funny if it is about the same thing! Why Carolyn, I'm +just sick about it, but I don't see how we can come to your house +tonight. Father has to have a conference or something tonight down town +and can't drive us out to your place. He's staying down for dinner +somewhere, you know. So there's no one to take us and Mother doesn't +think it's safe for us to go on the car and then walk as far as we'd +have to, especially coming home." + +"That would be all right with our putting you on the car here. But +really, Betty, it is a sort of relief, because I was wondering how to +tell you that I can't have the party at all! Sister's having the house +both nights, and besides, I was going to have you at least taken back +home, so your father wouldn't have to come for you, but the cars will be +in use, too. It was too bad of my sister not to tell me and Mother did +not happen to say anything till this morning when she was asking my +sister what she wanted for decorations. I said, 'Why, Mother, didn't you +tell me I could have a party?' and Mother looked startled. 'Why so I +did! I hope you haven't everybody invited!' + +"So then I made it as nice for her as I could and said I thought I could +change it to an afternoon one, and Betty, since you had that gorgeous +party at your house, won't you let me have you and some of the other +girls at our house Saturday, tomorrow afternoon? Please. I've telephoned +the _boys_ that my party had to be postponed, so this will be a 'hen +party.' I'll have some sort of a party in the Christmas vacation, +perhaps, to make it up to the boys, not to mention liking the fun +myself. + +"Will you mind _awfully_, Betty?" Carolyn's voice was both regretful and +persuasive. + +"Why-no, Carolyn-only it isn't necessary for you to have us at all, you +know, and I've invited all the other girls." + +"I know how we can fix that, easy as pie, Betty. I'll call all of them +up-I know whom you were going to have, you know, and I'll tell them that +you and I are entertaining together at our house!" + +"We-ll, but you'll have to let me really help, you know, get the +refreshments and everything." + +"I'll see about that-there will be such oodles around, with Sister's two +parties, and we'll have all the benefits of her spuzzy decorations and +won't hurt a thing, you know. Let's have it a thimble party. Didn't I +see you making something for Christmas?" + +"Yes. I brought a hanky I'm hemstitching for Mother in school and worked +on it a little while in between lunch and class. It's so hard to get a +chance without her catching me at it at home." + +"Bring it along and finish it up, then, Betty. Is it settled, then?" + +"Are you _sure_ you want it that way?" + +"Sure; and Mother will feel better about it, too." + +"Very well, Carolyn. I'm sure Janet and Sue will be delighted to come, +and of course I shall." + +Thus it happened that Betty and her guests enjoyed an excellent moving +picture, censored by Mrs. Lee, on Friday afternoon, with attendant +pleasure of favorite sundaes and shopping in the big stores; and they +had the evening quietly at home, early to bed this time, to catch up for +the night before. "It is a good deal of fun with those boys," said +Janet, "but I think that it will be more _restful_ tomorrow at Carolyn's +without them." + +"And you will love Carolyn's home, Janet," replied Betty, though +laughing at Janet's expression. + +A soft snow fell that night. In the morning the girls looked out upon a +beautiful world of white, soon to be spoiled in the city by the traffic +and the soot from the good furnace fires that kept the people warm. But +at Carolyn's that afternoon little had occurred to lessen the loveliness +of the snow scene. Beautiful evergreens drooped a little with the weight +upon their branches. Drifts piled here and there by bushes that seemed +to bear feathery blossoms. It was the first "real snow," Dick said, and +welcome, particularly to the children. + +Betty had not expected so many girls, but here were not only those whom +she had invited to her expected party but a number of others. It was +very satisfactory. Now Janet and Sue would know just about all the girls +that she wanted them to meet. + +Opinions might differ about the afternoon's being "restful." But it was +as restful as girls of high school age would be likely to want it to +prove. Janet and Sue were impressed with Carolyn's lovely home, inside +and out, and declared that seeing it with the snow must be almost as +good as seeing it with its flowers. Carolyn brought all the girls whom +they had not met to each of them and although they did settle down with +their bits of fancy-work or Christmas presents, Carolyn had them change +their seats in order that groups of different girls might be together. +Some things made in the arts and crafts department of the school could +be brought to be worked on and Betty saw articles that she "longed to +make," she said. Janet was always a little quiet when she was first with +girls strange to her, but her lack of conversation was not noticeable in +the babel of voices after the girls were fairly launched upon various +topics that interested them. + +"Yes," replied Betty to one, "I've met the mysterious 'Don.' His real +name is Ramon, but the boys all call him 'Don' now, I've noticed, so I +suppose we might as well. He doesn't mind, he said." + +"Did you hear that, Lucille? Betty Lee knows the 'Don.' Well, what is +he, anyhow? Spanish, as they say. I always think that the boys may be +'kiddin' us, you know." + +"He really is part Spanish and part Polish and some of his people were +Hungarian, at least they lived in Hungary for a while and he said they +were 'nice people.'" + +"How did you know so much? Is there anything mysterious about him?" + +"I was just talking to him one time. He doesn't seem the least bit +mysterious to me, but I don't think that he has anybody related to him +in this country. He just boards somewhere, I suppose." + +"Then that isn't a bit interesting." + +"Oh, yes, it is, Lucille," spoke Peggy Pollard. "Chet Dorrance said that +the Don told Ted a little bit one time and there's somebody that's +either after him or that he's after, I think." + +"My, isn't that news for you?" laughed Lucille. "Peggy, you're always so +clear!" + +"Well, do you suppose that Ted would tell what the boy told him in +confidence?" + +"Ted must have told something." + +"Couldn't Chet overhear it, maybe?" + +"Then he is really mysterious, you think, Peggy." + +"Yes. I asked him last night if he _was_ mysterious and he said he was!" + +There was a general laugh at this. "Peggy's drawing on her imagination," +said Mary Emma. + +"Where did the Don take you last night, Peggy?" queried Lucille, "to a +picture show?" + +"No, but he was at the same surprise party I went to," and Peggy gave a +mirthful glance in Carolyn's direction. + +"Well, if Don as the boys call him isn't mysterious, you are, so let's +change the subject." + +Peggy had thought that with so many other girls, about twenty in all, +Betty might not like to have the surprise party talked over; or it might +be that some one would feel hurt at not having been included in the +sudden affair. For these reasons she was quite willing to have the +subject changed. + +"Wouldn't this be a delicious night to go sledding, girls?" she asked, +looking out from the large window near which she sat toward the broad +expanse of snow that covered the lawn and stretched beyond the clumps of +bushes and trees over the spacious grounds. + +"Too soft, I'm afraid, Peggy," said Mary Emma Howland. "It didn't melt, +though, when the sun came out. I wonder if it would pack and make +enough. The wind had swept the ground pretty bare at our house, but +hasn't out here." + +"Perhaps it didn't snow everywhere alike," brightly suggested Kathryn +Allen. "Sometimes it rains out in our suburb when my father says there +isn't a particle of rain down town." + +"The paper says that there is a blizzard out West," said Carolyn. +"Wouldn't it be wonderful if we did have sledding, next week anyhow?" + +Betty explained to Janet and Sue what she had mentioned before, that the +winters were considerably more mild here than their own and that +everybody rejoiced when there were winter sports, making the most of +them; but none of the three thought of any particular good time as on +its way to them because of this unexpected snow. Soon came the pretty +refreshments, when all the girls laid aside their work to enjoy them. + +They were asked to go into another room, apparently a breakfast room, or +a dining room on a small scale, Betty thought, where a round table was +set for them. There a tiny turkey, which was a container for candy or +nuts, stood at each place, connected with the central lights overhead by +a gay ribbon. Betty's place card bore an Indian on snowshoes, a wild +turkey over one shoulder and a bow in one hand. + +"I 'spect there's some turkey in this 'chicken salad,' don't you, +Betty?" said Janet next to her. + +"Carolyn _always_ has such lovely things," replied Betty, though she had +been entertained there but once before. But this was perfect for an +"afternoon tea." Instead of tea they drank cocoa, however, and last they +were served to tiny ice-cream roses and delicious little cakes with +pink, white or chocolate frosting. + +"I've done nothing but eat good things since I came to this city," Sue +declared after they came home, "and we've had enough different kinds of +fun to last all winter! No, thank you, Mrs. Lee, I don't believe we can +eat a speck of supper, or dinner, whichever you call it here." + +"We might sit down with them, girls," Betty suggested, "for we didn't +really have a heavy meal at Carolyn's!" + +But Betty had scarcely gotten seated at the home dinner table than she +rose to answer the telephone. "Oh, who is it? I can't quite understand. +The telephone buzzes a little. Now I get it-oh, yes, Chet! Honestly? +Why, yes, that would be great fun. I don't know, though." + +Betty listened a little. "Wait a minute. I'll have to ask Mother and see +what the girls say. Please hold the 'phone a minute." + +The telephone was in the hall and Betty rushed around through the living +room to where the family were. "Mother!" she began excitedly, "that was +Chet Dorrance and he wants to know if we girls can go bob-sled riding +tonight. It's freezing like everything and the boys have got water +poured on some hill-this afternoon, you know, and the snow all packed +down!" + +"What boys are going and what hill is it, Betty?" inquired her father. + +"Chet said that he and Chauncey Allen and Budd LeRoy would come after +us. We can take the car, the street-car, he said, and get off almost +right at the hill, anyhow the place where it is, one of the houses, I +suppose, maybe a place like Carolyn's." + +"Betty, I can't have you start in to go out with the boys in the +evening." + +"But this isn't like that, Mother. It's a big crowd, not so very big +perhaps, but at least two bob-sleds and we take turns." + +"Sure the hill doesn't deposit you near some car line or shoot you +across one? I saw a kiddie nearly killed this afternoon shooting across +a road, down hill, on his sled." Mr. Lee was interposing this remark. + +Betty looked worried. "Chet is waiting on the line, Mother. Oh, I do +want to go!" + +"Suppose I talk to him, then, Betty," suggested Mrs. Lee. "I don't want +to keep you from any pleasure, but I want to make sure that it is safe, +you know. Yes, a crowd to enjoy the sport is all right if they are +careful boys, not reckless." + +"You met them all here, Mother." + +"Yes." Mrs. Lee was on her way to the hall. + +"This is Betty's mother speaking," she said, taking the receiver. "Betty +is anxious to accept your kind invitation, but I want to inquire about +the safety of the sport. Where is the hill located and just what are you +going to do?" + +"Aw, Mother'll spoil it all, Betty," said Dick, who was listening, while +Betty stood half-way between hall and the dining room double doors. +Betty frowned and shook her head at her brother, who passed his plate +for a second helping of meat and potato. Dick was going out himself with +his sled and the hill had been passed upon by his father, though Dick in +his peregrinations did not always ask permission. That was one of Mr. +Lee's little worries for fear that in a city he could not so easily know +just where his son was spending his leisure hours or whether his company +was all that it should be. In the country town there was just as much +danger of contamination, but they knew so well what was to be avoided +and what companions were safe and who were unsafe. + +Mother, however, had not "spoiled it all." She came back smiling and put +her arm about Betty to lead her in the room with her. "Chet explained it +all satisfactorily, and I am rather glad to know that Ted Dorrance and a +group of the older high school boys and girls will be there. There is a +'sled load,' I understand, though that used to mean a different sort of +sled, in the country. Moreover, it is on the Dorrance place, and it may +be that you can be called for. I think myself that the street car is +safer, however, and so I told him." + +"Mother!" exclaimed Betty, half embarrassed. + +"Don't worry, child. Parents have to manage some of these things. I +liked Chet and he is not offended. It is most likely that his own +parents have a few remarks to make occasionally. Chet is not old enough +to drive a car, Betty." + +"Well, I'm obliged to you anyway, Mother, for letting us go. Did you +ring off?" + +"Yes, I never thought that Chet might like to speak to you again." + +"Your mother isn't yet used to having young men ring up and talk to her +daughter," mischievously said Mr. Lee. + +"And I hope that I shall _not_ get used to it for some time," firmly +replied his wife. "Betty's not going to run around regardless; and I'm +so sure of her that I know she does not want to do it either." + +"I'm perfectly willing to wait until I grow up a little more," said +Betty. "But this is different." + +"Yes, this is different." + +It was different. Betty never forgot this first winter fun of her +freshman year, the night so beautiful, the snow so white, the little +company so gay. Moonlight made the most of the scene. It was the first +time that Betty had seen the Dorrance place, rather the house, which +stood back, facing a road which was marked "Private" and wound around a +short ascent to where two houses were built, some distance apart, upon a +hill in a thick grove of trees. But the hill began to descend where the +houses were and only the trees and chimneys could be seen from the main +road where ran the street cars. A path had been well cleared and +machines had gone over the road since the snow had fallen. Escorted by +the three boys, the three girls ascended the hill after leaving the +street car and heard, while they talked, the merry laughter of a group +just preceding them. + +"So this is where you live, Chet," said Janet, by this time well +acquainted, for she and Chet had pulled taffy together and joked each +other while they did it. + +"Yes; it's a bit of a climb for some folks, but my mother uses the car +most of the time and I suppose it isn't more than a good square's walk +to the house. The hill we're going to slide on is the other side of the +house. You see there's really a ravine there, but this hill is wide and +the way the ground slopes and humps around it makes a good long hill of +it. We've got it as slick as can be and we'll shoot across a narrow +brook at the foot. It's good and frozen tonight and getting colder. +You'll all come in the house and meet Mother first. But we're going to +make a big bonfire to get warm by and Louise, Ted's girl, you know, says +we can roast marshmallows the same as if it were summer." + +"So this is Betty Lee," said pretty Mrs. Dorrance, holding Betty's hand +a trifle longer, as she was the last girl of the group. "Both Ted and +Chet have spoken of you. I am glad to meet you and I hope that my boys +can give all you girls a good time tonight. I've cautioned them to be +careful of you." + +"Now, Mother!" cried Chet. "You don't understand. Of course we'll take +care of them, but they're pretty independent, too, and they'll tell us +if they don't want to do anything, at least Louise will tell Ted!" + +"I hope so." + +"We want to do what everybody does," gently said Betty, "and I'm sure +the boys know about the hill and everything, don't they, Mrs. Dorrance?" + +"I hope so," whimsically replied Mrs. Dorrance, who was timid about +sports of all sorts, though she rather liked this confidence in her +boys. + +Then the fun began. The girls and boys in warm sweaters and woollen caps +gathered about the bob sleds at the top of the hill. One with Ted +guiding and full of the older ones went first, down, down around, up a +little, swooping down till it was lost to view and only the little +squeals and shrieks of excitement or a whoop from some boy reached +Betty's ears. + +"I'll let you take this one down, Budd," said Chet. "Budd's an expert, +girls. Now not too many. We've another right here and I'll take that +first. Chauncey, watch how I take that curve and you can take it down +next time. Come on, Betty, as soon as Budd's sled goes and rounds the +curve all right we'll start, I think." + +Shortly Betty found herself flying among the shadows, through patches of +moonlight, around the breath-taking curve, shooting down a straight, +steep descent, holding tight, breathing in the fresh, frosty air, happy +as a bird. Again and again they climbed and descended till they were +tired and lit the great pile prepared by the boys in an open space. The +flames shot up, lighting the gay colors of the sweaters and coats, the +bright young faces and the snow man that some one started to build while +marshmallows were really being toasted. A snowball fight or two livened +the scene for a little, and oh, how surprised they all were, when some +one looked at a watch in the firelight and announced that it was getting +late. + +"Don't put on any more wood, boys," said Louise Madison. "I've only been +able to toast anything in this one corner as it is; and if it is as late +as that we'll go in, for Mrs. Dorrance will be calling us." + +As if the hour had been noted at just the right time, some one came +running out of the house to tell the company that refreshments were +ready-and such funny ones, ordered by the boys, no doubt, the two +Dorrance boys that were hosts. There were hot tea and bottles of pop, +hot "wieners" and fresh buns to put them in, hot beans in tomato sauce, +pickles, real spiced home-made ones, and for dessert what Dick always +called "Wiggle," jello or a kindred article, this time holding an +assortment of fresh fruit together and served on a plate with an immense +piece of frosted spice cake. + +Somebody, the cook, Betty supposed, stood behind a long table by which +they were to pass in cafeteria style, each taking, as the cook +indicated, plate and silver and being served to the variety of foods by +Chet and Ted, who with laughing faces had put on a white paper cap and a +white apron. These the two boys kept on as they followed the rest into +the dining room, to which a maid beckoned them. But all helpers +disappeared at once. Mrs. Dorrance only looked in upon them to see that +they were happy, and perhaps to assure Louise that the chaperon was +doing her duty in being about. Jokes and fun and more hot things offered +by Chet and Ted completed the evening's enjoyment. + +"It's too much for you to go home with us, boys," said Betty, rather +thinking that she made a "social blunder" by saying so, but feeling that +if they put her on the car she could see herself and her friends home. + +"Couldn't think of anything else," replied Chet, guiding Janet down the +rather slippery hill at the front. "You don't know how late and dark it +will be when we get off the car near your house. The moon's setting now, +or else there's a cloud or two. Wouldn't it be great if we kept on +having snow!" + +"But dear sakes," said Betty, "we'll be in school and have to study!" + +"Not to _hurt_," remarked Chauncey Allen. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII: BETTY MEETS TROUBLE + + +There are degrees of satisfaction or of disappointment, but Betty Lee +had never met what she would consider real trouble connected with her +school life until after Christmas in her freshman year. + +The happy Thanksgiving vacation with Janet and Sue as her guests came +duly to a close after a pleasant Sabbath during which they went to +Sabbath school and church and spent part of the afternoon in wandering +around the main art gallery of the city, open to visitors. The girls +took an early morning train on Monday and Betty, more or less upset by +too many good times, went back to school not feeling much like study. +But neither did any one else and the teachers in the main, having had a +good rest themselves, seemed not to be too hard on any one. + +Betty, however, buckled down to the work of what is always the hardest +term of the year, that before Christmas, and had many delightful +anticipations of that beautiful celebration. They could not "go to +Grandma's" this year, but they could and did enjoy Christmas day +together. Accustomed, now, to the demands of the city school, she felt a +real satisfaction in the fact that her work was being well done and her +grades upon the cards such that she need not feel ashamed. + +There were many interesting distractions toward Christmas and Betty +joined the Girl Reserves, the group that included freshmen in her high +school, in time to help with the Christmas basket which was to go to +make some one's Christmas brighter. The stores, with their fascinating +windows, the hurrying crowds of shoppers, the entertainments and the +Christmas music, all had their accustomed charm; but Betty's vacation of +only the one week, with an extra week-end, was spent largely at home, +for none of the girls whom she knew well entertained and were absorbed +in home affairs. + +Again it was hard to settle down to work, but Betty was anxious to do +well in the semester examinations and worked particularly hard on her +Latin and mathematics. By some shifting of pupils, Betty was now in the +adorable Miss Heath's Latin class, though she had not begun the year +with her. Betty was always very shy with her teachers and although Miss +Heath was most "human," as Carolyn said, and friendly with the girls and +boys there was a certain bound over which none of them stepped and Betty +never presumed even upon the privileges which she might have enjoyed, in +a chat or talk or consultation. It was characteristic of her family, +perhaps, to be independent. Even at home she always wanted to "get +everything herself" if she could, preferring to spend much more time +upon a problem rather than ask any one for light upon it. + +And now Miss Heath, gave them an examination which they all felt was +important. Indeed she told them so. "It is going to help me find out +whether you have gotten the important things that I have tried to teach +you," she said. "As you know, I have emphasized some things. Some things +we have gone over again and again. I see you smile, for you think that +we have gone over _everything_ again and again. So we have. But this may +help you, too, in reviewing for your semester finals. The questions for +those I do not make out, except in some line assigned to me by the head +of the department. This I call a review examination and its results will +be most interesting to me. This is not to 'scare' you at all, and it +will be recorded in my grade book as an ordinary test, but I want you to +_use your brains_ to the best of your ability. Day after tomorrow, +Thursday, at this hour, come prepared for a test." + +The next day a strange teacher was at the desk, a "substitute," young +and worried. The boys who were in the habit of "acting up" performed as +far as they dared, Betty reported at home; and the girls giggled, +"because they couldn't help it. It was so funny." + +"You have to know how to manage the freshmen in this school," said +Carolyn to Betty on their way from the room. "I wonder if Miss Heath +will be back tomorrow. She looked half sick yesterday and took some +medicine as we went out." + +"Did she? I didn't notice. That is too bad. I wonder if we'll have the +test, then." + +"Oh, of course. That would be the easiest thing for a substitute to give +and she wouldn't miss doing it, I should think. But perhaps," Carolyn +hopefully added, "perhaps Miss Heath couldn't make out the questions." + +"She talked as if she had them already made out," thoughtfully returned +Betty, determined to go over all the vocabulary and the paradigms +hardest for her to remember. "I'm going to put all the time I can on +Latin tonight." + +"I'm not," laughed a boy behind Betty, who had caught her last words. +"We have basketball practice and I'm invited to a good show tonight. Oh +boy!" + +Betty smilingly remarked that he'd better not miss a little study even +if he did know everything, but the lad grinned and shook his head as he +passed her. + +"I don't like Jakey," said Carolyn, as her eyes followed him and the +confused group of boys and girls, passing and repassing in the hall. +"He's smart as can be and gets along in Latin better than I do, but +there's something tricky about him once in awhile and he's so terribly +conceited. He can't stand it when you can answer a question that he has +missed or can't put up his hand for. I know. I've watched him. Did you +see those boys change their seats? _She_ didn't know any better and they +did it for fun I suppose, just to do something." + +"Do you mean during class?" + +"No. Just before class began. Jakey slid into that one just behind you." + +"I didn't notice." + +"_She_ may, if they are in different seats tomorrow." + + -------- + +The zero hour came. Betty looked at the questions on the board. Oh, they +weren't so bad. It was fair. There were the special things that Miss +Heath had emphasized, some of the hardest to get, to be sure, but Betty +had studied hard and she had freshened up on the vocabulary lists and +some of the rules of syntax, for she dreaded the translations, sentences +that Miss Heath would make up, some of them at least. + +Betty's cheeks were hot, but she worked away. Mercy, her fountain pen +had given out. She took a pencil and found its point blunt. Hastily she +traveled to the pencil sharpener and put on it as sharp a point as +possible. Miss Heath did not want them to use pencil for examinations if +it were not necessary; but this wasn't the semester final, when Carolyn +said you _had_ to use ink, they said. But she'd better sharpen two +pencils, perhaps. + +Betty scarcely saw the rest of the scholars as she returned to her desk +for another pencil, so absorbed was she in thoughts of the examination +questions. There was a whisking of something on several desks as she and +some one else passed down parallel aisles at the same time, she to +return, the other to go to the pencil sharpener. As she sat down and +looked off thoughtfully at the board, the teacher was looking in her +direction and two of the boys were chuckling behind her. + +The teacher rapped for order and Betty, turning, caught a glimpse of +Peggy, who was looking daggers at somebody behind Betty. But Betty was +finishing her paper. The time was nearly up. She read over what she had, +put in a long mark over a vowel in one of the declensions, looked for +other omissions or mistakes, and puzzled over her last English to Latin +sentence. She hoped it was right. There went the bell. Betty made ready +her paper. Now it was handed in. Now they were in the hall. The test was +over. What a relief! + +"Did you see what those boys were doing?" asked Peggy, as Betty and +Carolyn caught up with her at the door of the room where they were +entering for another class. + +"No, what was it?" questioned Carolyn, but the teacher just then +beckoned Betty, to give her back a paper that she had failed to return +with the rest given out to the class, and Betty missed Peggy's reply. + +"That was a very good paper, Betty," said her teacher. "I found it with +some sophomore papers where it had gotten by mistake." + +Betty was disappointed to find only an eighty-eight for her grade, but +she knew that anything over eighty was good with Miss Smith. Tests were +popular just now at Lyon High. All too soon would come the semester +finals! + + -------- + +The busy week ended and Monday came again. The same young substitute was +in Miss Heath's place. She was "terribly cross" with the boys, Peggy +said, but she didn't blame her. Four or five of the freshman boys tried +to see how far they could go and went a little too far for their own +good, for when there was some chalk throwing at the blackboard, during +written exercises there, the teacher called several boys by name to take +their seats and see her after class. "If any one else longs to be sent +to detention, he or she may just keep on with the fun as these have +done!" + +There was an immediate cessation of performances, for D. T., as it was +called, was not popular. + +"By the way," the teacher added, "I should like to see after class for a +moment Betty Lee and Peggy Pollard." + +Betty, who was at the board, pausing in her work to listen to the +startling interruptions, was surprised to hear her own name. What could +the teacher want with her? But after a surprised look at the somewhat +grim face of an otherwise attractive young woman, Betty turned again to +the board and finished the verb synopsis on which she was engaged. The +class work went on as usual, with correction and assignments by the +teacher, recitation and occasional question on the part of the class. + +The boys who had been told to stay remained in their seats at the close +of class and Betty, raising her eyebrows at Peggy, gathered up her books +and went to one of the front seats to wait the teacher's pleasure. She +felt in a hurry, for she was due at study hall on this day and it was on +the third floor, quite a climb from the basement floor. + +With eyes demurely on her books, she listened to a brief and sharp +rebuke delivered to the boys, who scurried out of the room as soon as +they were ordered to "detention" that evening, immediately after the +close of school. At "detention" some victim among the teachers, who took +turns at the disagreeable task, was in charge of a room devoted to the +derelicts from duty who had from one cause or another been assigned to +an extra hour in study after their classmates and others had gone. How +long that extra hour! And when there was "doubly D. T." or detention for +several days, alas! + +That Betty was to receive any rebuke was the last thing that she +expected, though she was nervously wondering for what she was asked to +stay. She looked inquiringly, and in Betty's unconsciously sweet way, as +the boys disappeared, and was beckoned to a seat in front of the desk. +"Come also, Peggy Pollard," said the teacher, Miss Masterman. "I believe +this is Peggy, isn't it?" + +"Yes'm, and that's Betty Lee." + +"Peggy, did you exchange papers with any one Thursday?" + +"No'm," replied Peggy, looking surprised. + +"Did you communicate with any one?" + +"No'm." + +"Think a minute. Are you sure that you did not say anything?" + +"No'm-oh, yes, I did say something, but it wasn't anything about the +examination. One of the boys was acting smarty and I told him to stop +it." + +"Just what did you say?" + +"It wasn't very polite," said Peggy, her face very red, but her lips +curving into a smile. "I told him to mind his own affairs and leave me +alone. I was mad for a moment." + +"Are you sure that was all of the communication?" + +"Yes'm, perfectly sure. I was too _busy_!" + +"Very well. You may go, Peggy. That is all." + +The teacher's face was calm and cold as she turned to Betty. Peggy had +flown from the room in relief and Betty heard her unlocking her locker +outside in the hall. She wondered if Peggy would wait. + +"Please wait here a few minutes, Betty Lee," said Miss Masterman. Betty, +wondering, waited. She didn't like the way the teacher looked at her. +What _could_ she have done to offend her. It couldn't be anything like +what Peggy was kept for. Why, she'd been "busy," too, and had scarcely +noticed anything except the questions and her paper. Besides, this +teacher hadn't walked around like Miss Heath, to go to the rear +sometimes and know just what everybody was doing. She hadn't seemed to +be a bit suspicious that day. Miss Masterman now left the room. + +In the next room her voice was to be heard. Why, she was telephoning-the +office, Betty supposed. Mer_cee_! what in the world was the matter? +Betty's hands were cold. She grew more scared every minute. Perhaps +something was wrong at home and Miss Masterman had gotten word. No, she +had looked at her as if she had done something. Perhaps she'd have to go +to detention, if not tonight, then tomorrow! + +Betty unpiled her books and piled them up again. She would leave all but +her algebra in her locker tonight. There! Miss Masterman was coming +back. She walked to her desk, took up a book, looked at it, put it down, +gathered up some papers and put them inside the desk, went after her +wraps and laid them across one of the desks. She was almost as uneasy as +Betty felt. Probably she wanted to get home, though it was still the +last period. + +At last she said, "I suppose you are anxious to know why I am keeping +you. You are to go to the office of the assistant principal and he is +busy with some other pupils still. He or someone will telephone me when +he is ready for you. He seems to have a good deal of business tonight." +Miss Masterman smiled disagreeably. "It is in connection with cheating +at examination that he wants to see you," and Miss Masterman looked +keenly at Betty as she made this statement quickly in a sharp tone. + +Betty gasped. "Why, Miss Masterman! I don't know anything about any +cheating in the examination!" + +"So?" coolly replied Miss Masterman. "Tell that to the assistant +principal, then." + +"Do-do you mean that you think I _cheated_?" vigorously asked Betty. + +"I think that very thing." + +"Then you are mistaken, Miss Masterman," said Betty, firmly and with +some dignity. "I hope to be able to prove it." + +The telephone bell rang just then and Miss Masterman answered it, +saying, "at last," as she crossed to the room. + +Betty, too, thought "at last." She was trembling from head to foot; but +a little anger at the injustice of the charge sustained her and she +remembered the kind face of the assistant principal. He had some +children. Maybe he would listen to her. But what could she say, only +tell him that she did not cheat. How did they think she could? Miss +Heath would have called the assistant principal by his name in speaking +of him-oh, if only Miss Heath had been there at that examination! + + + + +CHAPTER XIV: SENT TO THE PRINCIPAL + + +Betty went to her locker, put away all her books and took out her wraps. +She would _never_ come back if they thought she cheated! As in a dream +she mounted the stairs and rounded the hall toward the office of the +assistant principal. Several pupils were about the central hall, some of +them leaving the office toward which she was making her way. Jakey +Bechstein was slapping a cap upon his quite good-looking head and +starting for the big outer doors with two companions. His big dark eyes +were upon the nearest boy and he did not see Betty, though he closely +passed her. + +"What did he say to you, Jakey?" the boys was asking. It was one of the +other freshman boys. + +"'Lo, Betty, going home?" asked a girl behind her. Betty turned and +waved pleasantly to the girl, whom she knew slightly. "Not now, +Adelaide-sorry. I have to stop at the office a minute." + +"Been into mischief, I suppose," laughed Adelaide. + +"Of course," returned Betty, knowing that Adelaide was only in fun. But +alas, it was only too true that something was wrong. + +As Betty entered the office a boy was just leaving the desk, going out +with tense mouth and a frown. But the assistant principal looked up in a +friendly way at Betty, whose face showed plainly her troubled mind. + +"Sit down, Betty. This is Betty Lee, I suppose." Mr. Franklin, who as +assistant principal usually saw all the offenders in school discipline +before his chief, now came from behind his desk and drew up a chair not +far from Betty's. He looked tired as he stretched out a pair of long +legs, crossed his feet and leaned back, one hand reaching the desk, the +other dropped in his lap. Here was only an innocent-looking child, whom +he did not recall meeting. + +"Yes, sir; I am Betty Lee. Miss Masterman told me that I was to come +here." + +"M-m. Tell you why you were to come?" + +"She said that she thought I-I cheated in examination." + +The tears which Betty thought she would be able to keep back sprang +quickly to her eyes, but she set her lips, wiped her eyes hastily, and +continued. "But I did not cheat and I did not see it if the whole room +cheated. I tried to make a good paper for Miss Heath!" + +"You like Miss Heath, do you?" + +"Oh, yes sir! If she had only-" Betty stopped, for she would not imply +anything against the substitute. + +"Sometimes it is a temptation to try to do well for some one." Mr. +Franklin was looking at her kindly, but soberly. + +"I've been taught that it is wrong to cheat, sir; and I don't believe it +pays in the long run. Father says that the teacher usually finds out +what you know or don't know." + +"Usually, but not always when there are so many. Tell me about it, +Betty." + +"But there isn't anything to tell! I can't think why anybody _thinks_ I +cheated. I worked hard on the review and went over the things I was +weakest on, I thought, and ran over the vocabulary we've had, the night +before. But I'm pretty good on vocabulary." + +"Girls sometimes are," joked Mr. Franklin, at which Betty took heart. + +"Won't you tell me what happened, Mr. Franklin, to make her think I +cheated?" + +"Not yet. Near whom did you sit, Betty?" + +"Why, Dora Jenkins sits in front of me; and on the aisle next, to the +right, Mickey Carlin is across from Dora and Sim, James Simmonds, I +mean, sits across from me and on the other aisle, across from me, +there's Sally Wright, a colored girl, and Peggy Pollard back of her. The +alphabet is all mixed up in this class." + +"Who is back of you?" + +"Andy-oh, no, Mr. Franklin, it was all different that day. I remember +the boys changed-but I shouldn't tell you!" + +"Go on. One of the boys told me that they changed seats for fun on the +day you had a substitute and it was not an exactly criminal act, though +I don't stand for it. Then they didn't change back?" + +"I suppose they thought they'd better not since she had seen them there, +though I imagine Miss Heath's roll is made out that way." + +"Never mind. Haven't you the least remembrance who sat behind you or to +the side back?" + +"Seems to me it was Jakey Bechstein behind me and the boys seemed to be +all mixed up around there. But I wasn't thinking about it." + +"Did you leave your seat at any time?" + +Betty thought. "Yes sir. I have an extra fountain pen and I thought I'd +better fill it when I was partly through. But the ink at the desk was +out. Then the ink in my pen that I was using gave out and I went up, +twice, to sharpen pencils, thinking that I would need sharp points to +make it legible enough for Miss Heath. She is always talking about our +making our test papers especially legible." + +Mr. Franklin smiled. "Sensible woman. Well, Betty, I will tell you that +there are three papers almost exactly alike and one of them is yours. Do +you suspect any one of copying from you?" + +"No, sir. If Jakey was where he could do it, he would never have to +because he is as smart as any one in the class and almost never doesn't +have his lesson." + +"In other words, he almost always does," smiled Mr. Franklin. "I am +afraid we can not go by the usual order of seats, but I am finding out +where the persons involved sat. You will admit that where papers are so +alike there is room for suspicion." + +"Yes, sir. Is Miss Masterson correcting, or will Miss Heath do it?" + +"Miss Masterson has read the papers carefully and discovered the +similarity. Miss Heath will be back tomorrow. Every one has denied +copying." + +Betty looked at Mr. Franklin and shook her head soberly. "Of course," +she said, "and I'm only one of them, I suppose. Well, Mr. Franklin, I'm +not going to stay in school if any one thinks I'm that kind of a girl!" + +"Do you think that you would be allowed to drop out, Betty? Think this +over tonight and come to see me tomorrow at the same time. I may have +more light on it-and you may think of something to tell me." + +Betty flushed at this. He meant if she had some confession to make! But +Mr. Franklin was rising. She was dismissed, she saw. "I will come," she +said and went out, out of the main doors, too, down the steps, on to +catch a street car home. + +All the way Betty sat almost unconscious of the other people on the car, +for at the first glance she saw no one whom she knew. From the first the +incidents of the last few hours and those of the examination went +through her mind. She tried to gather up a few fleeting impressions. +Yes, it was Jakey who sat behind her, though it was unusual to see him +there. That was why she could recall it, she supposed. He had grinned at +her as she came back from the pencil sharpener. And there had been some +whisking of something somewhere, just before Peggy had been seen to +glare at one of the boys. That was probably what he was doing, taking +something from her desk or teasing her in some way. My, it was a puzzle. +But it was simply terrible to be under suspicion. Could it really be +Betty Lee that was going through this? And the old nursery rhyme ran +through her head: + + "But when the old woman got home in the dark, + Up jumped the little dog and he began to bark! + He began to bark + And she began to cry, + 'Goodness, mercy on me, this is none of I!'" + +When she reached home she tried to say this to her dear mother, who was +sitting by the window mending an almost hopeless stocking of Amy Lou's. +But when she got to the "this is none of I," her lips quivered and she +ran to bury her head in the comfortable lap and sob out the story as +soon as she could control herself sufficiently. Here was some one who +would take her word! + +"Dear child, dear child!" soothingly said her mother. "Don't take it too +seriously. I know how hard it is when a young person cannot justify +herself to schoolmates or friends, but surely you have already made a +good impression on your teachers. Don't you think that when Miss Heath +comes back tomorrow she will handle the matter? You said that the +assistant principal is well liked and that the pupils think him fair. I +think that they will probe the matter a little farther." + +"But what more can they _do_?" asked Betty from the floor, her head +against her mother's knee. "There are those three papers just alike!" + +"And you wrote yours out of your own head. Stick to that. Besides, your +father and I believe in you. Haven't we seen your lips moving in all the +declensions and conjugations so far, while you committed them, and +haven't I asked you more than once the Latin or English words of your +vocabularies?" + +"You have, sweetest mother that there is!" Betty drew a long sigh. +"Anyhow it doesn't do any good to weep and wail, does it? I believe I'll +call up Peggy and see what she knows and tell her my tale of woe. I +didn't tell you that she had to stay after school, too, and got asked +questions." + +"Are you sure that you'd better, child?" + +"Call Peggy? oh, yes, Mother. Peggy would be sure to ask me tomorrow +morning what Miss Masterson said. I'll bet she's aching to call me up +right now!" + +Mrs. Lee's face grew serious as soon as Betty left her to call up her +friend. She was more disturbed by Betty's news than she would have +admitted to the child herself. Betty was so comparatively new to the +school with no background of long acquaintance as in the old school. She +had more than half a mind to go to school with her tomorrow. But she +thought better of that. Let them work it out first. If necessary, she or +Betty's father would go to see the principal. + +Betty was laughing now over something funny exchanged between the girls. +"But it's really very serious," she heard Betty say next. "I dread to go +to school tomorrow. Tell me ev'rything that you can remember about that +examination. You wouldn't mind telling the principal what you just told +me, would you?" + +The answer must have been satisfactory, for Betty chuckled. The subject +must have changed then, for Betty made some remark not connected with +this recent affair and shortly the telephone conversation closed. + + + + +CHAPTER XV: DETECTIVE WORK + + +In the good, steadfast atmosphere of a sensible home, whose heads were +not easily stampeded, Betty felt better. Father was told quietly by +Mother. But Betty's sleep was troubled that night and it was with many +an inward qualm that she started to school the next morning. She +intended to go on through the day, as her mother advised her, with as +much quiet dignity as she could command, discussing the matter with no +one. + +Peggy, however, referred to the conversation of the day before when she +met her by her locker, next to Betty's. "The boys _were_ up to +something, as I told you. It wasn't Jakey but the boy behind him, Sam, +that I was glaring at, as you said. He tried to snatch a piece of paper +off my desk, a blank sheet, it was, and I thought the boys were doing +that just to be smart, taking things off the girls' desks and seeing +what they could do without being caught. I mean that bunch of boys, you +know, not Mickey or Andy. So maybe somebody got hold of part of your +paper." + +"The wind from that open window blew some paper off my desk once," mused +Betty. "I believe it must have been Jakey that handed it to me, but I +didn't think it was part of my paper that was written on. I stuck it +under the rest. I did write out my translations on an extra paper first, +for I didn't want to make any erasures and have a messy paper. But Jakey +knows as much as I do. It certainly wasn't Jakey whose paper was like +mine." + +"Time will tell," said Peggy. "Don't worry too much, Betty. Whatever +happens, your friends among us girls will believe what you say." + +"Thanks, Peggy. You're a comfort. Please don't say anything to Carolyn +yet." + +"She might know something." + +"How could she?" + +"I don't know. But at least I can tell her how I was questioned, and +everybody knew that you had to stay after school, so how can you help +telling her?" + +"I'll tell her that I was questioned, too." + +Betty however, had started to school as late as she dared. In +consequence lessons and the day's program were upon them. At lunch she +remained in the room until after Carolyn and the rest of those going up +to lunch had gone, and pretended to be detained by some notes she was +writing. Perhaps it was not a pretense either, she thought, for she +needed the notes. But she would not have taken them then if she had not +wanted to avoid being with the rest of the girls. A few who were not +going to lunch were nibbling crackers or chocolate bars and stirring +about the room a little. The colored girl in her Latin class was there +and Betty wondered if she had enough money for the lunch, little as some +of it cost. + +Sure enough, there were some chocolate bars and an apple in her locker! +She had the chocolate bars in her sweater pocket and the apple had been +presented to her in the hall by no less a friend than Budd LeRoy. She, +too, would miss lunch and divide with Sally. Quickly she ran out to her +locker, rifled the pocket of her sweater, discarded since the early cold +morning, and brought her apple and her pocket knife. + +"Have a bar with me, Sally," she said, "if you are not going to lunch +either, and I'll cut this apple in two." + +"Why-thanks, Betty. That looks good. No, I thought I wouldn't go to +lunch today. But you'd better keep all of your apple." + +"It's too big and it looks awfully juicy," added Betty as she cut the +apple in halves. "With my compliments, Miss Sally," and Betty assumed +quite an air as she handed the fruit to Sally, who laughed and thanked +Betty again. + +"Have you always lived in this city?" asked Betty for something to say, +as Sally sat down in her own seat which was opposite Betty's, by chance, +just as in the Latin class. + +In the soft voice and accent peculiar to her race at its best, Sally +answered this question and asked Betty how she liked this and that +teacher, Miss Heath among others. Miss Heath had not met her class that +morning, to Betty's deep disappointment. + +"I saw Miss Heath come in the uppah hall," said Sally, "jus' befo' the +last class. She hurried into the office and I suppose she couldn't get +here this mawnin.'" + +"Oh, is she here?" asked Betty brightening. + +"Yes. Say, Betty, did you see Jakey Bechstein take some of your papers +off your desk at the test?" + +"No; did he?" + +"Yes, while you were sharpening your pencils. The boys were having fun +behind Miss Masterson's back when she was pulling down one window and +putting up another for ventilation, though she didn't know I suppose +that they're not supposed to do that with the system they've got here. +They were pretendin' to look at each other's papers and grab a few off +the desks and Jakey grabbed yours. But he kept them a while, and I saw +him sneak them back just before you started for your seat." + +"I didn't notice. But Jakey knows as much about Latin as I do. What +would be the point?" + +"Keeping you from getting ahead of him," said Sally, taking a large bite +of the apple and being obliged to catch some of the juice in her +handkerchief. "Jakey's not studying so much, I reckon, since he started +basketball." + +Betty listened soberly and remembered the remark Jakey had made about +not studying for the test. _Could_ it be that he had copied anything +from her paper? + +It was worth while staying from lunch and sharing with Sally to hear +this. Yet could she use the information to help herself out? + +"If anything should come up about Jakey, Sally, or anybody, would you be +willing to tell Miss Heath what you saw?" + +"I sure would. I guess the teacher kept you and Peggy about something +like that yesterday, didn't she? I saw her look at Peggy when I heard +Peggy snap off the kid that snatched at her paper." + +"Miss Masterson did ask some questions, Sally." + +Betty was deep in her lesson for the next hour when the girls came back +from lunch. "Where _were_ you, Betty?" asked Carolyn. + +"Oh, I just decided that I didn't want to go up, and I happened to have +some chocolate bars and an apple. I'll fill up when I get home after +school." + +"I always do, and eat lunch, too," said Peggy. "Miss Heath was upstairs +for lunch. I saw her go into the teachers' lunch room. It was funny for +her to come in the middle of the day, wasn't it?" + +The girls wondered, but Miss Heath, though not feeling equal to a day of +teaching, had come over for something else, as she had an idea which she +wanted to share with the assistant principal. When Betty depressed, went +into the office of the assistant principal after school, Miss Heath was +there and looked like a fountain in the desert, or the sun shining +through clouds, to Betty. + +"Good afternoon, Betty," she said pleasantly, though with dignity. "I +came over to see about the little matter of the test. As soon as your +principal is at liberty, I want to go over the questions with you." + +This was surprising-did she mean the real _principal_? Evidently not, +for when Mr. Franklin came into the office, stopped on the way by +several people, both teachers and pupils, she drew out a paper. "I am +ready to go over the questions with Betty, Mr. Franklin," she said. + +"Very well," said he, closing the door. + +"Do you remember the questions, pretty well, Betty?" asked Miss Heath. + +"I would know them if I saw them." + +"Have you looked up anything you did not know?" + +"Yes-I wasn't sure about several things that I wrote down; but I have +forgotten what they were now." + +"Perhaps you will recall them as I go through the questions. I have your +paper here," and Miss Heath took out what Betty recognized as her own +paper. + +What was the point of doing all this! Betty felt confused, but she would +answer all the questions if that would help establish her innocence of +the cheating. + +One by one the examination questions, or directions in regard to what +was desired, were read. Betty replied slowly, saying in several places, +"I didn't put that all down on my paper, I think, Miss Heath. I thought +afterward that I had omitted it, though I went all over it so +carefully." + +Later, when they came to the translation, she said, "I couldn't think of +the name of that Dative, so I just put Indirect Object, because you said +that in a way all Datives were indirect objects. But I looked it up and +I could tell you now." + +"Take a piece of paper, Betty, and write again the English to Latin +sentences." + +Mr. Franklin indicated by a nod some paper on his desk. Betty took the +list of questions, thought a moment and wrote, slowly. "I always Have to +take plenty of time on the English to Latin," she said, "and there is +one that I wrote two ways, but I wasn't sure that either were right. +It's the one that has the accusative of place to which in it." + +Miss Heath nodded and her eyes twinkled. Whatever idea she had was +turning out successfully, it seemed. But Betty was very busy with the +sentences. She handed over the paper saying "It did not take so long, +because I'd thought it out before." + +"I see. Betty, why did you use _appello_ instead of _voco_ here?" + +"Because it is calling in the sense of naming, as you told us in such +sentences." + +"Good. Why did you use the Ablative in the second sentence?" + +"Because it specifies that in respect to which"-Betty got no farther +because Miss Heath interrupted her. + +"That is enough, Betty. Mr. Franklin, I'm satisfied, are you? The other +person did not know, and the third youngster plainly copied the whole +thing from him." + +Mr. Franklin nodded assent. "Betty," he said, "you are cleared from all +suspicion of copying and cheating. We know which ones of these papers +were copied. You may thank Miss Heath for her little scheme to find out. +We have already met with the others, but we can not tell you their +names." + +"Oh, I don't want to know!" exclaimed Betty. "Thank you so much!" + +It was another Betty that ran down the steps, to find both Peggy and +Carolyn waiting for her. Her face must have told them the story. "O, +Betty! Is is all right?" eagerly asked Carolyn. "Peggy told me, when I +asked her why she was waiting for you. Oh, you should have told me and +let me worry with you! Was that why you wouldn't come up to lunch?" + +"Yes." + +"Please tell us how they found out that you didn't--" Carolyn would not +finish. + +"Well, you saw Miss Heath, that darling woman! She came over on purpose +to see all about it and she had the scheme to bring the questions and +find out how much each of us really knew about things. I really don't +see how she told, but it must be that whoever copied couldn't give good +reasons for what he would have missed on or something. She's a regular +Sherlock Holmes!" + +"And now, if you'll never tell a soul, I'll tell you what Sally Wright +told me during lunch. I learned a lot by staying down and giving Sally +an old chocolate bar!" + +The girls promised, and the three, Betty in the middle, walked slowly +toward the street, heads together, arms about each other. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI: SOME FRESHMAN CONCLUSIONS + + +What had happened between the teachers and the pupils who had cheated in +the test was, naturally, not known, except that every one knew the +penalty of losing a grade. The boys that had changed seats and generally +"acted up" during the presence of the substitute were well rebuked and +had to endure some penalty, the girls understood; but only those who had +behaved ever mentioned the occurrence. The guilty carried it off with +bland ignorance or nonchalance and pretended not to understand any jokes +at their expense. Jakey Bechstein was out of school for several days, +but came back as lively as ever and making good recitations. His +basketball team lacked his presence. + +At Betty Jakey never looked, but as she had never known him very well +and as he did not ordinarily sit near her in any of her classes, she +scarcely noticed that he avoided her till Peggy called her attention to +it. + +But the year went on and Betty had many more interesting things to take +up her mind. The semester examinations were a nightmare, Carolyn +claimed, but they managed to live through them, as they usually do. Miss +Heath was particularly fond of Betty, she told her mother when Mrs. Lee, +without Amy Lou, came to visit Betty's classes one day. "Betty is a very +charming little girl, Mrs. Lee, and very bright. She is a friend of some +of our best freshman girls, too, as I imagine you'd like to know. It is +rather important, you know, what sort of friends the children like." + +The winter passed. Betty for the most part worked at her lessons, with +pleasant Saturday afternoons, sometimes with the girls, sometimes on +expeditions with the family. Her father was greatly absorbed in business +affairs, but as spring approached he often drove his family to find the +first spring flowers at some spot outside of the city, or to observe the +coming of bud and blossom. + +On one warm April day, rather in advance of the season, they thought, +Mr. Lee and Betty were alone and the machine was parked by the roadside +near a little stream where some violets were growing. As the ground was +dry upon the sloping bank, Betty sat down with her bunch of violets in +her hand and her father decided to join her. "What do you think of this +place, Betty? You'd hardly expect it so near the city, would you?" + +"No, but there are lots of places in this town that are what you might +call unexpected, because there are the hills and ravines, you know." + +"Yes, that is so." + +"Father," Betty spoke again after a pause during which she picked a +flower within reach. "Father, don't you think that a girl ought to take +advantage of her opportunities?" + +"Seems to me I've heard something like that, Betty." + +"Well, I'm serious, Father." + +"To just what advantages do you refer?" + +"I'm thinking about school, you know, and it does seem as if there are +so many things to do in these high school years, especially here in the +city, that you'll never have a chance to do again!" + +"Things that you are not doing now, you mean?" + +"Yes, Father. Unless you see it, you can't realize what lovely things go +on at school and you can't help wanting to be in them!" + +"What, for instance?" + +"Well, there's the music for one thing. If you get your lessons, you +haven't so much time for other things, but to be trained right here, +where there's a Symphony Orchestra and everybody knowing the best music +and singing and playing it-it doesn't seem right not to do it if you +have any music in you at all. Ted Dorrance was talking about it the +other day. He's a junior this year, you know. He was with some of the +girls and boys in a bunch of us, talking after school. + +"I imagine that Ted gets his lessons, for he's smart looking. I heard +him talking to a boy the very first day I was in school, standing in +line to sign up. He said he didn't know what he was going to do, not +much athletics only 'swimming, of course.' You ought to see Ted swim at +a swimming meet. And dive! He can turn a somersault backwards and +everything. + +"He said that his mother wanted him to be in the orchestra and sure +enough he is. Father, he plays the violin and he's the very first violin +in the orchestra, the one that does little solo parts sometimes, or +whatever they do." + +"And do you want to be in the orchestra, too?" + +"Mer_cee_, no! What would I play? But I'd like to go on with my piano +lessons, and at the Conservatory, too, and then I'd like to be in the +Glee Club. Carolyn says she's going to try to be in it next year. But +you see all the practice takes a lot of time." + +"I see. Anything else, little daughter?" + +Betty laughed. Father was so nice to talk to. "Yes, a lot of things, but +I like the athletics, gym, you know, and swimming. I think maybe I'll +get honors in swimming. Some of the girls are more than half afraid of +the water, but I feel-I feel just like a fish!" + +It was Mr. Lee's turn to laugh. "I used to feel that way, too, Betty, +and I had a lake to swim in from the time I was knee-high to a duck." + +"Then I suppose I inherit it from you," Betty declared. "I'm much, +obliged for the trick of it! But that's another thing, Father. If you do +a thing, you like to do it well and I suppose it's Louise Madison, who +is president of the G. A. A., that has made me so crazy about athletics. +Why, they even have riding horseback, beside tennis and everything you +can think of." + +"And everything you can't think of, I suppose." + +"Aren't you funny-who'd ever say that but you?" + +"Have you thought out, Betty, just what you'd like to take up?" + +"No, Father, not exactly. I'm just-ruminating, and trying to think it +out." + +"Then I'm glad you are willing to do it with me, Betty. Perhaps we can +come to some conclusion." + +"Perhaps. I'm sure I need help. It's just this way. I hate to miss it +all, but I can never get my lessons and do too much. Would you care +awfully, Father, if I didn't stand at the head of my class? I did at +home, I mean where we did live, but I don't believe a body ever could +even _know_ who is the head in the big high schools. I guess it's only +in some line or other that they get prizes and things. + +"And then, Father, I believe that it's better not to be so-keyed up, as +Mother says, and wanting to beat." + +"The habit of success is a good thing, Betty." + +Betty pondered a moment. "I see what you mean. It's only too easy to let +down." + +"Yes, and when one studies a subject there is more satisfaction in +really covering the ground, being accurate, I mean, not just having a +sort of hazy idea." + +"Father, there's too much! You just can't get it all." + +"You have done pretty well so far, my child. I am satisfied with your +grades. Isn't there always an honor roll?" + +"Yes, and I'm on it, so far." + +"Then that is enough. You need not try to beat anybody. Wasn't that the +trouble with your friend that copied your answers?" + +"Yes. I wouldn't do that, of course, but there is a sort of nervousness +about reciting well and making an impression on the teacher, whether you +have your lesson or haven't had a chance to get it real well. And +sometimes you recite when you don't know much." + +"I see. It is a problem, Betty. I see nothing for it but to make a good +general plan, not including too much, then work it out every day the +best you can. But it's the little decisions every day that count in +anything. I have it in business too. And I wouldn't let down altogether +in the ideals of hard work and getting lessons. It's chiefly in putting +your mind on it when you are working, isn't it?" + +"A good deal." + +"You would really like to be in that orchestra, wouldn't you, Betty?" + +Betty looked up at the smiling face of her father, who wasn't so very +old, after all. He had a fellow feeling! + +"Didn't you take a few violin lessons once?" + +"Yes, when that college girl taught a class for a while, but I can't +_play_, Father. They wouldn't _look_ at me for the orchestra!" + +"Probably not now; but if you took more lessons, and of a proper teacher +this summer-how about it?" + +"I might," said Betty, dropping her flowers in her lap to clap her +hands. "Would you _let_ me?" + +"Would you like it as much as that?" + +"I'd love it!" + +"Then we shall see about it at once. I'm going to send your Mother and +Amy Lou to your grandmother's this summer, but not all of you could go +there. Dick and Doris might take turns. And how would you like to keep +house for me, practice violin, and get taken on rides to give you an +occasional breath of the country?" + +"That would be great. I'm not a good housekeeper, though." + +"We'll never tell anybody how we keep house, Betty, and I'll be 'boss.' +We'll drive over to the Conservatory, Saturday, sign you up for violin +with somebody-come on child. Gather up your flowers. We must go home." + +Mr. Lee sprang to his feet, gave a hand to Betty, who did not need it, +but accepted it. + +"But _Father_, I don't know how good the old violin is and the bow is +terrible. It never did do what it ought to! How _can_ I begin?" + +"The trouble with the 'old violin' is not that it is 'old,' Betty," +laughed Mr. Lee, as Betty ran after him on his way to the car. "It +simply isn't much good at all. You shall have a better one. You used to +play some sweet little tunes. Here's for a Stradivarius or 'whatever it +is,' as you say. And you shall see how I keep you at hard work this +summer! We'll have some of the school extras or perish in the attempt." + +Betty chuckled as she climbed into the car. "All right, my dear Daddy. +The neighbors will hate me, but _I'll practice_, and it can't be any +worse than that horn across the street. How did you read my mind and +know that I'd rather be in an orchestra than take piano lessons?" + +"It was just instinct, Betty," replied Mr. Lee, as he started the car, +"with perhaps a few deductions and putting two and two together." + +"Really, Father, can you afford to get me a good violin and let me take +lessons?" + +"Yes. It is necessary to do things _when_ they ought to be done, and we +shall do this. But I'm counting on my girl to make good." + +"Oh, I will try! But you know me!" + +"I'm not expecting too much, Betty, only the same effort that you always +make in everything. I shall watch to keep you well and safe. Perhaps the +athletics that you like so much will help to keep you well. But don't +get reckless in 'gym.' We'll see about the riding some other year, +perhaps." + + + + +CHAPTER XVII: SPRING AT LYON HIGH + + +If the autumn, with its excitement of football and the starting of +school activities, was thrilling to Betty Lee, what should be said of +the springtime, with those same activities matured and new interests of +the season? It was baseball among the boys now. Seniors were thinking of +their graduation. Freshmen had nearly completed their first year of high +school and had changed by contact with the older classes and with their +own new ambitions. + +Betty could not keep up with it all, nor attend all of the +entertainments offered by the different organizations. In some of them +she had a part, as when the Girl Reserves did something special with a +good program, or when the swimming contests took place, for then not +alone the best swimmers took part, but those of modest attainments. In +this Betty had occasion to take a little pride in winning points. + +Her mother accompanied her to attend the great musical affair of the +year, when all the musical organizations, orchestra and glee clubs, +combined to show their parents what they could do. Mrs. Lee exclaimed +over the ability of the orchestra and Betty explained. "In the first +place, Mother, they have a wonderful leader. He's a foreigner and hasn't +much patience with anybody, Ted says, but it isn't a bad thing for the +way things turn out, you see. Then the boys and girls are used to +hearing good music." + +"They hear some very terrible jazz, too," remarked Mrs. Lee. + +"I'll have to admit it," laughed Betty, "but not in school, except, +perhaps, at the minstrel show they had. I wasn't there, so I can't +state." + +The school grounds were more attractive than in the fall. The garden +club worked under the direction of the botany teacher. First came the +forsythia, in welcome yellow delicacy all over the city, and here and +there about the grounds. Then other flowers came on, with magnolia and +Japanese cherry trees in blossom, and in their time gay tulips, and +purple iris lining some of the walks. With the windows of class rooms, +study halls and library open, the pupils and teachers could hear the +songs of birds, more free than they were, to be sure, but with their +daily bread and nesting entailing much hunting and work on the part of +the little creatures. Betty never failed to visit a part of the grounds +devoted to wild flowers, including May-apples and jack-in-the-pulpit. + +She was occasionally out at the Gwynne place, when Carolyn carried her +off in a car which sometimes came for her, or accompanied her as far as +the street car went, to take the rest of the way in a strolling hike, +enlivened with much discourse, after the manner of girls. They saw very +little of the boys, by the way, for baseball and other active, outdoor +affairs engaged their attention; but the girls, with so many of their +own, did not notice it. Of these girl activities, Color Day, the annual +track meet of the girls was of importance. + +This was held on the last of April in the stadium and the competition +was between classes. The freshmen girls were quite excited over it, for +they had some very athletic girls in their various teams this year, and +while they did not expect to win the meet they expected to make a good +showing. Both Betty and Carolyn were in this, though Betty was not +allowed to do competitive running. But there was the throwing, baseball +and hurl-ball, and some other events. Numbers told for your class, it +seemed. And when it finally came off it was great fun, Betty reported. + +"You ought to have been there, Mother!" she cried when she came home. +"You simply _must_ come more next year. We'll get somebody to stay with +Amy Lou, though she would think anything like this just wonderful, +wouldn't you, Amy Lou?" + +"Yes, Betty. Why can't I go?" + +"You can next time. You ought to have seen the girls run and jump over +the hurdles and everything! We had a tug of war and the freshmen won +that. Then one of our freshman girls made a brand-new record in the +sixty-yard hurdles. I've forgotten just what it was, but it beat last +year's record just a little bit. + +"I didn't do so badly in the throwing, Mother, but I didn't take first +place by any means; and the relay in overhead basketball was great!" + +"It seems to me that you make work of your playing, Betty." + +"Yes, I suppose we do. But isn't it better to have athletics watched +over and amounting to something?" + +"I suppose it is, unless you push it too far for your health." + +"Well, I suppose it does hurt some of the boys and girls once in a +while, when they get reckless and try more than they ought to do; but +they are all examined, you know, and they have rules. The seniors beat, +by the way, so I suppose they're satisfied. It would be hard to be +beaten when it was your last year. And, Mother, may I go to the G. A. A. +banquet with Carolyn? And, won't you think twice about going yourself? +Carolyn says that her mother is going and wants to entertain you and me. +I suppose we couldn't get Father there, could we?" + +"Oh, no, Betty. He is too busy to take time now for a girls' affair. +Perhaps I can go another year, but not now." + +"Mrs. Gwynne was going to call you up, or come to see you if she could." + +"That will be very kind," said Mrs. Lee. "You may go, Betty, but I think +that you'd better pay for your own ticket. We shall see what seems +polite to do." + +"You see, Mother, honors are distributed that night and we find out who +the honor girl is and get whatever we do get for our points." + +This was one of the last events before the "finals" and Commencement. +Betty, in her "partiest frock," came home full of enthusiasm to report +that the mystery was a mystery no longer and that Louise Madison "got +the honor ring." That was the crowning honor and the last thing given. + +For the "first time in history" the freshmen received the baseball +chevrons. Betty declared that she wasn't ashamed of being a freshman, +but oh, to think that her first year was nearly over! The banquet was +simply great, everything so good; and then after it came the speeches +and the presenting of awards, while the girls that had done things were +"all excited inside," and the seniors, of course, all wondering which of +them would get the great honor. + +"I've decided that I'm going to ride in order to get one of those ducky +pins, a silver pin with a tiny black horse and rider, a girl, too, +jumping over a bar!" + +"Now, isn't that just like a girl!" exclaimed Dick, who was listening +while some of this was being told at the breakfast table. + +"It ought to take a very strong motive, Dicky," mischievously replied +his sister, "to induce one to make an art of riding! Still, I can stick +on a horse out at Grandma's, can't I?" + +"Yes-and how?" asked Dick scornfully. + +Examination week to some seemed long, indeed, with the longer time +allowed for the real tests that had so much to do with passing for those +who were obliged to take them. Fortunately, Betty had none to take, but +it seemed odd, indeed, to wait for grades during examination time and +the time given the teachers to correct the important papers. The weather +was hot, but it was a good opportunity for last visits or picnics. + +Peggy Pollard had one of these at her home, a pretty place in the same +suburb which boasted the Gwynne place, but Peggy's home was closer in +toward town and not so large as that of the Gwynnes. The house was a +simple building, modern, set back among a few handsome trees in a large +lot. There was a pool on whose circular cement wall, Betty, Peggy and +their friends sat like so many mermaids one hot afternoon. Bathing suits +were the appropriate costume for this picnic, Peggy had said. In +consequence, the girls came in simple frocks, as cool as they could +muster, and brought their bathing suits, caps, slippers and all. + +The pool was retired, among the trees and thick bushes where it was cool +with shadows, and it was well known and favored among Peggy's friends. +Betty's eyes opened wide when she saw it. Good friends as they had been, +this was the first time that Peggy had entertained her. + +"How did you happen to have such a _big_ one, Peggy?" one of the girls +asked, voicing Betty's thought. + +"Why, there were so many boys and they wanted it big enough for real +diving and swimming a bit; so, as they made it themselves, they had it +that way. This is fresh water, girls, just put in it. Betty, you haven't +been here before, though I've tried to find a good chance to have folks +before this. Mother's been in the hospital, as I guess I told you. + +"Why, Betty, I'm the last chick of a big family, or almost the last +chick. Jack is in the University still, my big brother, but the rest are +all married or away, six brothers-what do you think of that?" + +"How nice! Any sisters? but you practically told me you hadn't any. And +here I've known you all year and never knew a word about your family." + +"Life is like that, Betty," laughed Peggy. "I guess we never told each +other our life history. I know your family because I've been at your +house and I saw them." + +"I've known Peggy all my life," said Mary Emma, "and I never knew she +had _six_ brothers. Are you _sure_, Peggy?" Mary Emma was grinning as +she touched the water with her toes. Then she slipped into it and lay +back, floating a little. + +It was the signal for a general descent into the pool whose waters, +cooler than the air, were so refreshing. Nobody seemed to care about +diving, but they swam a little, had mild races which, no one cared much +about beating, and sat on the steps that led down into the water or +perched again on the upper rim of cement. "What makes us so doleful?" +lazily asked Carolyn. + +"Oh, it's the weather, and school's being 'most out," returned Kathryn +Allen, who looked like a little red gypsy in her scarlet bathing suit +and cap. "I feel just like splashing around and doing nothing unless to +keep from being drowned." + +"I have enough energy for that," said Betty, swimming off. + +"What do you suppose we'll be doing this time next year?" asked Carolyn. + +"My, you're looking ahead, Carolyn! By that time we'll be through being +sophomores, or almost." + +Betty curved around and drew herself up on the steps where Carolyn and +Kathryn were. "I've decided, to do something different every year," she +said. "I can't do it _all_ all the time, you see. I'll keep up swimming, +and some music, and then one year I'll take riding, and another year +something else-I _think_ I will, anyhow." + +"What are you going to do this summer, Betty?" Carolyn asked. "We're +going away for July and August, I think I told you." + +"Yes. I heard you speak of it. It will be wonderful to be on the ocean +beach, Carolyn. But we're going to have Mother go to my grandmother's on +a big farm, where they have tenants to do the work, mostly. It will be +good for Amy Lou, whose been 'peaked' lately, since it grew so warm. +Dick and Doris are to take turns going, I think, and I'm to keep house +for Father. But that will mean lots of picnics and little trips out +places for our dinner and then something is to happen for me, he said, +when Mother comes back. But they won't tell me what it is. So I have a +nice mystery to look forward to, or try to discover." + +"Do you mean that either your brother or sister will stay with you?" + +"I think they're going to try that, though they are twins and like to be +at least in the same town. But no telling. In our family we try +experiments and if they don't work we do something else. Nobody carries +out anything just for meanness, or because they said they were going +to." + +"I'll tell that to Chauncey," said Kathryn. "Chauncey hates to +acknowledge that anything's wrong he starts, and blazes ahead no matter +what happens. You must have a nice family. I imagine you have a good +time with your father and mother." + +"Oh, we do," laughed Betty. "But we children do what they say-only we're +'reasoned with'," and Betty pursed up her mouth. + +"Probably they think you have some brains," said Kathryn. "I'm not sure +that my Dad thinks I have any. I'd better make a few more prominent, +don't you think so, Carolyn?" + +"It wouldn't hurt any." + +The afternoon was going on wings, Peggy said, as some one from the house +looked out and Peggy called to ask the time. "That was only to know +about refreshments," she explained. "Will the mermaids now turn +themselves into summer girls again and get their frocks on? We'll go up +the back way to the bath room and take turns at the shower. Then we'll +dress where we undressed, and have lunch in the arbor." + +That was a pleasing outlook. The mermaids followed directions and +presently a cool arbor back of the pool was the scene of light +refreshments being served to the group of Peggy Pollard's friends. Peggy +herself ladled out the iced lemonade from the punch bowl. "Please drink +all that you want, girls; I can't seem to get enough myself." + +A wood thrush sang from the thicket near them, and they heard a meadow +lark from out toward Carolyn's. "Can you realize, girls, that tomorrow +we get our grade cards and won't be freshmen any longer?" Kathryn waved +her pretty glass of lemonade as she spoke. + +"That is so," said Betty. "I'll not be Betty Lee, freshman, but Betty +Lee, SOPHOMORE! I presume that I _will_ receive a card since I escaped +examinations!" + +"It must be so," dramatically cried Mary Emma in an exaggerated style, +reminiscent of a ridiculous skit made up by the Girl Reserves, almost +impromptu, when necessity called for a longer program. "Hail to the +Sophomores! I will meet you at the witching hour of school time, +tomorrow morning!" + +"Come down from the high horse, Mary Emma, dear," said Peggy, "and +accept this plate of fudge." + +"Thank you," said Mary Emma, putting the plate down beside her as if she +thought it all for her. But she selected a piece and passed on the +plate. They must really start pretty soon, yet it was such fun to be +together. + +"Peggy, I've had a glorious time and I'm sorry that it's over. See you +tomorrow morning at school. 'Bye, Peggy." + +"'Bye, Betty." + + "'Bye little Betty, don't you cry, + You'll be a Soph'more by and by!" + +So sang Kathryn, who followed Betty in farewells, and made room for +several others not quite so intimate with Peggy. "There is your car, +Betty," she said a little later. "I'm going to be home a good deal this +summer. Let's try to see each other." + +"Let's," warmly returned Betty, as she prepared to catch the car. "We +can manage it, I'm sure. Goodbye, Kathryn, till I see you in the +morning." + +THE END + + + + + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BETTY LEE, FRESHMAN *** + + + + +A Word from Project Gutenberg + + +We will update this book if we find any errors. + +This book can be found under: http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/34605 + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no one +owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation (and +you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without permission +and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, set forth in the +General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to copying and +distributing Project Gutenberg[tm] electronic works to protect the Project +Gutenberg[tm] concept and trademark. Project Gutenberg is a registered +trademark, and may not be used if you charge for the eBooks, unless you +receive specific permission. 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\ No newline at end of file diff --git a/old/34605-8.zip b/old/34605-8.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..5d915b3 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/34605-8.zip diff --git a/old/34605-rst.rst b/old/34605-rst.rst new file mode 100644 index 0000000..fe3e36f --- /dev/null +++ b/old/34605-rst.rst @@ -0,0 +1,7956 @@ +.. -*- encoding: utf-8 -*- + +.. meta:: + :PG.Id: 34605 + :PG.Title: Betty Lee, Freshman + :PG.Released: 2010-12-08 + :PG.Rights: Public Domain + :PG.Producer: Roger Frank + :PG.Producer: the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.fadedpage.net + :DC.Creator: Harriet Pyne Grove + :DC.Title: Betty Lee, Freshman + :DC.Language: en + :DC.Created: 1931 + :coverpage: images/cover.jpg + +========================================================= + BETTY LEE, FRESHMAN +========================================================= + +.. vspace:: pb + +.. _pg-header: + +.. container:: + + This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with + almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or + re-use it under the terms of the `Project Gutenberg License`_ + included with this eBook or online at + http://www.gutenberg.org/license. + + + + .. vspace:: 1 + + .. _pg-machine-header: + + .. container:: + + Title: Betty Lee, Freshman + + Author: Harriet Pyne Grove + + Release Date: December 08, 2010 [EBook #34605] + + Language: English + + Character set encoding: UTF-8 + + .. class:: pg-start-line + + \*\*\* START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BETTY LEE, FRESHMAN \*\*\* + + .. vspace:: 4 + + .. _pg-produced-by: + + .. container:: + + Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.fadedpage.net. + + + + +.. class:: align-center + + | + | + + BETTY LEE, FRESHMAN + + By + + HARRIET PYNE GROVE + +.. image:: images/illus-emb.jpg + :align: center + +.. class:: align-center + + THE WORLD SYNDICATE PUBLISHING CO. + + Cleveland, Ohio –– New York City + + | + | + + Copyright, 1931 + + by + + THE WORLD SYNDICATE PUBLISHING CO. + +.. image:: images/illus-em2.jpg + :align: center + +.. class:: align-center + + *Printed in the United States of America* + + | + | + +.. contents:: Table of Contents + :backlinks: entry + :depth: 1 + +.. + + | + | + + +CHAPTER I: BETTY LEE’S MOST MOVING ADVENTURE +============================================ + +Betty Lee, aged almost fourteen, was dressing +for travel. She both dreaded and anticipated +the day and smiled at her reflection in +the mirror as it looked at her with eyes as bright +as stars, cheeks pink from excitement and lips a +little apart. That *was* a pretty and becoming +suit, “ducky,” her chum had called it. Now +for the new hat, to be put on over short, sunny, +wavy locks that didn’t have to have anything +done to them to make them so. That again was +what Janet Light said, pretending to be envious. + +Betty’s hands trembled a little as she adjusted +the hat. She could not help hurrying, +though her aunt, Mrs. Royce, had told her to +take her time now. “Don’t get all fussed and +excited before you start,” Aunt Jo had said. + +The twins, Dick and Doris, aged twelve, were +already downstairs eating breakfast. Betty had +helped Dick with his tie and rounded up several +articles for Doris before she could finish her +own toilet, but it was a comfort to be alone for +a little. + +From the bathroom came the sounds of +splashing and the merry laugh of Amy Louise, +the little four-year-old. With the promise of +“going to see Mamma,” Amy Lou would let +anybody do anything this morning, though she +had been insisting upon Betty’s dressing her as +a rule, in this trying interim. + +The cause of all this early morning excitement +was that Betty Lee’s family was moving +from the home and town in which they had +lived ever since Betty could remember. A new +home was being established in the city where an +unexpected business opportunity had developed +for her father. + +Mrs. Lee had hurried to join her husband as +soon as the goods were ready to be moved by +truck. She must give the final word about such +locations as Mr. Lee was able to find. With +breath-taking swiftness, it seemed to Betty, her +old home had been stripped of its furniture and +seemed like a different place. Temporary headquarters +were made with Aunt Jo Royce, Mr. +Lee’s sister, and at her home the children were +staying in the absence of their mother. + +But word had come by telegram. Mrs. Royce +could not accompany them to the city. It was +Betty’s responsibility to manage the most important +transfer of all, that of the Lee children; +and it loomed rather large to her, as she managed +to swallow the soft-boiled egg, all fixed +for her by Lucy Baxter, who lived with her +aunt. But she wished that Lucy would not say +again what she had said more than once already, +with a mournful air. + +“It’s *just as well* that your house ain’t sold +yet, I say. Cities don’t always pan out, as I’ve +told your ma. You remember when Mel Haswell +went to Noo York, how quick he come back, +don’t you?” + +“Yes, Lucy,” Betty replied pleasantly, though +she wished again that Lucy would not always +appeal to somebody for the truth of her remarks. +You had to say something. That was +expected of you. As if her father were anything +like Mel Haswell! + +But Lucy’s cup of cocoa was just right and +the toast was golden. Betty felt ashamed of +her annoyance and told Lucy that she was a +dear to get them such a good breakfast at that +unearthly hour. “I ’spect we’ll be back in Buxton +many times, Lucy. You may get tired of +us.” Hurriedly she finished her breakfast, saying +that she had “promised to stop for the +girls;” and with rapid steps she ran upstairs +again, to gather up her coat, umbrella and +pocketbook, and to see if the last articles were +packed. + +“Run along, Betty,” said Aunt Jo, as Betty +ran in to see if she were needed. “We’ll bring +the luggage. Amy Lou was such a good girl +and is almost ready. See, sister, I’m putting +on the dress she likes best!” + +This was for the benefit of Amy Louise, who +might insist on accompanying Betty unless +diverted. + +“Ought I?” asked Betty, hesitating. She did +not want her aunt to have it too hard at the +last. But Amy Lou was having the dress put +over her head and it was a good time to vanish. +Vanish Betty did at a nod from her aunt. +Stopping to say goodbye to Lucy, and seeing +that Dick and Doris were out for a farewell to +Aunt Jo’s private menagerie of a few chickens +and two handsome dogs, Betty ran out of the +front door to the street. + +People at Buxton rose early. Milk bottles +were being taken in and screen doors were +opening or closing; but Betty met no one, as +she sped toward Janet’s home, except a boy +driving an old grocery wagon. Somebody might +want something for breakfast. Bill was on his +way to open up and start things at the store. + +The faithful old horse was pulled up suddenly. +“Hello, Betty, going to leave this morning?” + +Betty halted, though still moving slowly. +“Yes; the rest of us are going on the morning +train, Bill.” She smiled up at the big lad, who +was a junior in high school. Betty did not +know him very well, though to be sure all the +high school and grade pupils knew each other +and each other’s families more or less. + +“Sorry you’re going, Betty. I s’pose you’re +in a hurry, though. So long, Betty. Don’t forget +the old town.” Bill started the horse with +a flap of the reins as he spoke. + +“Never,” returned Betty, nodding a farewell +and hurrying on. Was she really going to leave–forever? +She looked down the quiet street +ahead of her. Trees beautiful and green allowed +their branches to meet over the unpaved road. +Homes with large yards displayed trees, shrubbery +and flowers, though so late for many of +them. It was all so familiar that she had forgotten +how it did look! + +Betty almost felt like taking a turn around +the block for a last look at their own home; but +she thought of the curtainless windows, the +desolate yard and the empty swing under the +elm trees. No, thank you! Betty sniffed and +fumbled in her pocketbook for a handkerchief. +Was she going to cry now? Not a bit of it! +She had to keep up before the girls. Bounding +a corner, there she was at Janet’s. Janet had +cried last night. It wasn’t real. She was in a +dream! + +And Betty had had her dreams, like all girls +of her age. The little town of Buxton was not +a rich one. It was not even in a good farming +center, nor was it a county seat. Two good +school buildings and some churches were its +chief ornaments, architecturally. Among the +people, as always, there were the good element +and the bad or shiftless element. Yet some very +fine people had found a home there and among +them were the friends of Betty Lee’s family. +It was quiet. It was fairly safe. Betty, protected +by the oversight of a sensible yet +idealistic mother, was a happy girl, interested +in everything and ambitious in school, whose +activities were always prominent and whose +teachers held the respect of the community. +Betty would probably marry one of the boys +some day, as she had seen older girls do, and +settle down. Perhaps she could go away to +school for a year or two. If she couldn’t, there +were always books and music and friends, nice +things to do and dear people to love. Vague +thoughts like this about the future were in her +mind when she thought about it at all. Her +father and mother were her standards of excellence; +and therein lay much safety, since those +two were wise and self-controlled. + +And now, so unexpectedly, there was this +bewildering change to city life. It was exciting +to think about it and yet Betty could not foresee +the changes it was going to make in her whole +adventure of living. For in the new and in +many ways very superior school to which she +was going, new friends, with work, play, perplexity, +even mystery, perhaps, and a wider +choice of opportunity waited for this wholesome, +attractive Betty Lee. To say the least, +life was not going to be dull, and this Betty felt. + +“No, there’s something about Betty Lee.” +Janet Light was saying to Sue Miller. “I don’t +believe that she ‘will be lost in the multitude,’ +as she says. Her teachers will *notice* her at +least. I’d pick Betty out in a thousand!” + +“Oh, that’s natural. You’re her chum. But +isn’t she sort of scared to go to such a big +school?” + +“No, I don’t think Betty’s scared. Of course–you +know Betty. She wouldn’t want to show +it if she were. I think that she’s really crazy +about going; but you can imagine how she’d +feel, dread it a little. I only wish I could go–that +is, if I could take everybody along!” + +“Yes. It’s wonderful even to travel to a city; +but to live there!” + +“Oh, I don’t know,” remarked Janet, taking +a new tack. “You couldn’t get into the country +so much.” + +“You could if you had a car.” + +“If is a big word, Sue. Betty said her father +had to have something different from the old +machine now, but he’ll be in business most of +the time.” + +The two girls were sitting on the Light porch, +waiting for Betty and talking as fast as girls +can when there is some interesting subject. To +Janet the departure of her dearest chum was +more or less upsetting. Sue was not so intimate +and Betty had never had any suspicion of the +admiration with which Sue regarded her. She +was really surprised that Sue wanted to see her +off, with Janet. + +“It’s pretty cool this morning,” Sue inserted, +throwing her light coat around her shoulders. +“I nearly melted yesterday when I came on the +train from Grandma’s. But it wasn’t much of +a ride.” Sue was thinking that her little trip +was nothing in comparison with Betty’s coming +day of travel. + +“It was that big rain and the wind yesterday +that changed things. I was over with Betty till +late because it rained so hard all evening. +That’s why I could hardly wake up this morning. +It’s a good thing you were to stop for me, +for Mother didn’t call me. She forgot.” + +“I just *happened* to telephone you before I +started, thought maybe you’d rather go down +to Mrs. Royce’s.” + +“Lucky you did. But no, I thought there +would be so much confusion with everybody +hurrying perhaps, and Betty said she would be +sure to stop. It’s right on the way to the station +anyhow.” With this, Janet ran in for the second +time, to see if it were getting anywhere near +train time. “No, there’s loads of time,” she +reported. + +“The rain was why I didn’t get to see Betty +at all,” Sue explained. “I had a headache and +lay down after I came home; and at supper–at +*supper*, mind you, Mother *happened to tell me* +about how the Lees were moving to the city! +It had all gone on while I was at Grandma’s and +nobody ever told me a word! Of course, I +wasn’t writing to anybody, not even Mother but +once. She and Grandma exchange letters every +week, though.” + +“It was in the paper and I suppose everybody +thought you knew. Betty was in too much of +a whirl. Her mother’s only written cards, and +just a telegram came, saying which train they +were to take. Betty does not even know the +address of where she’s going!” + +“How could the goods go down, then? Somebody +had to know.” + +“I think the truckman was to telephone the +boarding house or office or some place after he +reached the city, to find out where to take the +goods.” + +“I should think that Mrs. Lee would have +wanted Betty to help get settled.” + +“She was going to hire some one to put it +through, in a hurry. Besides, Mrs. Royce +couldn’t manage Amy Louise without Betty. As +it was, she made a dreadful fuss.” + +“I suppose so. But Betty spoils her, too.” + +“Not so much. When Betty says, ‘Amy Louise +Lee’, in that way of hers. Amy Lou pays attention.” + +“How old is Betty anyway?” + +“She’ll be fourteen in December. Don’t you +remember her birthday party last year?” + +“That’s so. Oh, here’s Betty! ’Lo there, +Betty Lee!” + +Sue ran down to meet Betty, who walked +briskly around the corner and to the open gate; +for Janet’s home, like Betty’s, actually had a +fence! With a little squeeze and kiss, Sue led +Betty to the porch, where Janet, smiling, +waited. “I would have felt awful, Betty,” cried +Sue, “not to have had a glimpse of you! I +never knew a word about it.” + +“It was a shame, Sue; but you can just +imagine how it’s been. I haven’t known whether +I was on my head or my feet.” + +“Of course. What a pretty suit you have, all +blue, your color, Betty, and hat to match and +everything–even gloves, Janet!” + +Betty laughed at that. “I’ll probably not +have them on much, with Amy Lou to take care +of. I’m glad you like my things. Auntie drove +me clear to Columbus to shop. You see I’ve +had to get ready for school, too, for it begins +almost as soon as I get there. Won’t it be +terrible to learn what street cars to take and +everything, unless Father can drive me to +school?” + +“Aren’t you awfully excited, Betty?” + +“I suppose I am. But all I can think of right +now is getting through this trip with Amy Lou. +She never was on a train before, if she is four +years old; so I don’t know what she will do. +But I’m hoping that she will be shy, the way +she is when strangers are around, and she may +sleep since we’ve been up so early. I think we’d +better walk along, girls. I’ll go in and say goodbye +to the folks, Janet.” + +Betty was in the house a few minutes only. +Then they strolled toward the little railroad +station, only a short distance of a few blocks. +Several people came along, to see Betty and +stop, shaking hands and saying goodbye. Ahead +of them walked Aunt Jo with the littlest Lee, +while Doris was accompanied by three girls of +about her own age, and a freckled-faced boy +scampered on in advance, with Dick. “I wondered +what had become of Billy,” said Janet, +recognizing her brother. + +Soon they stood in partly separated groups +on the small platform. Amy Lou started back +after the cat, but was rescued in time by her +aunt’s restraining hand. To permit Betty and +the other children last words with their friend, +capable Aunt Jo walked up and down now with +the child, showing her what little there was to +see and making up a story about the rails. Distracted +as Betty was, she kept in mind a picture +of these last details. + +“Oh, dear, Betty,” said Sue, as train time +drew near at hand, “you are not going to forget +us, are you?” + +“Forget you–I should say not! Forget the +girls I’ve been with since the first grade in +school!” Betty held out a warm hand to each, +as they stood closely now. She and Janet exchanged +a smiling look. They had been all over +that phase the night before. + +“But it can never be the same,” mourned Sue. + +“Maybe it will be better!” brightly suggested +Betty. “You’ll both come down to visit me in +vacations and I’ll take you all around–that is, +if I ever learn to get around everywhere myself.” + +“That would be wonderful–if it could +happen. Maybe I wouldn’t be allowed to go, +though.” + +“Oh, yes! We get older every year, you know.” + +Sue looked doubtful. Money was scarce in +Sue’s home. It did not roll in at the village +store which her father kept. + +“Brace up, Susie,” laughingly said Janet. +“We must send Betty off with nothing but good +wishes. Let’s not begin to mourn now. That’s +what Mother told me last night, and I pass it +on to you.” + +“All right, Janet. You’re right. Good luck +and a grand time, Betty. Mercy! There’s the +train tooting now and I haven’t said goodbye +to the rest!” + +Betty made a dash for Amy Louise, to hold +her hand firmly. Last goodbyes were said. +Dick and Doris gathered up the bags while the +train rounded the curve at a little distance. The +freckled lad soberly regarded Dick as he said, +“Well, so long, Dick. So long, Doris;” and Doris +was being embraced by the excited little girls, +who followed the travelers and tried not to get +in the way of various small trucks. + +“Help Betty all you can, Dick,” advised Mrs. +Royce, handing an extra piece of baggage up +to Dick, who was last to board the train. “Remember +that I shall want a card mailed at once +to make sure of your safety. If anything goes +wrong, send a telegram.” + +Dick, grinning, feeling not a little important +with his manly duties, nodded and disappeared +after his sisters. The group on the platform, +watching the windows, were presently rewarded +by seeing smiling faces. Dick was trying to +put up a window, but without success; or possibly +the others were too impatient to wait for +him to find out how to do it. + +Amy Louise, her light hair and childish face +framed in a hat that was now pushed back in +the effort to see, smiled and threw kisses. She +had no regrets. She was on her way to her +mother. Betty’s face looked brightly out above +Amy Louise, and there were Doris and Dick, +the blessed twins! Aunt Jo tried not to show +the anxiety she felt. But Betty would see it +through! + +There went the clanging bell. Now the train +started. Now they were gone; and the small +group on the platform turned away with that +odd, lost feeling that comes when something is +over. + +The freckle-faced lad scampered away alone. +Mrs. Royce, after exchanging pleasant words +with the girls, hurried homeward with her +thoughts. The rest scattered. School was opening +for them, too. There would be plenty of +activities to take up their time and interest. +Janet and Sue would report to the other girls +how they saw Betty Lee off that early morning. +And they all would laugh over one quoted +speech of Betty’s when she said, “I imagine, +girls, that this is my most *moving* adventure!” + +CHAPTER II: BETTY MEETS RESPONSIBILITY AND A TRIAL OF PATIENCE +============================================================== + +Whatever puns, good or bad, Betty might +make on this unaccustomed adventure of hers, +she was more accustomed to the little responsibilities +that fall to the eldest child in a normal +family than only children could be; and these +in a measure had prepared her for this trip. As +soon as they were settled in their seats, it all +seemed natural enough. Proper conduct in +public was a matter of natural pride with this +family, with the possible exception of Amy +Louise, who had not reached the age of entire +self control! Dick was hoping that she would +not do anything to embarrass them, for she +sometimes howled when she could not do what +she wanted to do. + +Betty, across the aisle from Dick and Doris, +gave Dick an understanding look and a smile +when he gave Doris the seat next to the window. +Dick appeared not to notice this, but he felt +that he was a pretty good protector of the girls +when necessary. Betty need not think that she +was the only one who could do things. And +Betty was thinking that Dick was going to be a +great help. The worst would be changing cars +at the first city. + +Clutching the tickets, Betty had them ready +when the conductor came along. He lived in +their town and knew her father. It had been +a blow to the little town when a railroad line +took off all but one passenger train each way, +with a few freight trains. + +“Oh, yes,” cheerily said the conductor, “you’re +going away for good now. Your father told me +to look after you when you came along.” The +tickets were being punched and given back to +Betty. + +“Don’t lose your tickets and you’ll be all +right. No you don’t change stations. Anything +you want to know you can ask about at the +window marked ‘information.’ But outside you’ll +find the train notices, and a light come on when +the train is in. When you get off, you’d better +get a red-cap to take your bags up for you.” + +Betty had a hazy notion of what was meant, +though she had visited the city where they were +to change cars, it was very different, however, +to follow some one else without noticing how +it was managed. She determined to keep her +eyes open on future trips. Well, there was no +use in worrying, but she wasn’t going to trust +the bags to any porter. They could carry what +they had. Also, they would stay together, as +Aunt Jo had advised, with no expeditions here +and there while they waited for their second +train. In this case ignorance was not bliss, for +what would have been perfectly simple to an +experienced traveler was a matter for serious +consideration to Betty. + +Fortunately, Amy Lou was angelic. Fascinated +by the kaleidoscope of scenery, she +watched it happily; and when they left the train +she willingly clung to Betty’s hand, saying, “I +don’t want to get losted, do I?” She nearly +went to sleep in the station during their long +wait, but Dick came to the rescue with some +entertainment, just as Betty was having visions +of having to carry a heavy Amy Lou to the train. + +At last they were established on the right +train for the city for which, they were bound and +Betty breathed a sigh of relief. Nothing but a +wreck could keep them from home now, she told +Dick. + +“‘Home!’” repeated Dick, pursing his lips. + +“Well,” argued Doris, “Betty’s right. It’ll +be home, even if we’ve never seen it.” + +“Wherever Mother and Father are, it’s home, +isn’t it?” and Betty’s dimples showed as she +spoke. + +“You win,” grinned Dick, suggesting that +Aunt Jo’s lunch be served. + +They all did their best, but the last hours +were trying after little naps were over and +time was dragging for them all, unaccustomed +as they were to long train rides. When they +were feeling that they could not stand it any +longer and Amy Lou was beginning to be fractious, +they drew into the suburbs of the “city +of our dreams,” as Doris sarcastically remarked. +But interest revived and Dick told the +youngest sister to watch for the place where +they would find their mother. It was a happy +suggestion, particularly for Betty, who was +thinking that patience would cease to be a virtue +pretty soon, if she had to keep the child in check +much longer. + +At last the crowds were in the aisles. The +train stopped with its accustomed jerk. The +tiresome day was almost over. + +Which way should they go? The direction of +the crowd settled that question for them, but +where would they find Father? They avoided +little baggage trucks that ran about and looked +like hand-cars off the track. Here were iron +gates where Dick, at Betty’s suggestion, inquired +the way to the waiting room, where they +found “Information” again. By this time Betty +was worried. Where could her father be? + +For the sake of the rest, she made herself +keep calm and cheerful and Dick suggested that +it was not easy to get around in a city. Probably +they would be there pretty soon. + +“I hope they know the train we’re coming +on,” said Doris. “I *told* you, Betty, that we +ought to telegraph.” + +“*They* told *us* the day and the train, Doris,” +firmly said Betty. But Betty looked apprehensively +at some of the people in the room. There +was a much better room upstairs, but Betty did +not know that and there was no one to tell her. + +Finally Amy Lou began to cry. That was the +last straw. Betty hunted for what addresses +she had and made her way again to +“Information.” She wondered if she had enough +money to pay for a taxi. And did you pay for +everyone, or was it some other way? Dick was +scouting around outside now. He could find out +things. Boys always could. + +Then all at once darkness changed to light, +figuratively speaking. Before she had made an +inquiry, she heard a squeal from Amy Lou and +turned to see if Doris were having trouble with +her. But it had been a happy squeal, not a +cross one. There was Father, with his baby +in his arms and Doris holding to one hand! A +very thankful girl ran back to her family. + +“I’m so sorry, Betty,” said Mr. Lee, “that +you have had this wait and worry. I had expected +to meet you right at the train and take +you to our own car. Come on. We’ll talk after +we get started. It was an important business +conference and I could not leave early. Then +traffic was heavy and it was farther to the +station from our office that I thought. That was +all.” + +Watching for trucks, street-cars and machines +of all sorts, they made their way to +where the new car was parked. Exclamations +of delight pleased Mr. Lee. Dick wanted to know +all about it. It was not of a highly expensive +make, but as their father said, it would hold +them all. “I almost need a smaller one, too,” +said he, explaining, “though I’m not on the sales +end of affairs. They’ve done me the honor to +put me among the executives, kiddies, and ask +me to tell how I managed to do so well in my +little factory. I told the president, that it was +nothing, only quality of goods and good management; +but he had me discuss products and +management at this conference.” + +“Good for you, Pop!” said Dick. + +“But I’m going to ask you all to help me, +children. To make this change and to live in a +city is going to draw heavily on what I had +saved. In fact, there isn’t any too much left, +except some property in the home town. So +don’t get any big ideas of what we can do here +in the way of living like some of the people you +will see.” + +“Aren’t there any folks just like us, Papa?” +asked Doris, rather bewildered. They had +started now and slowly Mr. Lee was driving the +car, up a hill and behind an immense truck. + +“Plenty of them, Doris, and thousands not +half so well off.” + +The children were now too much interested +in their surroundings to ask questions. Their +father explained a little about some of the +streets through which they passed, and pointed +out some of the buildings, though he was not +yet familiar with the city and was compelled to +keep to well-known thoroughfares on his way +out to the suburb where they were to live. “This +is what they call ‘downtown,’” said he. “When +your mother and I considered locations near we +found nothing suitable. So we are out where +we can have a few flowers in the yard at least.” + +Betty looked with “all her eyes,” as she said. +Streams of cars filled the streets. Her father +watched the lights carefully and was prepared +to get out of the way when a reckless driver +shot in front of him, almost shaving a street car. +“Hey, you!” exclaimed Dick, but the man could +not hear. “Why, if you hadn’t swerved to the +right that fellow would have hit us!” + +“Yes, Dick. He was either intoxicated, or just +reckless. There are many such in the city.” + +But in spite of what tired Betty considered +several narrow escapes, they successfully +reached the suburb desired, where rows of +houses, some of brick, some of frame, some of +stone, had a bit of yard in front and behind; +and on the porch of one there stood a slender +and familiar figure. + +“Mamma!” cried Amy Lou, wiggling down +from between Betty and Doris. But Betty kept +a stout hold upon her little sister until the car +stopped in front. “I’ll let you girls out here,” +said Mr. Lee, “but Dick may come with me to +the garage.” + +Amy Louise flew to her mother, while the +other two girls walked briskly up the short distance +from the barberry hedge to the porch. The +house was of brick, well-built and attractive. +“Why, this is real nice, Mother!” exclaimed +Betty, the last to be embraced, but as warmly +welcomed. Betty was trying to remember to +call her parents Father and Mother, since some +one had told her it was more dignified. + +They entered a hall of fair size, then a large +front room with a big window in it, the piano +in the right spot, a fireplace–why, it would be +home after all! Familiar rugs and furniture +met Betty’s eyes. Of them her last view had +been what Betty called “ghastly,” all done up +ready to be moved in that horrid truck. But the +“horrid truck” had brought them unmarred to +their present position. Here were all of their +treasures–and each other. + +“I don’t believe, after all, Mother,” said she, +looking around, “that *walls* make so, so *much* +difference!” + +“Not with our own pictures on them,” replied +Mother, understanding. “I wish that all you +could have helped me decide where to put +things; but if you girls think of any good +changes, we shall make them.” + +“Did you have a very dreadful time to find +a place?” asked Doris. + +“It was not easy. An apartment house did not +seem to be the best place for children. This is +not one of the most modern houses, but there +are enough bedrooms, hard to find, and something +of a kitchen. I could not imagine myself +cooking for this family in some of the tiny +kitchenettes we saw. We shall be comfortable, +I think. + +“We have the whole first floor. It is just a +big house made into two apartments or flats. +Only two people are above us. There are two +furnaces and we have our own gas and electricity. +We are to look after the yard. +Running the lawn mower will be Dick’s job.” Mrs. +Lee looked teasingly at Dick as she spoke. + +“I thought I’d get out of that in a city,” returned +Dick; but he did not seem to mind the +proposition very much. He was still thinking +of the new car, though he had been content to +leave more detailed examinations until the next +day. “The thing that’s most like home,” continued +Dick, “is that good smell of cooking in +an oven somewhere. Is it a roast, Mother? +Yes, and I smell cookies!” + +“Right, son,” and Mrs. Lee led the way to the +kitchen, where cookies still warm from the +baking were to be nibbled by hungry travelers. +They would still have things to eat in the city! + +Still further investigation disclosed a “den,” +which had become a sleeping room for Dick; a +dressing room off the main bedroom, making +a safe and cosy place for Amy Lou’s bed, and a +good bedroom for Doris and Betty. A large +bathroom was at the end of the hall. “You +haven’t any idea, children, how thankful I was +to find this, with enough room, all on one floor, +and nice and clean, with new plumbing!” + +Betty looked thoughtfully at her mother. It +was new to her to think about homes, which, +so far as she had ever thought, grew upon +bushes. And that rent was terrible. Wouldn’t +it take more than Papa earned? Her mother +assured her that it would not, but remarked that +the increase in income did not amount to as +much as they had supposed, because of increased +expenses. + +“Let’s go back,” said Betty, reacting to her +first lesson in economic lines. But she was +laughing. + +“You know you wouldn’t do it for anything, +Betty Lee,” cried Doris. “I’m just as glad as +I can be. Won’t it be great to go to all these +wonderful places?” This was after their mother +had suddenly left them in their room, to answer +a call from her husband. + +“Yes,” sighed Betty, “but now listen, Doris–please +don’t begin by throwing your things all +around. We’ve a big closet, anyhow; but do +let’s keep things straight as we can!” + +“You can, if you want to. I’m getting into +my bathrobe the quickest I can,” and Doris +kicked a shoe under the bed. + +“I suppose you are tired,” and Betty sighed +again. “I don’t really care, either. It’s certainly +good to pass Amy Lou over to Mother.” + +“She could have been worse coming down, but +I’m glad I’m not the oldest. She always gets +stubborn when *I* try to do anything with her.” + +Betty felt like telling Doris that she did not +try the right way; but did not want to start +further argument and realized that her own disposition +was not in its best state after her day +of being “chief boss,” as Dick had put it several +times. Doris might take her hot bath first. +Then it would be tub for her and bed as soon +as possible after supper, which would be called +dinner now, Mother said. Happily it was the +week-end. There would be Saturday and Sunday +for getting settled, seeing the city and hearing +church music of the best. Then would come +Monday and school. What a vista for Betty +Lee! The future, though unknown, was enticing. + +CHAPTER III: “THE FATEFUL DAY” +============================== + +The “fateful day,” as Betty’s father jokingly +called it, had arrived. On Monday morning +there were great stirrings in the Lee menage. +Betty’s mother was up early, getting everybody +else up on time, seeing that the school credentials +were at hand, ready to be taken by the +children and presented at the schools. Amy +Lou, fortunately, slept on, not waking until +everybody else was at the breakfast table. + +Betty started to get up when a mournful wail +came from the bedroom. Amy Lou had been +Betty’s responsibility and she could not quite +realize that in school days now her first concern +was to be her lessons, as her mother’s custom +desired it to be, though in moments of stress, +Betty knew well, she was to be on the “relief +corps,” another of her father’s expressions. + +“Not you this time, daughter,” said Mrs. Lee, +rising. “Finish your breakfast and be ready +when your father goes. You’d better take +charge of all the grades and give Doris and +Dick their papers when they get there.” + +It was very exciting. What would the new +big school be like? Dick and Doris talked +steadily during breakfast. “If old Bill was just +here,” said Dick, “I’d give him the Merry Ha-ha +about our going to a junior high school!” + +Doris settled her beads about her neck, looked +down at her neat frock, chosen as suitable by +her mother, then thrusting her napkin by her +plate, she scampered, unexcused, from the table, +to do last things. + +Betty exchanged an amused glance with her +father, who rose and went out to bring up the +car. Betty hastily carried a few dishes, from +their places, to the kitchen, as Mrs. Lee came +out with a cross Amy Lou, and then ran off +herself to get ready. + +It seemed no time at all before they were in +the car, driving to the school, which they had +seen only in passing. The morning traffic was +heavy and swift. Cars were making their rapid +way in the direction of “town.” Street cars +clattered. Trucks and buses avoided them by +inches only. Overhead there was the occasional +roar of a plane from the flying field. + +At last they had reached the green campus of +the school. “I’m glad we go here,” said Doris, +“instead of to that school we saw where the +grounds are all gravel.” + +“That was a new building, Doris,” said her +Dad, “the grounds are probably not finished.” + +“I don’t think so, Papa,” returned Doris. +“You know how the school board man at home +said that there was no use in sodding our new +school grounds because the boys would spoil it +all playing ball and things. And they put gravel +on it, and every time you fell down running it +hurt like everything.” + +Doris had no reply to this, for Mr. Lee was +stopping before the concrete sidewalk that bordered +the school grounds. “Hop out, children,” +said he. “I’m sorry that I can’t stop with you. +You know what the buildings are, however. Inquire +your way to the office of the principal, +you know. Sure you know what cars to take to +get home?” + +“Yes, Father,” Betty answered. “Dick promised +to wait for Doris; so if they can’t find me +they’ll go home together. My, what a crowd!” + +Mr. Lee glanced with some fatherly pride at +the little group of three that walked from the +car to the entrance of the grounds. There a +long walk, paved and lined with beautiful shrubbery, +led to the impressive front of the building +that spread so widely with its wings and corners. +Then he detached himself from the rest +of the cars that were either drawing up to discharge +pupils or were parked in a long row +along the curb. The Lee children were already +lost in the kaleidoscope of moving boys and +girls, of all ages, heights, and costumes, most +of them very nice-looking, Betty’s father +thought. He hoped that there would be no +trouble about their entrance papers. Mrs. Lee +could scarcely risk taking Amy Lou to the +school, and he had told her that the children +might just as well begin to depend on themselves, +even if the city was new to them. + +Nevertheless, it would have been better if it +had been possible for a parent to accompany +them, and no one knew that better than Mr. Lee. +The hurry of their becoming settled had not +been easy for any of them and a city offered +many dangers, especially those of traffic. But +as the fever of hurry had not yet infected them, +it was likely that they would be careful in crossing +streets and would observe the traffic +regulations. He was glad to see that a traffic officer +had been stationed at the school crossing. + +“We look as well as most of them,” said +Doris, though rather doubtfully, as she looked +admiringly at a tall girl who was strolling by +with a youth as tall as she. They were laughing +and talking and the girl was wearing a silk +dress as pretty and stylish, as light in color and +as good, as Betty’s “Sunday frock,” Doris said. + +“Yes,” said Betty, “but there’s every sort, +and our pretty summer dresses that Mother +made look all right. There–see that awfully +pretty girl, Doris. Her green dress is trimmed +with white organdy exactly like your blue one!” + +The two younger children left Betty to go +around to the entrance of their own separate +building. Betty handed each of them the envelope +with the respective credits and grades and +then went up the steps with her own in her hand. +Mercy, what a babel of voices! Betty stopped +still and looked around. Good! There were all +sorts of notices posted. She read them. That long +line of boys and girls must lead to the “office.” + +“Freshmen go to Assembly Hall,” she read. +Now where was the “Assembly Hall?” Oh, that +must be it, where all those younger looking boys +and girls were going. She followed, joining the +stream of boys and girls that in groups or singly +entered the wide doors. + +Oh, what a fine, big hall! Was this really a +public school? Facing her was the wide stage +with its handsome velvet curtains, and my, all +those pipes must be of a big pipe organ! Yes, +there was the place for the organist at the side. + +Betty slipped into a seat. Some one was reading +names and telling them what to do. She +would sit there and listen. It was pleasantly +cool in the immense hall. Although it was morning, +the September day was already warm. +Betty felt a little confused, but soon concentrated +her attention upon what was going on. +Girls and boys were leaving the hall at times. + +Finally she bethought herself of the fact that +her name could not possibly be read out, since +they had never heard of her. A girl who sat +beside her looked friendly. She would ask. Yes, +these were the names of all the freshmen who +were coming in from other schools or the junior +high right here. They had turned in their credits +and were assigned to “home rooms and so forth.” + +Now what were “home rooms,” and what did +“and so forth” include? She could not ask the +person who was reading the names. She hated +to ask questions of any other pupil near her. +She would seem like such a “dummy.” But she +must find out what to do. She would go out and +see if she should go to the “office” first. + +Quietly Betty slipped out of the seat and went +out into the noisy hall. She went near the door +and peeped into the office. Some one in the +line thought that she was going to get by and +nodded in the direction of the rear. It was a +“snippy” sort of a look, Betty thought, that this +girl directed toward her. Betty merely looked +at her with a contemplative gaze and nodded in +understanding. She would not say anything +either. She could see what was going on. That +was the principal, she supposed, busy with students. +There were several teachers or assistants +of some sort there. Yes, this must be what +she must do; besides, her father had told her +to go to the office. It was that sign that mislead +her. My, what a long line. Would she ever +get any attention from the principal? But Betty +walked back and took her place in line, intending +to ask some one in it what this line was “supposed +to be waiting for.” + +But there were two or three boys, perfectly +strange to her, of course, just ahead of her. And +behold, two very tall lads walked up and took +their places behind her. The first one was such +a fine-looking boy, with a good face, indeed, +rather striking features, clear grey eyes, +“almost blue,” Betty thought, as she gave him +a quick glance. He was dressed suitably and +neatly, yet looked “very stylish,” Betty thought, +and a silk handkerchief peeped from his pocket. +The conversation of the two boys helped Betty +through the first part of her wearisome wait. + +“Going in for athletics this year, Ted?” asked +the “other boy,” who was not quite so interesting, +Betty thought, though he had a pleasant +boyish, face, too. He was coatless and had his +shirt sleeves rolled up above his elbows. But +a neat tie finished his soft collar and he looked +as fresh and clean as possible. + +“I don’t know what I’m going to do, Harry, +swimming, of course, and the usual gym work, +perhaps. But Mother wants me to be in the +orchestra this year and that takes a lot of time. +To tell the truth, I’d like to have a little time +for my lessons!” + +“I’ve *got* to have,” assented Harry. “I worked +my freshman year, but last year wasn’t so good, +and Dad says he won’t stand for it. My grades +weren’t so bad, but you should have heard the +razzing I got! Dad took the card and went +through the grades out loud. + +“‘That grade in English from the son of a +teacher!’ + +“‘Eighty in Latin, when you ought to have +had ninety at least!’ + +“I mustered up grit enough to tell him that +Latin was hard and that eighty was a pretty +good grade and that I hadn’t failed in anything. +But did that stop him? It did not. + +“‘Fail! Fail? Hum! Mathematics, not so +bad. Pretty respectable showing in science,’–‘well, +make a better showing next year or I might +have to put you to work.’ He gave me a quizzical +smile, at least that is what Mother called +it, and handed me back my card. Gee, sometimes +I wish he *would* put me to work, but after +all, if you can get by with, your lessons, the old +place here looks pretty good.” + +“I’ll say it does today. How long do you +suppose we’ll have to stand here?” + +“Until after lunch time, that’s what.” + +Betty, who had scarcely been able to keep +from laughing out when “Harry” had been +impersonating his father, so good and funny a +performance he had made of it, now sighed. +She was tired already. It was worse than waiting +in line at the one moving picture house +that their little town had boasted. She changed +her weight, a light one, from one foot to the +other. She fiddled with the long white envelope +in her hand and once opened it to peep inside +and make sure that its contents were still there. + +But that was just the beginning. She held +her place in line, wondering what the two boys +to whose conversation she had listened were +there to do. Perhaps there had to be some +change in their work. But they talked about +everything else. Finally Betty thought she +would “just have to go and sit down somewhere +to rest,” but she kept standing in spite of her +real fatigue. She was toward the end of the +line and only two or three persons had followed +the boys at first; then a few scattered additions +had been made. A few in front had dropped out. + +Finally some one came from the office to make +an announcement to the line. Only a few more +would be interviewed before lunch; and after +lunch, those who were new would be seen first. +Others need not take their place in line until +later, as all changes of schedule would be +handled later in the day. + +Immediately the line ceased to be one, as its +components vanished. Betty again went into +the auditorium and sank into a seat to rest. +What was it that tired her so standing in line? +She was probably just sort of tired from everything, +all the change and excitement and the +responsibility of getting Amy Lou down on the +train, though, that hadn’t turned out to be so +bad. Luckily some one near her was discussing +lunch; for Betty was hungry and did not enjoy +the thought of going without what had always +been the family dinner. It had been easy enough +in the village for her father to come home from +his business and for the children to come from +school, returning in plenty of time for the afternoon +session. Now it would be different indeed. +Mother had said that dinner would be at night, +as Father would have his lunch down town; and +on the street car it would take the children +almost half an hour to reach home, to say +nothing of extra street-car fare. There was to +be lunch served at the school, they understood, +but would there be any today? + +“No,” the girl behind her was saying in a low +tone, though the names had long since been read +out and the freshmen dismissed to the “home +rooms.” Only scattered groups of resting pupils +were here and there in the seats. Betty was in +the next to the last row and three girls had just +entered the last row together. + +“I’m a wreck from standing in that line,” said +the first one, as she dropped into a seat. “Aren’t +they going to serve lunch today?” + +Then came the answer, for which Betty +listened. “No; don’t you remember that we +never have lunch at first?” + +“Well, I’ve only one year to remember, May, +and I never did get anything straight when I +was a freshman, at first anyhow.” + +Betty’s heart warmed with a fellow feeling. + +“I certainly wish that we could have one of +those good lunches, but I suppose it won’t kill +us to starve for once. Let’s go down to you +know where and get a Swiss chocolate sundae. +We can get back in time.” + +“I’d rather not, May; besides I’ve only got +my street-car fare and ten cents, I think.” + +“I’ll lend you some more,” suggested May. + +“Can’t possible this time; too tired, besides. +There used to be a place opposite the school. +What’s become of that? I used to get chocolate +bars and sandwiches there.” + +“New building across the street. Well, if you +aren’t going, I am. Shall I bring you something? +Maybe I’ll have a sandwich, too.” + +“If you can get one for ten cents–no, here +are some coppers. Hurrah!” + +Evidently the girl behind Betty was emptying +her store of small funds into the hand of the +other girl. There was giggling and a scrambling +after a copper that had dropped and +rolled. Then one girl left and the other strolled +over to join a group of girls by a window. + +Betty wished that she had brought a chocolate +bar which by the irony of fate she had +taken out of her bag to leave it home! But +she could go without a meal if she had to do +it. She could get something to eat as soon as +she reached home. + +Rested now, she thought she would go over +to the building which housed the junior high +school and see if Doris and Dick were also +waiting around. It was quite a little walk, or +seemed so to Betty, but it was interesting when +she reached the place and entered it. Scarcely +any children were to be seen. She walked +through vacant halls and decided that Doris and +Dick had already gone home. She hoped that +her mother would not be worried about her. +There was no way of getting her word, though +she had seen a telephone in the office. But of +course she could not use that. + +Time slipped by in some fashion. She went +back to the auditorium, now about deserted. She +watched the time, determined to be one of the +first at the office door, and as all things come +to an end at last, she found herself talking to +a sober, dignified, yet kindly man in the office, +arranging her schedule or, more properly, +answering questions about the work she had +covered, and receiving a “slip” to present to her +“home room teacher” the next day. + +It was all more or less puzzling to the young +freshman from away; but she understood the +next step and where she was to report on the +following day. That would have to be enough. +A somewhat breathless, excited, and very +hungry Betty reached home at about two o’clock +in the afternoon, welcomed by her mother as a +returning prodigal and directed to where she +would find the “fatted calf” or a more attractive +substitute. + +CHAPTER IV: A REAL FRESHMAN AT LAST +=================================== + +Mother suggested putting up a lunch for the +children on the second morning of school, but +Dick said that they would not need any. “One +of the kids said that we get out the same time +tomorrow,” said he. And Betty corroborated +Dick’s statement. + +“I’ll not have to wait in line today, Mother,” +said Betty. “That’s all attended to. I know +just what to do. You go to your home room, +do whatever you are told to do and I guess you +report to your different teachers. We get out +at twelve-thirty. After we really have classes +and two sessions there will be a place to get +lunches, somewhere upstairs.” + +Back again in the echoing halls of the school +building, Betty felt that the worst was over, yet +she was both lonely and a little timid in regard +to what was still before her. Oh for Janet or +some one of the girls she knew! Other girls, +who must have been in the eighth grade together, +were walking arm in arm, or with arms +around each other’s waist as they approached +the door of the same home room to which +Betty’s feet were carrying her. She wondered +if poor little Doris felt the same way. She went +into the school room with the others, finding its +back seats well filled already. Accordingly she +dropped into the nearest front seat, which was +on the outside row near the door. + +As it was not polite to stare, she believed, she +did not look at the girls sitting around her except +for glances here and there; but it was perfectly +legitimate to gaze forward at the home +room teacher. Was she going to like her? + +Two teachers were standing, near the large +desk in front and before the blackboard, which +covered its appropriate space on three walls. +The fourth side of the room was devoted to +windows. The teachers were laughing and talking +together, apparently in the best of spirits. +Then a gong rang, or something made a sound +in the halls and a corresponding ring in the +room. Immediately one of the ladies departed +and the other turned to face the class with a +great change of countenance, not exactly stern, +Betty thought, but it was quite obvious that her +home room teacher was ready to handle any +obstreperous little freshman who did not want +to keep order. + +But no one was disorderly this morning. It +was an event to enter high school. The expectant +faces met the dignified survey of the +teacher. In due time she explained what was to +be done. Cards were there from the office. +Schedules had been made out for each one. +They were to report to their respective teachers +at the rooms whose numbers were given. +Lockers could not be given for some time. They +would be obliged to carry their books and take +them home, but it was remarked that they would +want to study at home in any event. Books +would be given out on the next day. + +“Oh, then, you didn’t have to buy any books,” +Betty thought. She wondered if her mother +would like that. They would never buy any +second hand books and her mother had ideas +on germs. There were a number of questions +that Betty would have liked to ask as the teacher +talked, but she did not dare interrupt. There +seemed to be too many things to remember. Of +course, it was easier for the girls and boys that +lived in the city all the time. + +“And now,” the teacher was saying, “I want +you to give your whole attention to one thing. +On these cards that I am giving you, you will +see what you are to write; and while I know +that this is all rather new to you, that fact is +not going to excuse you for making mistakes in +what is really important. Pay attention and do +not write until you are sure you know what to +write down. + +“Perhaps you wonder why I am saying this, +but if you saw some of the cards that we have +had in past years, you would not wonder at all. +When you read that line saying the year of your +birth, don’t put down the present year. Girls +less than a year old are not admitted to the +freshman class!” + +There was a subdued ripple of laughter at +this, though it was just possible that some of +the girls did not understand the joke. A few +looked worried. But Betty had never been +really afraid of teachers, having had no cause +to be afraid, and she did not intend to begin +now. Very carefully she read over the list of +what she was supposed to record; and then, +after the teacher was through with her explanation, +she started in. There was nothing very +bad about this. Of course they wanted to know +your address and who your father and mother +were and everything. + +“Elizabeth Virginia Lee,” she wrote, her +name “in full,” in careful round and legible +hand. Writing was not hard for Betty, which +was fortunate and would make her entire school +life easier for her. Betty had been named for +two grandmothers. At present she “rather +hated it,” the long names, but she always added +that they were good, sensible names and that +her mother like them. + +Betty remembered the year of her birth and +was not obliged to count back, as the teacher +had suggested might be necessary. Indeed, the +teacher had grown a little sarcastic while remarking +that “they” were “not particularly +interested in mere birthdays,” and that “birthday +presents were not given.” + +A colored girl across the aisle from Betty +looked at the teacher with such a blank stare +at this that Betty’s amusement was increased. +My, the teacher was funny. She wasn’t so bad +and was rather pretty, too. Once Betty’s +intelligent and understanding look had caught the +eye of her teacher as she was in the midst of +one of the funny speeches and Betty was sure +that the twinkle and comical raising of the eyebrows +was for her. + +“She shan’t have any reason to make fun of +*my* card,” thought Betty. “She looked at me as +if she thought I had some sense, anyhow.” But +teachers were accustomed to find response in +Betty Lee’s eyes and the mind back of them. +At this stage, however, and particularly when +the girls were dismissed, to find their respective +teachers and the rooms where they were to +recite, Betty was sure that she had no mind at +all. If she had only known some one! But +every one was busy with her own affairs, or +went off with some other girls. And that building! +Would she ever learn where to go? Luckily +her home room teacher taught one of the freshman +classes in which she had been placed and +in the same room. That was one off the list +very shortly. + +The halls were full of wandering pupils on +the same errands that concerned Betty; but her +mind was too set upon her purpose to see them +individually until once, when she was almost +run over by a tall lad who came flying around +the corner from a run down a stairway, she +recognized the boy who had stood back of her +in line the day before. + +“Oh, pardon me, *please*!” exclaimed the boy. +“I had no business to do that. I knocked your +purse out of your hand and everything!” Stooping +to pick up Betty’s purse and scattered notes +and slips, he added “I believe you were standing +in line just ahead of me yesterday. Did you get +all fixed up?” + +“Yes; and I’m just finding my class rooms +now.” + +“That’s fine. You’re not from one of our +schools–at least I couldn’t help seeing that the +envelope you had didn’t have a city address.” + +“No; we just moved here and everything is +new.” + +“Well, I hope you like it. This is a great +school.” + +“Oh, isn’t it! I suppose you’re a senior and +know all about everything.” + +The boy laughed. “Not exactly ‘everything,’” +said he, “and I’m a junior. I hope I meet you +again, but not to pretty nearly knock you over.” + +“Oh, that was all right,” replied Betty. “You +didn’t hurt me any.” + +The boy started on, then stopped. “By the +way, where are you living?” + +Betty named the suburb and the street. + +“I thought I saw you on the car yesterday. I +live out that way, too, and maybe I’ll come +around some time–that is, if it’s all right.” + +“We should be glad to get acquainted,” said +Betty, who felt sure that she could safely be +friendly with this kind of a boy, who had looked +so distressed at the results of his haste and +had clutched her just in time to keep her from +falling. “We don’t know much of anybody yet, +for Mother and Father came down in a hurry +to find a house.” + +“Oh, there’s the girl I was hurrying to catch,” +suddenly said the boy called Ted, as a girl came +from the direction from which Betty had been +coming. “Louise, come here and meet one of +the new freshmen. Probably I’d better know +your name, if I am to introduce you. Mine is +Ted Dorrance.” + +“I am Betty Lee,” smiled Betty, looking up +at a tall, handsome girl whom she remembered to +have noticed before in the hall and whom she +found to be Louise Madison. + +“Lou has a lot to do with one of the school +clubs and is always looking for good material,” +joked Ted. “I had my eye on this young lady +for you yesterday. Any relation to Robert E. +Lee?” + +Betty shook her head. “We’re from the New +England Lees, but I suppose back in England +the two families were connected.” + +“Well, the name Lee won’t hurt you any with +the Southern families in this town, and there +are a good many of them. But we’re keeping +you and I’ve got to see you, Lou, about a matter +of business.” + +“All right,” said the older girl. “I’ll see you +again, Betty, and I’m real glad to have met +you.” + +That was interesting, thought Betty, as she +climbed the same stairs down which Ted Dorrance +had been running. Louise Madison must +be a wonderful girl. She seemed to be perfectly +at home–perhaps she was a senior. Betty +wondered what sort of a club it could be that +freshmen could join. Louise had passed her a +few moments before Ted had come dashing +down. She must have finished whatever errand +she had and started back very soon. Well, she +now knew two pupils in this school, but not a +freshman! + +This time Betty was ready at twelve-thirty to +start home with the rest. She just made the +same street-car with Dick and Doris and listened +to their accounts on the way home. Like Betty, +Doris did not know any one in her class, though +Doris said that they “smiled at each other;” but +Dick knew several of the boys and had found +out all sorts of facts, particularly those relating +to athletics. “There was a bunch of us talking +together,” said he, “and we’re going to have +some great gym work and everything. The +eighth grade boys said that they have great +games at Lyon High School. Did you take in +the size of that stadium, Betty? And a fellow +they called Joe said that he helped with a stunt +the junior high had at the faculty and senior +basketball game last winter. That’s a sort of +funny affair and the senior team usually beats, +though when the athletic teachers play with the +rest of the faculty it isn’t so dead easy, I guess, +from what they said. But first they have a sort +of athletic or gym show. I’d like to be on it.” + +“Yes, and break your neck,” remarked Doris +with sisterly lack of being impressed. + +“Never you mind. The girls do something or +other, too. Maybe you’ll *have* to, so far as I +know.” + +“Oh, if that’s the case, I’ll never do a thing! +Couldn’t you get excused, Betty?” + +“Don’t worry, Doris. It isn’t likely that +you’d have to do anything too hard for you. +And there’s always Mother, and Father, to decide +what is best for us.” + +“But they always stand by anything school +does.” + +“Of course, because there’s never anything +out of the way. But they wouldn’t let anything +happen to us if there *were* anything that wasn’t +fair or right. Gracious me, if I hadn’t anything +more to worry about than what may happen +next *winter* I’d be thankful. What are your +teachers like?” + +That started the children on a new track and +Betty had amusing and detailed descriptions of +what had happened and what this teacher and +another were like. Doris was in a home room +for girls and Dick in one for boys. “There are +a great many of us boys,” said Dick with much +dignity. “I don’t know just how many but I +shall find out. Then when you write to Janet, +be sure to have her tell Bill.” + +“Can’t you write to Bill yourself?” + +“I don’t like to write letters,” calmly replied +Dick. “Besides, Bill might think I was getting +stuck up telling him such big stories as I’d have +to tell.” + +“And I suppose Janet won’t think *I’m* stuck +up?” + +“Janet will think that everything you do is +perfect, just as she always has.” + +“That is news to me, Dick. Why we’ve had +some of the most–well, *disagreeing* arguments +over things that you ever heard of.” + +“Of course. Janet has a mind of her own. +But all the same you needn’t worry over what +Janet would think. I know. Bill’s told me.” + +“Then you think I’d dare write Janet everything +about Lyon High, do you? Of course, I’m +going to risk it, Dickie, anyway. And I think +it was nice of Bill to tell you that.” + +“Oh, Bill didn’t do it to be nice. He thought +Janet was silly.” + +This was not so flattering, but Betty laughed. +She had brought it out herself. + +CHAPTER V: JANET HEARS FROM BETTY +================================= + +“Hello, hello; that you, Sue?” + +“Yes–Janet?” + +“Nobody else. Going to be at home for a +while?” + +“Yes; can you come over?” + +“That is what I’d like to do, for what do you +think?” + +“Anything exciting going on?” + +“Not exactly, but I’ve a letter from Betty Lee +at last!” + +“Oh, then you will bring it over with you, +won’t you?” + +“Of course. That’s what I’m coming for, +although we might just as well make plans for +the Sunday-school picnic while I’m over. This +is a real good long letter. I thought she’d never +write as she promised, to tell me about everything. +I’d almost begun to thing Betty *had* forgotten +us! But she hasn’t, at least she says +she hasn’t, and she’s been so busy, of course, +and everything new. She wrote this at several +different times. But there, I’d better let her +letter speak for itself. She said to tell you all +the news, and sent you her love and everything, +so I’ll just let you read all of it, even the more +or less private part if you want to. I’ll not +get to your house for a little while, for I have +to go down street for Mother first. She has +to have some soap and starch and other groceries. +She’s been doing up something extra. +But I thought I’d better call you up to see if +you’d be there.” + +In due season Janet Light appeared at the +home of her friend, where the two girls repaired +to the big swing in the back yard. There an old +apple tree spread wide branches over them and +let the sunshine of late September come through +its leaves in fitful fashion, dancing with their +shadows on and about the slightly swaying lassies. +It was Saturday morning, hence their leisure +after early morning tasks were over. + +“And see what I have to show you,” said +Janet, drawing from the envelope the letter and +something with it that fell on the floor of the +swing, almost going through its slats. + +“Oh, a new picture of Betty!” exclaimed Sue, +reaching down carefully to pick up the unmounted +photograph, a small one. “Isn’t that +cute? And it’s good of Betty, too. Why, it +doesn’t look like a snap-shot.” Sue turned it +over to examine it. + +“It isn’t. It was taken at some shop. Betty +tells about it in the letter.” + +“That’s Betty’s smile, and what a good light +on her hair. Betty’s hair is a real gold, just like +what you read about in books. I always wished +I had hair like Betty’s. And I never saw such +dark blue eyes as Betty has. They look straight +at you here. I think Betty is a real pretty girl, +don’t you?” + +“Yes, but she’s no doll. And I think Betty’s +‘gold’ on the inside, too. That letter didn’t +sound as if she’d forgotten us this soon. Read it.” +Janet held out the thick packet of folded sheets. + +“Oh, you read it to me. It will sound twice as +well in your ‘mellifluous’ tones. Kate had to put +‘mellifluous’ in a sentence at school yesterday.” + +Janet laughed. “I may leave out the messages +to me, then, but I’ll read it if you want +me to. Thank fortune, Betty writes so a body +can read it. And she says that we simply must +come down to see her at the Thanksgiving vacation. +I can’t wait to *read* you that. Her mother +says so, too, she wrote. Do you suppose we +could? I haven’t said anything to Mother yet.” + +“Wouldn’t it be *wonderful*? But–clothes and +everything–I’m afraid not.” + +“We have as good things as Betty has.” + +“I haven’t anything that would do to travel +in, though, and I’m afraid I can’t have a new +winter coat. My old one’s a sight!” + +“Why it looked good enough to me last winter. +But listen now. I’ll begin.” + +“Dear Janet,” the letter commenced. “I’ll +have to begin with apologies, of course, and I’m +hoping that you’ve received the two picture post +cards I sent. I meant to send some to all the +girls and haven’t. But honestly, I’ve been so +busy and it’s all been so mixy, if you know what +I mean by that, that I just haven’t gotten at +a letter that would give you any idea of how +things are. It looks sort of hopeless now, to +tell the truth, but I’m going to start in anyhow, +even if I have to write at several different +times. The longer I put it off the more there +will be to tell. You haven’t any idea how much +I’ve missed you and how I’ve almost started to +tell you things; that is, I’d think ‘I must tell +Janet that,’ and then I’d think again that you +weren’t anywhere around! + +“Talk about being lonesome! Of course I’ve +had the family, but not a single girl at first. I +have several friends now that I know more or +less, but nobody that takes the place of the girls +at home. You see I still call it home. I’m not +sure that the city will ever seem like home, but +it is very interesting and the place where we +live is ever so nice. It is all on one floor, which +makes it easy for Mother, and we have enough +room, though we wouldn’t have if we hadn’t gotten +rid of so much stuff before we moved. Still, +there is a little room on the third floor where +we can store some things, like our trunks and +boxes. Mother likes it, though she has been +lonesome, too, for all the friends. But of course +Mother and Father used to live in a city, so it +doesn’t seem so strange to them. Two people +live on the floor above us, but there is a separate +entrance and stairs and everything separate in +the basement. + +“There is a good church near enough to walk +to it and Mother has been to some of the missionary +meetings and suppers and all, and we +have, too–to the suppers! So Mother and +Father are beginning to be acquainted. I’m in +a Sunday school class, but I haven’t had time +to go to anything besides just Sunday morning, +for there are too many lessons and school +things that take my time. I just have to get a +good start. But I’ll have time pretty soon. The +class has monthly meetings. They wanted me +to be in some kind of a pageant, but Mother said +I’d better not try it, for I wouldn’t have time to +practice. + +“And now about the school. Honestly, girls, +I don’t know where to begin. Not all the high +schools are as fine as ours, for ours isn’t as +old as some of them and Father says it is modern +in every respect. They are so crowded +that they simply have to build new schools, +which Father says is a good thing. In some old +schools they’ve been actually heating with +stoves, not even a furnace. So Father said. + +“Well, the building is big and the grounds +are gorgeous, full of beautiful trees and shrubbery. +I’m no architect, so I can’t tell you about +the building except that it spreads out and up +three stories, besides the basement floor, and +Mother says we need wings! The basement +floor isn’t under the ground or anything, and +all the freshmen have their lockers there. We +put our wraps and books there when we do not +need them and get them out when we do. We +have a ‘home room’ and a teacher in charge of +it, and we go there the first thing in the morning +and the last thing before we go home. She +tells us things, the teacher, I mean. Some days +we don’t do the same things. Sometimes we go +to the ‘auditorium’ and hear somebody speak, +or something happens there, but not much yet. + +“At first I simply felt lost. Just imagine. +Girls, there are *twenty-eight hundred boys and +girls* that attend our high school and I don’t +think that counts the pupils in the junior high. +That is *more than half as many people* as are +in our home town! + +“Dick and Doris are very much set up over +being in a ‘junior high school’–though I don’t +mean that unkindly. But they think it as wonderful +as possible and like their teachers. Dick +is more interested in athletics than he is in his +lessons and Father has to keep him at his lessons +a while in the evenings after he has been +outdoors enough, as Father thinks. Doris is +working away to make good grades. She has +her eye on things that the other girls do and +wear but that is only natural, and I imagine +that we need all the good advice Father and +Mother give us. Mother says not to join anything +until we get a good start in our lessons +and learn more about living here. Oh, yes, I +was to send some message to Billy, but I told +Dick he could just as well write himself, and +it may be possible that Billy will hear from +him, though I couldn’t say positively. You know +how much the boys like to write! + +“By the way, I’m putting in a little picture +of myself. Mother let me go down town with, +one of the girls that lives not so very far from +us; at least we take the same street car home +from school. So we went down one day right +after school. She invited me, and took me to +a real good moving picture, and we stopped in +at a cute little place where they take cheap +photographs. We also had a grand sundae at +a wonderful place and came home not a bit +hungry for dinner. And that makes me think–we +have dinner at night, for Father can’t come +home very well, it is so far, and has a noon +lunch down town. We children have one at +school, and my, what grand lunches we do have! +They give it to us at about what it costs, so it +doesn’t quite break us up to buy it, enough for +the time we have to eat it. But everything, +street-car fare and all, costs more in a city. +Father drives us to school, mostly, and then +goes on down to his business. + +“I think that I shall have to stop, though I’ve +been scribbling as fast as I could, and I believe +I’ll just send this right off, though I’m not half +through with all there is to tell. I’ll try to write +something about the folks we have met when +I write again. More things will have happened, +too, I suppose, but I’ve got to stop now. Give +Sue my love and now I want you both to plan +to come here for your Thanksgiving vacation. +Mother invites you, too. She said it would do +me good to see some of you. Auntie can’t come +for she’s going to some family reunion or other, +and we can make room for you. Please try to +do it!” + +But the letter was not finished with this. A +dash and a new date began the next part in +which Betty said that since she had been interrupted +she might as well add something more +to her “book” she was writing to Janet. There +followed more details with a comical +description of “her trip down in charge of the family,” +her arriving to find no one, and the “time she +had the first day of school.” + +The “private messages” to Janet were only +some loving remarks with which she closed and +those Janet let Sue read herself. + +“I’m sure she does miss you, Janet, just as I +have missed my cousin Moira. I don’t see why +Uncle had to move ’way out to California. I’m +afraid I never *will* see her again.” + +“Oh, yes you will–and wouldn’t it be a great +place to go to visit her?” + +“Y-yes, if I ever could. I’m glad I have you +left, Janet. I know why you and Betty have +liked each other so much. You’re both so cheerful +and stout-hearted some way.” + +“Why, whatever made you think that?” asked +Janet, surprised. + +“Mother said that about Betty, and I’ve noticed +it about you, only I hadn’t put it into +those words.” + +“It’s very nice of you to think it about me. +I’m just as glad to have you, Sue, and we’d +better see a great deal of each other, just as we +have since Betty left. And if Mrs. Lee herself +invites us to come, let’s try as hard as we can +to go to visit Betty at Thanksgiving. We’d not +need much in the clothes line for such a few +days, our school dress and our Sunday dress, +a change of underclothing, I suppose, and our +wraps. *Betty* would never be ashamed of us +if we didn’t have new and stylish hats and coats.” + +“I believe Betty did say that her old coat +would have to do this winter, though I’m not +sure. Perhaps it was you that mentioned it. +Well, it doesn’t matter. I’ll go if I can, Janet, +and be sure to give Betty my love when you +write to her. I hope she’ll write to me.” + +“Oh, she will, Sue. Of course Betty will, if +she is inviting you. But you can see what a rush +she’s in. It must take a lot of time just to get +to places on the street cars. Mother said it +would take over half an hour to get down town +from some of the suburbs. And maybe it’s +more than that. I believe I’d rather live here, +where you can walk to church and school and to +the groceries and picture show and everything.” + +“I can imagine that Betty *is* pretty lonesome +sometimes,” added Sue, gravely looking at the +letter which she still held. “But it seems just +like a nice adventure that you read about, and +if we can go, we’ll have a share in some of it.” + +CHAPTER VI: FRIENDS AND FUN +=========================== + +Had Betty Lee imagined any faintly romantic +attraction to her dainty self on the part +of Ted Dorrance, she would have been disappointed +during these first weeks in the new +school. He always spoke when they met in the +halls provided he saw her; but he was usually +with other boys and very much engrossed in +whatever he was discussing with them. Hurrying +crowds on the way to classes had little interest +for Betty as well. She, too, was absorbed +by the busy and interesting life, and soon had +friends among the girls in her classes. + +Betty, though friendly, was by nature not inclined +to make close friends immediately. But +girls that recite together and have the same lessons +will find much in common. Betty’s good +recitations and her hand that went up often to +answer the questions of different teachers were +sufficient introduction to her classmates, who +heard her name, as she heard theirs, when she +was called upon to recite. She cheerfully lent +a pencil or pen for a moment, or answered some +question before class about the lesson, or sat +upon her desk, opposite some similarly perched +girl, to chat about coming events. There were +“hundreds of freshmen” and that literally; but +they resolved themselves into the comparative +few with whom she recited in her different +classes. + +Long before the Thanksgiving visit, which she +anticipated from her old home chum, she was +accustomed to school and work and thoroughly +liked many of the girls, especially a few who +were “very chummy” with her, she told her +mother, and sat with her at lunch, or waited for +her after class, or planned their work or recreation +together. + +Louise Madison, she found to be a senior, +president of the Girls’ Athletic Club, a large +association, indeed, consisting of all the girls +who “went in” for athletics. A certain amount +of gym work was required, but one could take +more, to be sure. Yet Betty’s parents were a +little hesitant just yet; and not knowing the +wisdom of the teachers in charge, preferred that +Betty wait a little, except in swimming, which +her father said she ought to know as well as +possible, so that she could “swim to Europe” +in case something happened to the ship before it +reached port. + +At that remark, soberly delivered, the family +had laughed, but Doris asked in good earnest, +“When are we going, Papa?” + +“Aw, Dodie,” said Dick, “can’t you tell a joke +when you hear one?” + +“Well, we probably *shall* go some day,” airily +said Doris, provoked at herself for having +spoken too soon, and none too well pleased with +her twin. “You think you’re very smart!” + +“Doris,” quietly said her mother with a reproving +shake of her head, and trouble was +avoided. + +The freshman to whom Betty was most attracted, +and that very soon, was Carolyn +Gwynne, a bright, warm-hearted, generous girl, +alive to everything and enthusiastic about many +things, yet with a certain poise that Betty decided +was due to the fact that she had always +lived in the city. Her pretty brown head often +bobbed along by Betty’s fair one and her face +was alight with various expressions as she told +Betty “all she knew and more,” as she herself +said. + +“Everybody likes Carolyn,” said Peggy Pollard, +who had seen the grades through with +Carolyn. “It’s because Carolyn goes out of +her way to do things for people. She has a +lovely family, too, and that makes a difference, +don’t you think, Betty?” + +“Oh, yes. Wouldn’t it be terrible not to be +happy at home?” + +“It certainly would.” + +Peggy herself was a “darling girl,” Betty +thought, prettily plump, like Carolyn, though +shorter than either Carolyn or Betty. Her locks +that fell around her shoulders just now, being +allowed to grow and variously trained on different +days, were of that dark brown red that +belongs with what seems to be the same color +of eyes and a pinky complexion. But Peggy +did not go without a hat as much as the other +girls, since freckles “were one thing she wasn’t +going to have!” If she could only *tan* decently +now! “You have a dimple on one cheek, Betty +Lee,” said Peggy, “and Carolyn has one on the +other. Those cheeks ought to be on one person!” + +“Oh, aren’t you funny, Peggy Pollard!” +exclaimed Betty. “Carolyn’s cheek added to my +cheek,”–then they both laughed, thinking of +another meaning for “cheek.” They were in a +mood for silliness anyhow, Peggy said, for they +were on their way to the auditorium for a “pep” +meeting. The occasion, of course, was fall foot, +ball. Enthusiasm must be aroused for the +“Lions,” soon to fight their first battles on the +gridirons of various schools in the city and +suburbs. But Betty did have two dimples. + +In common with the rest of the scholars of +Lyon High, Betty and her friends were delighted +to have an auditorium session, not only +for what usually went on, but for the cutting of +recitation hours! + +“Carolyn’s going to have a garden party, +Betty,” Peggy continued. “Has she told you +about it?” + +“No–I hope I’ll be invited, though,” laughed +Betty, climbing the stairs now for the recitation +room and her freshman locker, just secured in +the last few days. “My, isn’t it nice not to have +to carry your books around any more!” + +“Yes,” and Peggy slid her hand up along +the brass railing of the stairs. “But I imagine +Carolyn just decided about it last night. All +their fall flowers are so beautiful now. They +have a wonderful big place, you know. Have +you anything else to do Saturday?” + +“No, only some shopping down town with +Mother. I could put that off. She has a lot +of things to do for Dick and Doris.” + +“You might get your shopping done in the +morning, perhaps. I’ll tell you what cars to +take, though it might be that Carolyn could +come for you, or somebody call for you in their +car.” + +“Oh, I could get there, I think, if it is not too +far from the car line. I’m getting used to going +around now.” + +“It isn’t so easy sometimes, even for those of +us that have always lived here, and our fathers +and mothers like to be careful of us, of course.” + +“Will there be a large party? I might meet +some of the girls somewhere, wherever you have +to change cars.” + +“Yes, probably you could. Why, I think that +there will be all our crowd and some others we +don’t see so much of, real nice girls, you know.” + +Betty was glad to be included in “our crowd,” +but there was no further opportunity for conversation. +Boys and girls were pouring into +the different entrances of the auditorium, seeking +their regular seats, which had been assigned. + +“Oh, look!” exclaimed Peggy. “We’re going +to have the band! Say, don’t they look fine in +their uniforms? Well, ’bye–sorry I can’t sit +by you.” + +The high school band did look resplendent. +As Betty took her seat they struck up a lively +popular air and played it through while the +school was assembling. They were on the platform, +where the principal stood beside a chair, +probably thinking that his presence would have +more effect if he stood. And the presence of +the dignified principal always did have a calming +effect. No nonsense or disrespect was ever +shown to him, for the very good reason that he +would not tolerate it. A school of this size, +and a city school, with its variety of composition, +called for no weakness in the men and +women who had charge of its discipline, though +in this school all due consideration was given to +the rights and needs of its pupils. + +It was a pretty scene. Betty was glad that +she sat on the end of one row of seats, for she +could see so much better. Eagerly she leaned +forward, not to miss any part of scene or action. +But before they were seated, they all turned as +usual, at the signal from the principal, to salute +the flag, whose bright stripes and stars showed +at the principal’s right. Already the pupils +were trained to say in excellent unison the +phrases which pledged them to the flag of their +country and that “for which it stands.” Together +they made the right gestures at the right +time and Betty had not gotten over feeling +thrilled to be a part of so great a company, or +over the patriotic tie that made them one. + +Carolyn sat not far away, in front of Betty, +and as soon as they were seated she leaned back +to nod at Betty and form with her lips the +words, “I want to see you after this.” + +Betty nodded her understanding. She *was* +going to be invited to the garden party, she +thought. But what was the principal saying? +He sat down, after making a few announcements +and handing the conduct of the meeting over +to some boy, whom Betty supposed the president +of the Boys’ Athletic Association, though +she had not caught the last words of the principal. +The program was not so different from +that of the meetings which Betty had attended +in the little school at home, when there was a +general gathering in honor of athletics, but oh, +how much bigger everything was. + +The band was several times as large, and how +well they played! It must be something to learn +to play in a city where there is a symphony +orchestra, Betty thought. Ambition stirred. +She just *must* belong to one of the musical organizations +of the school, some time if not now! + +Now the yell leader performed, leading the +school in different yells for the team and school. +Betty’s face was one wide smile. These were +new and funny yells. The team had to come +forward and some speeches where made. Some +of the boys were shy and awkward; others, used +to it, said their say with greater freedom. Some +funny expressions were used. Betty thought of +how they must grate on the ears of her strict +English teacher who had been particularly +severe in regard to slang at their last recitation. +What would she say if she heard some of the +things that Betty had been surprised to hear +girls say, girls that seemed to be nice and were +undoubtedly attractive? Such girls in the village +at home were not welcomed to intimate +friendship and as a rule belonged to a class +careless and unrefined at home. + +Little thoughts like these ran through Betty’s +young head as she applauded with the rest and +tried the yells, such fun to say; though she did +not know some of them. But they were easy to +get, “crazy” as they were. But the wilder the +better, when it comes to athletics, or so the +modern rooters seem to think. The band indulged +in funny little crashes at quick signals +from the yell leader. Betty, with one eye on +the principal, saw him smile occasionally. All +this was allowed; but, after all, it was an +orderly performance, if wildly enthusiastic. +“My, they all know how to do it, don’t they?” +she said to Carolyn, who joined her on their +way from the auditorium. + +“Yes, but they wouldn’t I guess if they didn’t +have people in charge that won’t stand for any +nonsense. Got your Latin all out?” + +“Yes, though I’m shaky on some of it. It’s +terribly hard for me to memorize. If she didn’t +have us go over it so much I’d never get it.” + +“That’s what teachers are for, I suppose,” +laughed Carolyn. “But what I wanted to see +you about was this: I want to have a garden +party while the weather’s nice, so I’m asking +everybody for Saturday–just informal +invitations, you know, not the way my big sister +does when *she* gives a party! Can you come? +We’ll have a picnic dinner outdoors, unless the +weather does something awful. But it’s pretty +dry and I don’t believe it will rain. We had +such a lot of rain last week and our flowers are +so pretty now. Please come.” + +“Why, I’d just love to, Carolyn, and I think +it’s nice of you to ask me. I don’t know of any +reason why I can’t come. I’ll ask Mother tonight +and let you know *sure* tomorrow. It’s +practically sure, though, because I can do what +I like Saturday afternoon.” + +“All right, Betty. I’ll expect you. I’ll give +you the address and tell you how to get there +when I have time.” + +The girls hurried along with the rest of the +crowds going to recitation rooms. It must be +said that Betty’s mind wandered a little occasionally, +whenever it was safe to let it wander, +from the subjects of the lessons to the delightful +prospect of next Saturday. This was the first +of the week. What should she wear? She did not +like to ask Carolyn, but perhaps she could +manage to bring up the subject with Peggy, or +some of the other girls, when she knew who +were invited. Suppose there should be some +freshman boys. Peggy hadn’t said and neither +had Carolyn. + +That afternoon, after school, Betty rushed +into the house with her books for night study +and deposited them on the table with a slight +thud. Her eyes were alight and the “one +dimple” was much in evidence. “Mother, I’m +invited to a garden party! It’s at Carolyn’s +on Saturday afternoon and they’re going to +have a picnic dinner outdoors. Can I go? *May* +I go, I mean?” + +“I shall certainly want to say yes, if you want +to go, as I judge you do.” Mrs. Lee was smiling, +too, as she looked at her glowing young daughter. +She folded a garment she had been mending +and laid it aside. “Tell me about it.” + +“Well, you know who Carolyn is, don’t you?” + +“I ought to by this time,” and Mrs. Lee’s eyes +twinkled. “It occurs to me that I have heard +you mention her before.” + +Betty laughed. “I suppose I *have* raved +about Carolyn. But she is the dearest thing.” + +“I am sure that it is a perfectly proper friendship, +Betty,” assented Betty’s mother. “The +Gwynne place has been mentioned more than +once in the paper and I read of a large garden +party given there by Carolyn’s mother, about +two weeks ago, I think.” + +“Oh, was that the gorgeous place that had +the pictures of it in the Sunday paper?” Betty +looked a little dismayed. “Why, they must be +very stylish and wealthy folks–but Carolyn +likes me–I know she does.” + +“To be stylish and wealthy, my dear, does not +always make people snobs, and there are other +assets that they may recognize in other people, +too. If you and Carolyn are congenial, there +is no reason why there should not be a pleasant +friendship between you, at least now.” + +Betty looked thoughtful. “You mean that +after a while their way of living might make a +difference and that Carolyn would have different +friends!” + +“Perhaps. I don’t know, Betty. Separation +sometimes makes it impossible to keep in touch. +But don’t let me start unhappy thoughts about +this. I shall do everything I can to let you +have friends and a happy time. You always +have; why not here in the city? Just so you +have none that will hurt you. But you are not +likely to choose that kind, I think. Please +remember, Betty, that you can’t touch coal without +getting black.” + +“But you ought to be friendly with everybody, +oughtn’t you?” + +“Certainly, so far as being kind–but let the +older folks do the reforming, Betty. Well, all +this about one innocent party? What should +you wear, Betty?” + +“Just what I was going to ask you! But I’ll +find out from Peggy. They are going to play +tennis and things. I wish I had a real ‘sport +costume,’ for I don’t suppose they’ll wear +‘party dresses’ to an outdoor party like this.” + +“Perhaps we can fix something up, Betty. +If you only hadn’t outgrown everything so! We +can’t afford new clothes right now, after all +our moving and what we have had to buy to fix +up this place. And social prominence does not +enter into our plans right at present.” Mrs. +Lee smiled at Betty, who was sitting in a low +chair now with her hands folded on her knees. + +“It never does,” laughed Betty, “but you +usually can’t help having it. I should think it +would be a rest not to be president of a club or +responsible for church things. Nevertheless, +Mother, don’t hide your light under a bushel!” + +With this advice, Betty jumped up to run out +into the kitchen and pantry, for investigation +of the cooky jar. Crumbs about showed that +Doris or Dick had been there before her, and +she heard Amy Lou’s childish laughter coming +from the back yard. But Betty’s lessons were +hard for the next day and she returned to the +living room to take one of her texts back to her +room and study a while by herself. + +CHAPTER VII: CAROLYN’S GARDEN PARTY +=================================== + +The rest of the week went by in pleasant +anticipation of the garden party, Betty’s first. +To be sure there had been “loads of picnics,” +and lawn fetes for the church, usually in the +spring or early summer. But a real “garden +party” *must* be different. There was much consultation +about clothes between Betty and her +mother. One of the girls had said that of course +one wouldn’t wear her *old* clothes, or her Girl +Scout or Camp Fire Girl suits, as you would +on a picnic to the woods. *She* was going to +play tennis, and her mother had gotten her an +“*awfully pretty*” white sport suit! + +Well, what *was* a sport suit anyhow? Mrs. +Lee took Amy Lou down town, one morning +when Mr. Lee could drive them down, and spent +a rather trying morning trying to shop with a +child. She looked at dresses and patterns, with +a view of fitting Betty suitably for the occasion. +But the new things were expensive. Finally, +by letting down a skirt Betty had and arranging +a suitable blouse, or upper part, what Betty +called a “near-sport” frock was evolved. + +Then, after all the effort, Betty came home +one afternoon with a new idea. “Mother, it’s +turned so awfully hot–Indian summer, I suppose–that +Peggy says she isn’t going to play +tennis or anything on a court, and she’s going +to wear her light green flat crepe that is her +second best, or else some real cool summer +dress, whatever happens to be ready. Peggy +doesn’t care! I believe I’ll just wear my pretty +thin blue and let it go at that. I don’t want +to play tennis either, especially when I don’t +know anybody much and not so very many can +play. Carolyn says she’s going to pay all her +social debts at once and have a big party, so +I’ll be lost in the multitude.” + +Like Janet, Mrs. Lee privately thought that +Betty would never be “lost in the multitude,” +but she did not say so. “So Carolyn is paying +all her ‘social debts,’ is she?” asked Betty’s +mother, amused at the “social debts” expression. +“It is just as well that you have decided +on the blue. It will look pretty in the gardens +and *I’d* dress for the flowers instead of the +tennis court.” + +“Aren’t you poetic, Mother! It’s a shame +that you went to all the trouble about the other +dress, though.” + +“That will be so much clear gain, child. You +now have another frock, which will come in for +service at some time, no doubt.” + +When the day and the hour arrived, Betty’s +father arrived home late for lunch, as he could +do on Saturday, unless there were some executive +meeting. That settled the question of how +to get to the party, and Betty called up two of +her friends to say that her father was going to +take her and that she would stop for them if +they liked. Naturally they were glad of the +opportunity, for the Gwynne estate was out at +some distance, *almost* a “country estate,” Peggy +had said. “Call up,” said Betty’s father, “when +you want to come home, or rather, when I +should start from home in time to reach you. +We’ll take note of the time we spend getting +there. Then I’ll bring a machine full of whomever +you like.” + +“Oh, that is so good of you, Mr. Lee!” exclaimed +Dotty Bradshaw, one of the freshman +girls whom Betty had invited to ride with them. +“But perhaps Betty will want somebody else, +though,” added Dotty, happening to think that +perhaps she was taking too much, for granted. + +“Why, Dotty, of *course* if we call for you +we’ll see you back home. We’re sort of new +to the city, though, so perhaps you can tell me +who live places that wouldn’t be too far away.” + +“Most anybody that attends our high school +would be all right,” answered Dotty, “because +girls that live in other parts of town would go +to other high schools.” + +“Of course! I didn’t think!” + +“Well, I don’t know about that,” said Selma +Rardon, the other freshman in the car. “There +are sometimes people way out, like Carolyn herself.” + +Betty was already assured by the very different +dresses of the girls with her, and when +she arrived at the beautiful place where Carolyn +lived she thought how silly she had been to worry +about clothes. Still, you wanted to be suitably +dressed, and when you knew hardly anybody, +there was some excuse. And oh, there *were* +boys, too. She saw a number of lads whose +faces she knew by having seen them in the +different freshman classes. Then there were +others whom she did not know at all. By the +time Betty and her friends turned into the drive +which led to the house, most of the boys and +girls had arrived, it seemed and were dotted +in groups all over the closely clipped lawn which +still looked like velvet between its flower beds +and shrubbery. Oh, wasn’t it beautiful? Betty +was so glad that her father could see where +the party was. + +“I was afraid you weren’t coming at all, +Betty,” said Carolyn, squeezing Betty’s hands, +“but there are still a few that haven’t gotten +here.” + +“I waited for Father to bring us,” replied +Betty, “and we didn’t quite know how long it +would take to drive out.” + +“Well, you’re here now and I’m going to ask +Peggy to see that you meet everybody. I’ll +have to be darting here and there and everywhere +to see that they all have something to +do.” + +Carolyn looked so pretty, Betty thought, and +she wore the simplest of summer dresses, to +all appearances, though the material was fine +and sheer, a sort of chiffon, Betty thought; for +Betty was just becoming aware of styles and +materials, matters which she had left to her +mother, and most wisely. + +There was the usual tendency of the girls and +boys to separate into groups of boys and groups +of girls, but Carolyn had announced that first +they would stroll to see the flowers and go to +the pool and the greenhouse and that each boy +must join some girls, not necessarily *one* girl. +In consequence the groups were mixed by the +time Betty and her friends began their stroll +around the grounds and Peggy took Betty into +the midst of one. Dotty Bradshaw accompanied +them, though Selma had been drawn away by +one of her special friends. Dotty was “cute,” +Peggy said. + +Here were Mary Emma Howland and Mary +Jane Andrews, the two Marys of Betty’s +algebra class. Then Chet Dorrance, whom Betty +afterward found to be Ted’s brother, was feeding +the goldfishes in the lovely pool from a box +of something held by Kathryn Allen. Budd LeRoy +perched on the stone arm of a seat that +curved artistically in grey lines, back a little +from the pool, and talked spasmodically to +Chauncey Allen, Kathryn’s brother, and Brad +Warren. Budd, Chauncey and Bradford were +not freshmen, Betty thought, but she wasn’t +sure. Who *could* be sure about all the freshmen +there were? Chet Dorrance looked a good deal +like his brother, though his hair was lighter and +Betty decided that he didn’t look quite so smart, +but not many of the boys could touch Ted for +looks. + +The boys all wore coats, though she knew that +some of them, at least, would have felt more +comfortable without them, as she had seen them +Friday at school. Later on, however, when +games and sports began, many a coat was to +be found hung on the back of a garden bench +or over the slats of a trellis. Carolyn may +have given the word. Betty did not know. She +usually kept her eye out for what boys did, on +account of Dick, whose social etiquette she +helped superintend, little as she knew herself. +Between three and four o’clock it was very +warm indeed. Later it began to cool off and +seem like early October. + +“Isn’t this the loveliest place?” she said to +Chauncey Allen, by way of making conversation. +After introducing Chauncey to Betty, Peggy +had darted off to start Budd and Bradford in +tennis, about which they had inquired. Chet +Dorrance and Kathryn Allen had finished feeding +the goldfish and sauntered to the big stone +seat, where Chauncey suggested that he and +Betty also sit. Kathryn was a pretty, slight +little girl with an olive complexion, very black +hair and dark eyes. Chauncey was as dark in +his coloring but was of a much larger build. + +“Pretty nice,” replied Chauncey. “They’ve +got fine gardens and a good tennis court, that +much is certain; but their house is pretty old.” + +“But it looks so–distinguished,” said Betty. +“Those big pillars and the wide porch and the +drive with that sort of porch built over it–I +never can remember the name for it.” + +“You can’t prove it by me,” grinned Chauncey. +“I don’t know either, although we have +one. Yes, the Gwynne place is considered a +fine old estate, so my dad says. Mother says +she wouldn’t have it for it isn’t modern enough +to suit her. She doesn’t like high ceilings and +great rooms that are hard to heat in winter.” + +“Oh, I *love* them,” cried Betty, “though maybe +it’s because I never have to bother about +furnaces and things like that. I’d just love to +have a great house and big grounds like this.” + +“Where do you live?” asked Chauncey. + +“In an apartment. My father’s just come to +the city this fall and we took the best place +Mother could find. We still have a home in my +home town, but I don’t suppose we’ll ever go +back there to stay.” + +“Would you like to?” + +Betty shook her head negatively. “I’m thrilled +to death to be in our big high school!” + +Chauncey grinned pleasantly. “It is pretty +good,” he acknowledged, “but I hate to study +sometimes. I hope football will go all right +for our team this year. There’s one of the big +high schools that is our greatest rival, and O, +boy–if we don’t beat them this year!” + +Betty had not heard about that, but she +loyally echoed Chauncey’s wish. + +“How about going up to the house for that +fruitade Carolyn said would be ready pretty +soon?” asked Chauncey, including the group, for +two other girls had come up to the pool and +were now joining Kathryn and Chet. + +The suggestion was promptly acted upon and +Betty now found herself walking between tall +pampas grass and well trimmed bushes of all +sorts along a path to the house and talking to +Chet Dorrance, who asked her if she had bought +her season ticket for football yet. + +“No, I haven’t. Are you selling them?” + +“No, but Ted is.” + +“I’m awfully sorry, but Carolyn told me that +if I hadn’t promised, one of the girls wanted to +sell me one, so I promised.” + +“Oh, that’s all right. It was probably one +of the girls on a pep squad.” + +“What’s a pep squad?” laughed Betty. “That +must be one of the things that I haven’t heard +about yet.” + +“You’ll hear a lot about it, then. Why, they +have them in the G. A. A., girls that talk it all +up and make ‘enthusiasm’ and support the athletics, +you know.” + +“What is the G. A. A., please? I must be terribly +dense, but remember all the things I’ve +tried to take in. You’re not a freshman, are you?” + +“Why, no–what makes you think that?” +Chet was privately thinking that there must be +something after all in experience, though as he +was no larger than a very dear freshman friend, +who had been left a little behind in the race for +high school, he had been “insulted” more than +once by being considered a freshman. + +“Well, I did think that you were one, since +your brother is a junior”–Betty had almost +said that he looked so much younger than Ted +the tall, but she halted in time. “But you seem +to know all about everything, and even the +freshies who live here don’t always remember +everything.” + +“I could get all that from hearing Ted talk, +you know; but of course, there isn’t much about +the school that I haven’t *heard* about–I +wouldn’t say *know*, of course.” + +“It must be nice,” said Betty, thereupon +pleasing her escort, who immediately began to +enlighten her upon the workings of the athletic +association and the girls’ share in it. The G. +A. A. was the Girls’ Athletic Association. + +“Oh, yes! Of course. I hear them call it a +*club*. I’ve even had it explained to me–but not +the pep squads. I only wish I had time for +everything!” + +“You don’t have to do everything your freshman +year, Betty.” + +“That is what Father said–so I’m not. But +that doesn’t keep you from wanting to do +things.” + +“You’re right it doesn’t!” Chet was thinking +of several things that he had wanted to do and +still wanted. + +A great glass bowl just inside the screened +porch on the side of the house away from the +sun, supplied a cool drink of oranges and lemons, +whose slices floated about pieces of ice. A +maid in cap and apron served them and fished +out a whole red cherry to put in Betty’s glass. +And didn’t it taste good! + +Then, in the shifting of position and accidental +meetings of this one and that one, Betty +found herself with Mary Emma Howland and +another freshman boy whom she recognized as +the brightest lad in the algebra class. “Oh, +yes,” she said, in answer to Mary Emma’s question +whether or not she knew “Sim,” and +brightly she smiled at him. + +“We never were introduced,” said Betty, “but +when you recite every day together you can’t +help but know people, and whenever Mr. Matthews +calls on ‘James Simmonds’ he looks as if +he expected to have a recitation.” + +“There, Sim!” laughed Mary Emma. “I told +you you were the teacher’s pet!” + +“Much I am!” and James Simmonds looked +as if he did not appreciate being complimented, +even by two merry girls. He was a tall, thin +boy, with light, sandy hair, thin face and light +eyes, but eyes that were keen with intelligence +when they did not twinkle with mischief. “And +I’m usually called ‘Simmonds’ by the men +teachers.” + +“So you are,” acknowledged Betty. “But I +didn’t know they called you ‘Sim’–I thought it +was ‘Jim.’” + +“I’m generally known as Sim,” said the boy, +“but sometimes it’s ‘Jim’, or ‘Carrotts.’” + +Sim exchanged a look with Mary Emma, who +giggled. “Sim’s my fourth or fifth cousin,” +Mary Emma explained. “He lives at our house +to go to school while his father and mother are +away this year.” + +As Betty looked inquiringly at Sim, he explained +that his father was an engineer and was +in South America with his mother for the year. +“I’m going there some day,” said he. “Say, they +have mosquitoes and snakes and all sorts of +queer things, and there are some man-eaters +down there, cannibals, you know–oh, it’s a wild +country all right!” + +“That doesn’t sound so very good to me,” +smiled Betty. “Do you really want to go where +there are snakes and things like that!” + +“Certainly! Mary Emma you bring Betty +Lee out some time and I’ll show her the things +they’ve sent us.” + +“We really have some beautiful things from +South America, Betty,” said Mary Emma, and +Betty was thinking how interesting it would be +to see them. My, she was getting acquainted +fast! But just as Mary Emma was beginning +to tell her about a handsome purse that had +come for her mother, Peggy came running out +of the house door and stopped before the porch +bench upon which the three were seated. Peggy +was wearing something funny on her head and +carried something, a straight piece of pasteboard, +in her hand. Large black letters said +something or other. + +“Oh, here you are, Betty. I was looking for +you. Carolyn wants you to be one of the social +engineers. We’re going to have games for everybody +on the lawn now and you’ll have to help. +Come on! ’Scuse Betty, please, Mary Emma–and +Sim.” + +Betty rose to follow Peggy inside. There +were several girls, all adjusting these +pasteboard caps or hats, that looked like short stove-pipes. +Carolyn was apologizing, though Betty +thought the idea clever. “I didn’t have time, +girls, to make caps, anything pretty, you know, +and I went to a picnic where they had these. +They looked cute and I thought they’d do.” + +“Of course they’ll do,” said Peggy, adjusting +the cap to Betty’s head, merely by wrapping +the two ends about and fastening them, top and +bottom, with ordinary clips. So that was what +the big black letters on the plain gray pasteboard +said, “SOCIAL ENGINEER.” + +“But Carolyn,” protested Betty, “I don’t +know everybody and how can I be a ‘social engineer’? +I suppose you’re going to have games +to manage?” + +“That’s it, and it doesn’t make a bit of difference +whether you know people or not. Your +head-gear makes it perfectly proper to speak to +anybody. I’m sure you’re good at things like +this–from your looks, you know!” + +“Thanks for the confidence,” laughed Betty. +“All right, I’ll do the best I can.” + +For the next hour the lawn looked pretty with +the groups that played the old-fashioned games +as well as those of a later date. Here were +flowers and shrubbery, light dresses, darting figures, +much laughter and little shrieks in the +midst of excitement, when some one was caught +or some one became “It.” Then tables were +brought out upon the lawn. Carolyn and Peggy +pressed several of the boys into service to help +place them, but after they were set, with silver, +napkins and flowers, a pretty vase in the center +of each table, the “banquet,” as Betty later reported +at home, was served them as perfectly +“as if they were grown up” by persons whom +Betty supposed to be the servants of the house. +Mercy, she would never dare invite Carolyn to +their apartment! And she did *love* Carolyn! + +Not that Betty was ashamed of simple living–Betty +was trying to think why she had +such a thought about Carolyn–but that could +be puzzled out later on. The present was too +pleasant for a single disturbing thought. It +was cool now and seemed more like the time of +year it really was. Sunset hues were showing. +And they were to stay till the Japanese lanterns +all about were lit, with some hiding game or +treasure hunt that Carolyn had mentioned to +the “social engineers” as their last effort and +fun. And now, after the pretty ice-cream in the +freshman colors and the delicious cake with the +double frosting, lovely baskets of grapes and +peaches were being passed. + +Betty slowly ate the juicy grapes of her +bunch, one by one, as she talked to Peggy on +one side of her, or Chet Dorrance on the other. +One of the junior boys had been “fired,” according +to Chet, for “cutting classes, disorderly conduct +and disrespectful behaviour.” Oh, no, he +couldn’t come back now. His parents had been +over to see the principal and they might get +the “kid” into some other school–Chet did not +know. And Betty was to watch Freddy Fisher +carry the ball at the first football game in the +stadium. “If you go with Carolyn and Peggy,” +said he, “they’ll tell you who everybody is that’s +doing things. You’ve seen ’em all, though, +haven’t you?” + +“Yes, but I’m not sure I’ll know them on +the field. I guess I am going with Carolyn and +Peggy.” + +“Of course you are,” decidedly remarked +Peggy, who had turned from her other neighbor +in time to hear Betty’s last sentence. “What is +it you’re going to?” + +CHAPTER VIII: BETTY HEARS THE LIONS ROAR +======================================== + +Nothing could have been more appropriate +for exciting athletic affairs than the name which +had been given to this high school in honor of +a distinguished public servant, interested in +education. It scarcely needs to be explained that +the football team of Lyon High was called the +lions, on and off the gridiron, or that posters +and the school paper carried fierce-looking +drawings and cartoons of the King of Beasts +in action. A golden yellow, relieved by black, +in the costumes of the Lyon High band and in +the sweaters of the team was supposed to suggest +the tawny coat of what could “eat up” any +other team in short order. Lions figured largely +in various badges and insignia of all sorts. +Betty Lee had early decided that she must some +day wear one of the pins or rings that bore +the “Lyon High Lion.” + +Oh, it was good to stow away books in the +freshman lockers and hurry with the rest of the +big crowd to find seats in the stadium, seats +where one could see everything! + +The girls lost little time at their lockers. +“Come on, Betty,” called Carolyn. “I’ve got +some newspapers to sit on. Yes, I should *say* +bring your coat! Your sweater won’t be enough. +I promised Mother to wear a coat and wouldn’t +have needed to promise, either. I don’t care +to freeze myself.” + +This was not the first game. That had been +duly played in the home stadium, not so long +after Carolyn’s garden party, and Betty had +felt all the thrills of seeing the great stadium +come to life for the first time in her experience. +After this big school, college could not bring +her more! Yet thrills could be repeated. Never +would this place become so accustomed, Betty +was sure, that she would not have them. +Then, this was the GREAT GAME. It was the +one between the two largest high schools of the +city and was an annual occurrence, long heralded, +the great game for which the teams prepared. +There had been a lively meeting in the +auditorium beforehand, that very morning. The +championship was at stake! “Oh,” said Betty, +“I don’t see how I can *stand* it if the Lions don’t +beat!” + +“Don’t suggest such a thing,” Peggy called +back. “Of course we’ll beat!” + +There was a large crowd, parents and friends +included, as well as many alumni of the high +school, who were interested enough and loyal +enough to see at least this one chief contest +every year. But Carolyn, Betty and Peggy, +with some of the other girls, were among +the first among those dismissed from the last +Friday classes. Their season tickets were +punched at the stadium entrance before the stadium +was appreciably filled. + +“We’ve a grand choice, girls. Hurry!” Carolyn +tripped rapidly down the steps in the lead. + +“Down there, back of those boys, Carolyn!” +called Peggy, who knew as well as Carolyn the +“strategic point” that they wanted to reach if +no one were ahead of them in securing it. “First +come, first served here, you know, Betty,” +Peggy added, hopping from one high step to +another in a short cut. + +Carolyn was spreading newspapers and holding +them to keep them from being blown away +in the slight breeze. “Sit on ’em in a hurry,” +she laughingly urged, and settled herself on the +further one, next to two of the teachers, who +were spreading out a steamer rug. “Sensible +girl,” said one, smiling down at Carolyn. “Is +your coat warm enough?” + +“Yes, Miss Heath, and we have on our sweaters +beside. Peggy and I nearly froze at the +University stadium last week, so we bundled up +this time. Did you see the game with State, +Miss Heath?” + +“Indeed I did.” + +“Good for you,” chuckled Carolyn. “You like +athletics, don’t you?” + +“Very much–when some one else does it.” + +“But *you* wouldn’t have time,” suggested +Carolyn. This was the Miss Heath whom all +the girls liked so much, girls of any rank from +freshmen to seniors. She was always fair, +though you had to work for her. No “getting +by” with poorly prepared lessons. + +“No,” assented the adorable Miss Heath, “I’d +have no time, not even for setting up exercises.” +She looked at her teacher friend, a lady from +the rival school, and laughed. “What do you +think, Carolyn, would it be polite for me to sing +with you our school songs or do any rooting for +Lyon High when my friend from our rivals’ +school is sitting right by me? By the way, Miss +March, this is Carolyn Gwynne, one of our +freshmen. You know the Gwynne place, out on +Marsden Road?” + +“Oh, yes, quite well. How do you do, Carolyn. +I think I have met you at your home. I +belong to a club that met there last year.” + +Carolyn said the appropriate remarks in +reply and was fortunately not obliged to decide +what was the polite course for Miss Heath +to follow. So far as she was concerned, no +scruples would have prevented her enthusiasm +for Lyon High, for the good reason that Carolyn +forgot everything but the game when the +contest was on. + +Peggy, and Betty, too, third in order from +the teachers, leaned around Carolyn to bow in +friendly and respectful fashion, but at once they +gave their attention to the crowd and the field. +On the track a few runners were practicing, +their costume looking very cool for the chilly +fall breezes. A few boys were standing about +on the field or central “gridiron.” + +Betty filled her lungs with the fresh air that +was not blowing too sharply. She was +accustomed to the curving concrete that rose high +behind her and stretched to right and left, to +the field before her and to the gymnastic or athletic +performances that had seemed so queer at +first because of the larger numbers and the better +equipment. By this time, too, she knew the +team, its best members and what they were +likely to do, though in the confusion of the game +it was sometimes hard for her to recognize a +play. + +As the game was with a city school today, +there were as many or almost as many rooters +for the visiting team as Lyon High itself could +offer. As the seats filled rapidly, competition +between rooters began. Rival bands with tooting +horns and rolling drums made a dramatic +appearance, paraded, and finally took position. +Rival yell leaders led rival cheer, though Lyon +High, trained by its athletic director to good +sportsmanship, gave a complimentary yell or +two for its guests, using their own battle cries +or merely giving hearty rah-rahs for the rival +school and team. + +Then the pandemonium was at its height +when the teams ran out upon the field and the +excited youngsters on the stadium seats rose +and shouted their greetings. Betty stood and +waved and gave the yells with the rest. She +might not have been long in Lyon High, but +she was a part of it now! It was her school! +There! That was Freddy Fisher, upon whose +plays so much depended. There went that mysterious +tall boy that somebody said came from +Switzerland and somebody else said was a Russian. +My, but he was an active chap! He was +almost as good as Freddy, Chet Dorrance had +told Betty, but he didn’t always understand the +signals and occasionally the team was penalized +for something that he did either accidentally +or on purpose. “He’s a hot one when he’s mad,” +said Chet, “and I guess he still thinks in his +own language, whatever that is, though he likes +to play and learn all the new signals pretty +quick, the coach says.” + +“Peggy, there is your hero,” laughed Carolyn. + +“Who?” inquired Peggy. + +“The ‘Don.’” + +“Oh, yes. I did say that he deserved as much +glory as Freddy for that last game, didn’t I? +He gave such fine interference.” + +“The ‘Don’?” inquired Betty, puzzled. + +“They have him Spanish now, Betty. He’s +been Russian, German, Hungarian and I don’t +know what all and I think the boys like to tease +us girls by making up something new about him +all the time. But isn’t he sort of handsome?” + +“I’d hate to say, Peggy, if you like his looks,” +countered Betty. + +“Betty likes them fixed up and awfully clean, +like Ted Dorrance, Peggy,” mischievously said +Carolyn. + +Betty flushed a little, but smiled. “I have a +brother, girls. He’s better now, but time was +when Dick would just as lief never wash from +‘early morn till dewy eve’ as Father used to +say. ‘Aw, what was the use of washing before +breakfast when you had to wash right after +it?’” Betty gave a comical imitation of Dick’s +tones. + +“So after assisting in rounding up Dick to +be washed and being embarrassed more than +once by his grimy looks, it’s no wonder if I like +’em clean at least. But I suppose I went through +that time of hating to be washed myself.” + +“I doubt it, Betty,” answered Carolyn. “I +think you are always dainty, if you ask me.” + +But now the time of the contest was at hand. +More excitement and cheers called for the +attention of the rooters to duty. They yelled for +their own teams now, under the frantic leadership +of active yell-leaders. The Lions’ little +mascot, arrayed in his mask of a lion’s head and +a suit as tawny as the coat of the biggest lion +in the “Zoo,” ran up and down, waving large +paws and trailing a long tasseled tail. + + | “Lions, rah! + | Rah-rah-rah-rah, Lions! + | Eeney, meeney, money mi, + | Lions win when they half try-- + | Eeney meeney money mi, + | Chew’em-up! Chew’em-up! *Lions*” + | (Roar) + +The influence of the living models at the Zoological +Gardens, on whose fearsome roars many +of these high school pupils had been, figuratively +speaking, brought up, made this characteristic +roar, with which many of Lyon High +yells closed, very realistic. It had been with a +mixture of startled surprise, amusement and admiration +that Betty, Doris and Dick had first +heard it that fall. But now even Amy Lou tried +to imitate it. + + | “Hickity, rickity, spickity jig! + | Zippity soom and lickity rig! + | The Lions are loose, + | Get out of the way! + | They’ll romp to the finish. + | And Capture the Day Gr-rr-rr--LIONS” + +Another favorite yell was both prefaced and +ended with a student roar from the Lyon High +part of the stadium. It was short and vigorous: + + | “Lions! Lions! + | And they’re not tame! + | Go it, Lions, + | And *win that game!*” + +Some unexplained delay gave time for a brief +rendering of a short high school song. “Make +it peppy!” called the leader, “one stanza and a +yell for the team!” + +This closed the preliminaries and in a tense +stillness on the part of the spectators the game +began. From the first it was exciting, for the +teams were well matched. “Now let the Lions +Roar,” was balanced by “Now let the Eagles +Scream,” in several good plays by each in the +first quarter. + +The Eagles kicked off but lost their advantage +almost at once. For a little the struggle resulted +in little gain for either side. A trick +kick failed. Line plays gained little. Both teams +resorted to punting and the Lions gained some +yardage. Betty, Carolyn and Peggy shared +some tense moments when the Eagles’ quarterback +made a good ran of thirty-five yards before +he was pulled down by Peggy’s new hero, +the “Don,” who came in for much cheering from +Lyon High rooters. + +“Oh,” said Peggy, sitting back weakly, “I +thought he was going to make a touchdown! +How did he get away?” + +“I don’t know,” answered Carolyn, “but he’s +a smart player, the best they have. He’s Bess +Pickett’s brother, you know.” + +“He *ought* to be somebody, then,” replied +Peggy. “What a pity he doesn’t go to Lyon!” + +“We don’t need him,” proudly said Carolyn. +“Wait and see Freddy Fisher wiggle and twist +out of–” but Carolyn did not finish her sentence +for interest in what was going on. She +was, however, a true prophetess, for as the +quarter was drawing near its end, their Freddy +caught an Eagles’ punt on his own ten-yard +line and raced through the entire Eagles’ team +for a touchdown, almost caught several times, +while the excited spectators stood and shouted. + +“Get-that-man! Catch him! Catch him!” +called the Eagles. + +“Look out, Freddy! Go it! Get there!” +shouted the Lyon High rooters. “A touchdown +Freddy! Atta-boy!” + +The Lyon High band struck up a victorious +strain, while Freddy, once more the conquering +hero, lay upon his ball to get his breath. + +During the second quarter there was no scoring. +The Eagles were determined to prevent +further scoring by the Lions and risked little +punting. They were able, however, to spoil any +fine little plans of the Lions. Betty, who could +not remember sometimes the various positions +of the players, though she could note their work, +watched the vigorous tackling and the opening +struggles of the plays and found it necessary +to make an effort not to become too worked up +over the contest. But the Lions must win this +time! They had barely won over the Eagles the +year before, but the championship was not at +stake then for an outside team had developed +into one that had beaten both Eagles and Lions, +and the Eagles had lost one other game. + +Time out saw some of the boys going out to +the side lines and as they returned, Ted Dorrance +saw a vacant seat just below where our three +girls sat and vaulted into it. “Hello!” said he. +“This is a better place than I had before. Anybody +rented it?” + +“Not that I know of,” laughed Carolyn. +“Some freshman we don’t know or some outsider +sat there, I guess.” + +“He’s lost out now,” said Ted. “How are +you ladies enjoying the game?” Ted looked up +at Betty as he spoke. + +“It is a wonderful game,” sighed Betty, “but +I can’t feel easy about our beating yet!” + +Ted laughed, drew a package of peppermint +“life savers” from his pocket and handed it up +toward the feminine fingers. “Perhaps these +will do you some good,” said he. “As to feeling +easy, nobody does, though some would say +so. But take it from me, girls, and keep it under +your hat, something is going to happen.” + +“Oh, tell us, Ted!” exclaimed Peggy. + +Ted shook his head in the negative. “Official +secret. I happened to get hold of it. Sh-sh!” + +Betty, with both dimples showing this time, +for she really had two, exchanged an amused +glance with the merry Ted, who now whirled +around as several boys returned to take seats +beside him, and one, looking up from below to +see no room there, hopped into another vacancy +lower down. + +“You’ll not have to fight for your seat, Ted,” +remarked Carolyn. “Aren’t you seniors proud +of Freddy?” + +“Yeah. But I wish this was a game where +the coach could put in a few substitutes. However, +the other team is as bad off.” + +As he spoke, the attention of all centered on +the gridiron once more; but Betty was handing +Ted the little package of “life savers,” and as he +took it, he leaned back to whisper near her ear +as she stooped, “Watch the Don!” + +Inquiring eyes met Ted’s with interest. He +nodded. “Do as I said,” he said jokingly, as he, +too, turned to give his full attention to the field. + +Betty wondered. The “Don” was noted for +his good interference. Were they going to let +him do something else? Anyhow she would +watch him, as Ted directed. How nice it was +of Ted to tell her! But Carolyn had given her +an amused glance just after Ted had turned +away. She must be careful or those ridiculous +girls would keep on teasing her. Not that she +cared. + +Very conservative, indeed, were the plays of +the third quarter. Very watchful were both +teams. But the Eagles must score if possible, +of course, since the only score had been made by +the Lions. Hard they fought. Alas–the Lions +were penalized for some breach of the rules by +Don, nothing serious, Ted said, just some little +regulation about “time”! + +“That old heathen!” exclaimed Ted, looking +back at Betty, who wanted to ask Ted if this +were what she was to watch Don for. “But just +wait. We’ll show them!” + +Next in excitement came a fifteen-yard holding +penalty imposed on the Eagles. But as if +in desperation, toward the last part of the quarter, +a forward pass by the Eagles was successful, +and Jim Pickett, clearing all interference, +made a seventy-five-yard run and a touchdown. + +“*Now* hear the Eagle scream!” exclaimed +Ted. “What’s the matter with our team that +they let Jim get away with that? But it was a +pretty run. Jehoshaphat, we’re even now! No–they’ve +lost the kick! Hooray, we’re one +ahead!” + +Ted was either talking to himself or to the +boys around him, but the girls followed his boyish +discourse with interest. And the next calamity +was even worse. In the next play one +of the fiercest Lions was hurt. They walked +him off, but one arm hung limp and Ted, who +again rushed away to find out the damage, returned +with the information that “Skimp’s arm +was broken!” + +“Oh, will that let them beat us, do you think?” +asked Betty, leaning forward. + +“Not necessarily,” replied Ted, “but it’s a +big loss,” and Ted looked a little grim. “Besides +that, Freddy’s twisted his ankle, mind +you!” + +“But we mustn’t give up, Betty,” urged +Carolyn. “We have to root all the harder to +encourage the team!” + +What had become of the play Don was to +make, Betty wondered–if that was what Ted +had meant? + +The play of the third quarter, interrupted by +much time out, went on to the finish, the Lions +discouraged and not doing their best, Ted said. +The Eagles made apparently easy gains and +took every advantage, until after a rapid advance +toward their goal and in the last few +minutes of the quarter Jim Pickett made another +touchdown by catching the ball punted to +his position and running free to the goal. In +the excitement the final point to be gained by +the kick was again lost. But now the Eagles’ +score stood ahead! Where were the brave +Lions? + +“Well,” said Carolyn, “now comes the tug of +war. It’s the last quarter and everybody is tired +out, and Freddy is limping off the field and it +doesn’t look so good!” + +“Never say die, Carolyn,” Peggy cheerfully +put in. “The boys aren’t going to lose the +championship without a fight!” + +Ted had disappeared again. The Eagles were +having a snake dance and their band was +parading, the forty pieces blaring triumphantly. +“My, they do play well,” said Betty. “It’s +grand that the high schools are big enough to +have such music!” + +“I can’t say that I appreciate the Eagles’ +band right now, Betty,” said Peggy, “and you +won’t either, when you’ve been here a little +longer.” + +A gleam of hope seemed to arrive with bright +Ted, who came jumping up to his seat just below +the girls and smiled as he sat down. “We’ll +lick ’em yet, girls,” he cried. “Freddy is resting +a little and getting his ankle bound up, and he’s +going to play all right. They’ve a pretty good +substitute for Skimp; at least I think that Bunty +will play a good game. So all is not lost. Cheer +up!” + +The Eagles’ heroes were just as glad for a +short rest as Freddy or any of the weary Lions. +Recumbent forms lay about the field, presumably +drawing strength from Mother Earth. +Then, as the immense audience began to grow +restless over delay, heads were bent together, +in conference over coming plays, and the formation +was made, while encouraging though brief +cheers came from the rooters. After all the +singing, cheering and rooting in every known +way and the expenditure of considerable energy +and enthusiasm, the band, the cheer leaders and +the occupants of the seats in the stadium were +tired enough to long for the close of the game. +Yet tensity marked the opening of the quarter. + +“Let’s go,” suggested one of the teachers next +to the girls. Carolyn looked around in surprise, +to see if it could be Miss Heath, usually so +loyal to the Lions. But possibly with the teacher +from the other school she rather hated to see +the finish. + +But no, it was not Miss Heath who had suggested +going. “If you like, certainly,” she was +saying, “though it may be a little difficult to +get through the crowd.” + +“That is so,” replied the other, “but I think +the game is practically over. Your big runner +is injured and I scarcely think that the Lions +can do much, with the substitute that they have +for that other boy. I saw him play once before +and he lost advantage once by fumbling when +he might have done something.” + +“Oh, *can’t* we ‘do much’!” said Carolyn, in +a voice low enough not to be heard by Miss +Heath or her friend. “She thinks she’s so sure +of the Eagles!” + +Peggy and Betty grinned back at Carolyn, +but settled themselves to watch the fray. + +Again the struggle was on. Good! Freddy +Fisher was running about as actively as ever, +watched by the Eagles. Twice the ball was +given to him, but although he did not appear to +be lame as he ran, he could make little headway +before he was downed. The Eagles +“screamed” again, rooting loudly, and hoarse +encouragement came from the ranks of the Lyon +High rooters. “Atta-boy! Freddy, rah! Fight, +fight, fight, fight!” + +Then came the surprise. Betty had forgotten +to follow Ted’s advice in regard to watch +“Don.” + +Who had the ball this time? Betty was as +surprised as any one to see “Don” with the +ball, freeing himself from immediate interference +and starting off. Oh, could he do it! + +The surprised Eagles pounded after the mysterious +foreigner while from the Eagles’ rooters +cries of “get that man! Get that man!” were +wildly repeated. + +Betty’s heart was in her mouth. “What did +I tell you!” Ted was shouting to the boy next +him, as the Lion rooters stood up in a body and +cheered. “Run for it, Don! Watch out for +Matt! Look out there, Don! Hooray, they +didn’t get you that time!” In these and like +phrases, the boys in front of Betty and others +expressed their feelings, while the lad on his +way was trying to escape his enemies, all too +ready to recover from their surprise and take +measures to stop him. + +Betty’s view was unimpeded. Now a tackler +launched himself at Don. Oh! Don stumbled +a little! No, he got away and the tackle clutched +the air. “He’s free! he’s free!” cried Carolyn, +jumping up and down. + +Gaining a little on the pursuit, running with +more confidence, the “Don” sped down the long +path toward the goal, the ball held tightly. +Cheers arose and the fierce roar of Lyon High +in rejoicing followed the running lad. A few +Eagles still followed–but Don had escaped! +The “mysterious” player was to divide honors +with Freddy in the championship game and +equal the number of yards won by the Eagles’ +quarterback, Jim Pickett. + +“He’s made it! He’s made it!” shouted Ted, +embracing the boy next to him, as Don completed +his spectacular play and won his touchdown. +“Girls–what did I tell you, Betty! *Now* +watch the Lions do a snake dance!” + +The Lions’ second touchdown put them ahead +and after that there was nothing but grim effort, +defence, blocking and wary play on both sides +until the quarter ended. The Eagles, indeed, +tried one or two desperate chances in the hope +of scoring, but the Lions, with equal determination, +blocked their every attempt, while an +almost silent stadium of spectators watched +closely every play. + +Miss Heath was behind her friend as they +climbed the steps of the stadium, but happening +to pass Betty and Carolyn, she gave Carolyn +a meaning smile and reached for Betty’s hand +to give it a squeeze. + +“She can’t *say* anything, to gloat over our +victory, of course,” said Carolyn, “but I can’t +help be mean enough to be gladder because that +other teacher was so *sure* we were defeated!” + +“What about the Don now, Betty?” asked +Peggy. “If he isn’t so ‘slick’ as some of the +boys in dressing up, he was ‘slick’ in winning +the game for us, wasn’t he?” + +“Oh, the Don’s all right!” said Betty. And +just then she felt a hand at her elbow. It was +Ted, who thus boosted her up a few steps, +telling her that the plan was to make “them” +feel secure and then “spring Don.” “So long, +girls–good game, wasn’t it?” Ted finally +inquired, leaping up the rest of the way and again +joining the boys. + +A tired but happy Betty clung to the straps +of the crowded street car on the way home. +Doris was riding home in an automobile, with +the little daughter of a neighbor, but Dick +grinned at Betty from the far end of the car +and joined her when they left it at their corner. + +“Say, did you ever see a fellow as heavy as +that foreign fellow looks run like that? But +he isn’t quite as slippery as Freddy. They +might have caught him if they hadn’t been so +surprised. What became of Doris? I didn’t +see her there at all. I hope she didn’t miss it.” + +“No; Marie’s folks were there, with her and +Marie, and I saw Doris getting into their car +while we were waiting for the street car.” + +“Just to think! We’re the champions of the +scholastic what-you-call it. Didn’t I *yell*, though +at the last shot, when the last quarter was over +and the game ours!” + +CHAPTER IX: SHOWING OFF LYON HIGH +================================= + +The game that won the championship for the +Lyon High team passed into history without +much effect upon Betty’s relations to any one. +It must be said that the Lyon High boys and +girls could not always forbear to mention their +victory in the presence of their rivals from the +other school and were immediately dubbed too +“cocky” over the “accident” or “trick” which +permitted the result. But argument died out +in the interest of other things and the football +season closed at the usual time. + +The next bit of excitement for Betty was the +visit of her friends from home. “*Please* +arrange,” she wrote to Janet, “to come in time +to visit the school on Wednesday at least. Of +course, I could take you to see the buildings; +but it will be so much more interesting for you +to see them full of all of us. And I can introduce +you to the girls and everything. + +“You must meet Carolyn and Peggy, that I’ve +told you about, and then there are such a lot +of other nice girls; and we’ll probably have an +auditorium session Wednesday morning with +something or other that you would enjoy seeing +go on. It isn’t going to hurt you to miss a +day or two of school–*please!* Get the teachers +to let you make it up and tell ’em why.” + +In consequence, two bright-eyed and inwardly +excited girls descended from their car at the +railway station, to find Mr. Lee meeting the +crowds that were hurrying along with their bags +inside by the long train; and Betty was close to +the iron gates, watching with eager look to catch +the first glimpse. + +Betty had not known Sue as intimately as +Janet, but she had always liked her and Sue +belonged to her Sunday school class as well as +to her class in school. At any rate Sue was as +warmly received as Janet and tongues went +rapidly indeed on the way home. + +“Tell me everything,” Betty had said, and in +reply Janet had suggested that Betty “show +them everything.” But the sights had already +begun, for Mr. Lee went home by a roundabout +way to drive through one of the most beautiful +parks, from which they could see the river and +its scenery and villages on the other side. He +also drove past the high school which Betty +attended and Betty was quite satisfied with the +exclamations of her friends. + +“I met Father down town,” Betty explained, +“for I went right down after school, with some +of the girls, and we had a soda. Then I went +to Father’s office and waited for him to be +ready. Did you girls miss much school?” + +“Only this afternoon, and tomorrow, of +course,” Sue answered. “Janet’s father drove +us to Columbus, so we caught this train.” + +“It’s pretty yet, isn’t it?” remarked Janet, +looking about at the trees and bushes in the +park, “and not a bit of snow.” + +“We had a wee bit one day; but you can +notice quite a difference, one of the girls said, +between the climate here and where we used to +live.” + +“Doesn’t that sound awful, Janet?” asked +Sue, “where she *used* to live!” + +“But then you couldn’t visit me here, you +know,” Betty hastened to say, and Janet +smilingly replied “Sure enough.” + +“Anyhow, you still *own* your house and the +lot next to it, don’t you?” queried Sue. + +“I guess so–don’t we, Father?” answered +Betty, who did not pay much attention to business +affairs, and Mr. Lee nodded assent as he +drove rapidly along the boulevard, now homeward +bound. + +“Do you know, Betty,” said Janet a little +later, when they were almost home, “I never +was inside of an apartment house!” + +“I never either,” laughed Betty, “till I came +here; but we don’t live in a real apartment +house. Ours is what they call a ‘St. Louis.’ +And don’t you know when one of the girls called +it that–her own place, I mean–I thought she +said she lived in St. Louis! I didn’t like to ask her +to explain how she lived in St. Louis and went +to school here, so I kept still and afterwards +heard somebody else speak of a St. Louis flat!” + +“I’m going to keep still, too,” said Janet, +with some firmness. “You shan’t be ashamed +of your friends from the ‘country.’” + +Mr. Lee spoke now, with a kind smile. “Betty +isn’t one to be ashamed of two such nice girls, +and moreover, girls, I think that you may vote +for the country, or at least the lovely little +village that is still home to us, when you see +how every one except the wealthy must live in +the city. I own to my wife that there are some +conveniences and advantages. She rather likes +it now. But it’s pretty crowded and unless you +like that, the small town is better. Fortunately +we live away from the street cars, a few +squares, so you may be able to sleep at night.” + +“Mer\ *cee*,” exclaimed Janet. “But I shan’t +mind not sleeping–I’m not sure I could anyway. +Just to think of being here with you, +Betty!” and Janet squeezed Betty’s arm in +anticipation. + +“Here we are,” cried Betty just then, and +Mr. Lee, driving in, ordered them facetiously +to “pile out.” + +They “piled,” while Dick and Doris, still disappointed +that they, too, had not been permitted +to meet Janet and Sue, came running out, followed +by Amy Lou, whose mother was trying +to hold her back or at least to throw something +around her to protect her from the frosty air. +“O, Janet, it’s going to be such a glorious +Thanksgiving!” exclaimed Sue in Janet’s ear, +as she followed her up the steps and into the +house. And Betty was crying to the welcoming +mother, “O, Mother, they can stay over Sunday +and don’t care if they miss school on Monday!” + +“Well, isn’t that fine,” warmly responded the +hostess. “I’m glad, too, to see the girls from +the old home and thankful to have room enough +to tuck you away. Take the girls back to your +room, Betty, and have them get ready for +dinner. Doris, you may set the table if you +will, and Betty will help me take up the dinner +presently.” + +This was the beginning. On Wednesday +morning, Betty took her guests to school with +her, for Janet, particularly, wanted to visit +a few of the classes. Sue told Betty that she +could “dump her any place” if she liked. Impressed +with the numbers and the apparent +complexity of the system, the girls visited one +or two classes, met Betty’s home room teacher +and the others, in a hasty way between classes, +and then waited for Betty in the auditorium or +the library, where there was much to interest +them. + +There was an auditorium session, with a few +exercises appropriate to the Thanksgiving +season and then a brief organ recital by a +visiting organist, whom the principal had secured +for a real treat to the entire school. + +“Oh, I’m *so* glad that you heard our big +organ,” said Betty as she took them to the +library to leave them there while she went to +her last class before lunch. + +“And it was great to see that immense room +filled with nobody but high school pupils, and +their teachers, of course,” added Janet, “only–only, +I believe, Betty, that I’d be too confused. +Some way, I like the little old high +school at home, and we have such a pretty building, +even if it is small.” + +“Oh, you’d get used to it,” Betty assured +Janet. “I have, and still, there’s something in +what you say, of course. Now I’ll be right up +to take you to lunch; it’s on the floor just above +the library, you know, and I’m going to bring +Carolyn and Peggy along so we’ll sit together +at lunch and talk. Don’t you think they’re +sweet?” + +“Peggy’s a perfect dear,” promptly Sue replied, +“and Carolyn is too nice for words, simply +adorable.” + +After this tribute, the girls followed Betty +into the library, where Betty spoke to the +librarian in charge and took them to a seat at +one of the tables. “You can look at the books, +if you want to,” she whispered. “I spoke to +Miss Hunt, so it will be all right.” + +The time did not drag, for boys and girls +were coming and going, or sitting at the tables +to read or examine books. The girls felt a little +timid about investigating any of the shelves, +but the pleasant librarian came to speak to +them and to suggest where they might find books +of some interest. Accordingly, each with a book +spent a little while in reading, though, it was +hard to put their minds on anything requiring +consecutive thought. + +And now bright faces peeped in, for Janet +and Sue sat not far from the door. Betty was +beckoning and leaving the books upon the table, +the two guests joined Betty, Carolyn, Peggy +and Kathryn Allen, whom they had not met. + +“This is Kathryn Allen, girls,” said Betty in +the breezy, hurried way made necessary by the +rapid movement of events. “I’ve told her who +you are. Let’s hurry in and see if we can get +places together. Mary Emma Howl and said +she’d try to save places for us at that table by +the window that we like. She’s in line now. +Look at that long line already! I’m glad we +happened to have first lunch, Janet, since you’re +here.” + +“What is ‘first lunch,’ Betty? Do you have to +take turns?” + +“Yes. There are several periods. Father +says that that is the only thing he doesn’t like +about this school, that there isn’t enough time +to eat without swallowing things whole. But it +isn’t as bad as that, really; and most generally +we don’t try to eat a big meal. Still, things +are so good, and you get so hungry, you know, +especially if you can’t eat a big breakfast.” + +“I don’t like all your stairs,” said Sue, “but +I suppose it can’t be helped. I guess your +mother’s right–you need wings.” + +“Oh, you get used to where rooms are and it +isn’t so bad. Of course, the building does spread +out awfully and up the three stories and basement. +And by the way, we can eat all we want +to this time, for I saw Miss Heath and told her +that I had company, and if I was a little late +to the first class would she give me a chance to +make it up–and she was in an awful hurry and +said, maybe without thinking, that I could.” + +The tables did look tempting. “First lunch” +saw the whole array of pretty salads and desserts, +the chief temptations to the pupils, the +steaming meats and vegetables, so good in cold +weather. Cafeteria fashion, the long line +passed, choosing what to put on their trays, and +oh, the noise, within the concrete floors and +walls! Sue said to Janet, as they walked along, +that she was fairly deafened; but she had no +sooner sat down with the other girls at the +table where places had been successfully held +for them by Mary Emma, then she began +“shouting” with the rest to be heard. + +Betty saw to it that her guests had a good +selection of viands, for neither Sue nor Janet +were inclined to take enough, not wanting to +run up the price for their young hostess. “Mer\ *cee*, +Betty, do you want to kill us?” asked Janet +as Betty placed a particularly toothsome looking +fruit dessert in her tray, in addition to the +modest piece of pie which she had herself +selected. + +“Oh, no, not yet, Janet. Remember the turkey +we’re going to have tomorrow; but you must +have nourishment!” + +Carolyn’s tray was slimly furnished, Janet +thought, and she wondered if she could not +afford to get more; or did she just like desserts? +Peggy had meat, dressing and gravy and a fruit +salad, of which she began to dispose with some +haste, though daintily enough. Sue and Janet +concluded that they must not look around too +much, though the surroundings were so interesting, +but apply themselves to the contents of +their trays, not a difficult task, since everything +was so good. + +“Is there anything else you’d like, girls? I +can go back as easily as not,” said Betty, pouring +milk from a bottle into her glass. + +“No, indeed,” answered both the girls together. +“We have too much now,” added Janet. + +“If you can hear what I say,” called Carolyn +across the table, around whose end the girls +had gathered, “will you, Janet and Sue, come +with Betty to our house Friday evening after +dinner? Say about half-past seven or eight +o’clock? I’ll call up, too, Friday some time. +I’m going to have a few of the boys and girls +to meet your cousins, Betty.” + +“Oh, how lovely, Carolyn, but I should have +the little party myself. I can’t let you do it. I +was going to ask you and Peggy and Mary +Emma and several other girls for Saturday. I +had to wait to make sure that the girls really got +here, you know.” + +“Well, that would be just as nice as can be, +Betty. I’d love to come, but I know such a lot +of the boys and girls, so please come to our +house.” + +“We could do both, then,” said Betty. + +“All right, we’ll see about it, then,” assented +Carolyn. “Oh, yes, Chet, see you right after +school!” + +Carolyn had turned to answer Chet Dorrance, +who spoke to her, tipping his chair and leaning +back from the next table. A crowd of boys +there were not uninterested in the little group +of girls, whose demure glances had been cast in +their direction occasionally. + +“That’s Budd, Janet, next to Chet,” Betty +was saying, “and Kathryn’s brother Chauncey +is right across at that other table, the boy that +just sat down there with his tray. They’re all +sophomores. But there’s a freshman bunch at +the next table. I told you about Budd and +Chauncey and some of the rest when I wrote +you about Carolyn’s house party, didn’t I?” + +“Maybe you did, Betty, but I can’t remember, +only about those you ‘rave’ about, like Carolyn.” + +“I imagine that you’ll meet a lot of them at +Carolyn’s. Isn’t it wonderful of her to entertain +for us? I think I did say to her not to +have too much planned for Saturday and that +I was hoping that nothing would happen to keep +you girls from coming. I was pretty scared +about it when I heard from Sue that her mother +was half sick; but you did come, thank fortune!” + +It was more easily possible for bits of conversation +with one person to be held, since when +more were included it was necessary to raise +the voice. The general conversation and +laughter, the jingle of silver and the clatter of +trays and dishes seemed to be louder than the +numbers served would justify, although there +was no special carelessness among the boys and +girls, and oversight made rude scuffling or trick +playing impossible, had there been any temptation +or time for it. “It’s just this big, echoing +room, Sue,” said Janet, for both visitors noticed +it. “But it’s lots of fun, and such good eats for +next to nothing, according to what Betty says.” + +“They just charge enough to cover expenses, +of food and help and so on,” said Betty, who had +turned back from talking to Kathryn in time +to hear this last. “How was the pie, Janet?” + +“Grand; good as home-made.” + +“It *is* ‘home-made.’ I wish we had time to go +back and see all the place they have to cook +and bake. Well, we can’t do everything in one +day, can we?” + +“We are doing enough,” replied Janet. “My +brain is whirling as it is, going from one thing +to another and trying to remember who is who +and what is what.” + +“Don’t try,” said smiling Betty. “I’ll tell +you again, or remind you. I felt the same way +at first, and remember that I had to learn to +live it and do it–them–everything!” + +On the way out Betty had a chance to point +out, figuratively speaking, both Freddy Fisher +and the “Don” of football fame, and she almost +ran into Ted Dorrance in the hall. “Say,” +said he, catching Betty’s shoulder for a moment, +“we seem to run each other down, don’t +we? Oh, beg pardon!” The last expression +was addressed to Janet, whom he had brushed +against in avoiding Betty and a crowd of +teachers that were coming from the opposite +dining hall, sacred to the instructors of youth. + +“Please stop a second and meet my friends +that are visiting me–Miss Light and Miss +Miller, Mr. Dorrance, a prominent junior, girls.” + +Betty smiled up at Ted as she added the last +in complimentary fashion, but he shook his +head at her, pleasantly acknowledging the introduction. +“She doesn’t say what I’m prominent +for, you notice,” but with a salute from +his hatless forehead, Ted was gone. There was +no standing on ceremony when school hours +were on and everything, even lunch, ran on +schedule. + +“I’ll not have to hurry as much as I thought, +girls, since it was first lunch. I’m about crazy +today, I suppose, with delight at your being +here and wanting you to know about everything +and everybody. What would you like to do while +I’m in class and study hall? Want to visit both +of them?” + +“How many periods have you this afternoon, +Betty?” + +“Three, but one of them’s in gym.” + +“All right, we’ll visit study hall and gym and +stay in the library or auditorium during your +class.” + +So it was decided. “Gym” proved most interesting. +Study hall was full of possibilities, +Sue said, for it was interesting to see whether +this one or that one studied or not, to guess +who they were and to recognize those whom +they met. And after the last gong had rung, +how odd it was to pass through those crowded +halls, where pupils were putting away their +books in their lockers, getting their wraps from +them, and going to their home rooms until dismissed. +It was all on a bigger scale than in +their home school. And the crowded street car +was another feature, not so pleasant, perhaps. + +But Betty looked out for the girls, to see that +they had each a strap, until Chet and Budd and +a freshman boy Betty knew, who were, happily, +near, caught Betty’s eye and signaled the girls +to come where they were sitting, half rising, yet +holding the seats until the girls should be ready +to slide into them. + +“Now, then,” said Chet, hanging to a strap +in the aisle, after a brief introduction to Janet +and Sue, “what do you think of our school? I +noticed you had company, Betty.” + +“We’re quite overwhelmed by the school, +really,” answered Janet, politely, and smiling +up at the boy whose seat she was occupying. +“But we have a good school, too, and I think +you can learn anywhere.” + +“I suppose you can,” said Chet, “if you work +at it. Did you see the stadium?” + +“Yes, and it’s just marvelous. I don’t wonder +Betty raves over everything!” + +This satisfied Chet, who did not much care +for the remark about learning anywhere. “I’m +invited to meet you at Carolyn’s Saturday, no, +Friday night, so I’ll see you there. Yep, coming,” +and Chet moved down toward a boy who +had beckoned him. + +Gradually the jam lessened, as one after another +reached a stopping place. By the time +Betty and her friends had reached their own +stop, every one was seated. Budd was the last +one to swing off, and like Chet he parted from +them with a “So long, girls, I’ll see you Friday +night.” + +“Those boys must know you pretty well +Betty,” said Janet. + +“They do. Ever since Carolyn’s party.” + +CHAPTER X: MORE FESTIVITIES +=========================== + +“Thanksgiving always means turkey and +mince pie to me,” frankly said Dick, as he +sniffed savory odors and executed a clog dance +on the kitchen floor to the detriment of its +bright linoleum. + +“Scat!” said an unappreciative sister at the +close of the brief effort. “This kitchen isn’t +big enough for any antics.” But Betty was +grinning and Janet, who was wiping dishes, +tapped a toe in time. “We’re clearing the deck +for Mother’s greatest efforts,” Betty continued. +“Nobody can have the roast turkey just right +as she can. Thanks, Janet. There’s the place +to hang the towel. Now you girls get ready, +while I peel the potatoes and do a few other +things. Mother, shall I wash celery now?” + +“Why, that will be very nice. You are bound +to leave me nothing to do, I see.” + +“That, my dear Mother, is your imagination +and a beautiful dream. When we come home +from church and find the turkey cooked and the +potatoes ready to mash and the mince pie sizzling +hot–yum, yum!” Betty was hanging up +the dish pan and hurrying to put the celery in +cold water. + +“Church!” sniffed Dick, still hanging around. + +“Just for that,” grinned Betty, “I believe I’ll +urge Father to take you with us.” + +“If you *do*,” threatened Dick, shaking a fist, +though, grinning, as he disappeared altogether +from his position in the kitchen door, and they +heard him scampering down the hall. + +“Now he’ll get out a book or something,” said +Betty to Janet, “and settle down for awhile. +The point is, we really think it better to have +Doris, at least, at home, to amuse Amy Lou +and keep her out of Mother’s way a little; and +since they didn’t want to go to church with us, +it’s all right. Oh, you are going to enjoy the +service, I think. One of our very best preachers +is to give the sermon at the sort of union service +of the churches; and it’s in one of the very prettiest +churches, too, with a big vested choir and +everything! There will probably be some grand +solo, or quartette, or something special, and we +want to get there early enough to hear the +chimes.” + +“Sue and I will get ready, then, right away–shall +we?” + +“Please, and I’ll whisk into something and +we’ll be off in a jiffy, when Father’s ready to +go.” + +In such active fashion Thanksgiving Day began +for this household and its guests, with +everybody in fine spirits. The air was cold and +Dick was hoping for snow. “Gee, I bet the +boys are skating up home,” said he as he followed +his father to the garage. + +“I doubt it,” replied his father, “but you’re +not going to get as much snow and ice as you +want here, I suppose.” + +Three happy girls, warmly clad, climbed into +the machine with Mr. Lee and they were soon +whirling on their way toward the church, whose +service was almost as new to Betty as to her +guests, with beautiful music and an impressive +message. And then came the return to the warm +house, the smiling mother with her face a little +flushed from frequent bastings of the turkey, +and the good old-fashioned Thanksgiving +dinner, which makes every one thankful whether he +was in that mood before or not. + +As usual, Mr. Lee stopped to let his passengers +enter by the front door, while he drove +to the garage, and Betty was rather surprised +to have her mother open the door for them, +though probably the night latch was on. Mother +kept things locked up as a rule, since coming +to the city. + +“Hang up your wraps here in the closet, +girls,” breezily directed Mrs. Lee, “and go into +the living room to meet our guest.” + +“Guest!” thought Betty as she gave her +mother an inquiring look. Who in the world +had come? + +“It is one of the boys that your Father +knows, Betty,” replied Mrs. Lee, speaking softly +in reply to Betty’s unspoken question. “It seems +he asked him to come for Thanksgiving dinner +and forgot to tell me–so by all means make +him welcome. I think he goes to one of the +high schools and works in between times.” + +Betty, wondering, and guessing at the cordiality +which her mother must have used to +cover up her ignorance and make the boy feel +at home, followed her mother from the hall to +see a tall, rather heavy boy rise and stand a +little awkwardly to be introduced. Dark eyes, +unsure of a welcome, met Betty’s. Why–why, +it was the “Don!” + +From the rather sober, polite girl who was +ready to make a stranger welcome, Betty became +a wide-awake, welcoming friend. Her +mother, in a low but cordial voice, was mentioning +a name that Betty had heard but never remembered, +and then she was giving the girls’ +names to the guest. + +“Why, Mother, *this* is the hero of our championship +game!” Betty was stretching her hand +out with a smile. “Does Father know it? And +where is Dick? He ought to be worshipping +at your shrine!” Betty hardly knew what she was +saying in her surprise. The other girls, following +Betty’s example, shook hands with the tall +lad, who seemed to lose a little of his shy attitude +under this complimentary greeting. It +was nothing so unusual, to be sure, for the Lees +to have some lonesome body to share their +Thanksgiving dinner, yet her father’s forgetfulness +and the surprise of his acquaintance with +the “Don” were two unexpected features of the +situation. But trust Mother to handle it! + +“Dick went off somewhere almost as soon as +you went to church, Betty,” Mrs. Lee was saying. +“I’m glad to know that he will find a friend +in Mr. Balinsky. Please excuse us all for a few +minutes. I’m going to ask the girls to help me +take up our dinner. Mr. Lee will be in shortly +and Amy Lou will keep you company, I suppose.” + +Amy Louise, who had reached the point of +showing one of her picture books to the “big +boy,” soberly nodded assent. Doris was nowhere +to be seen, but she was found cracking nuts for +the top of the salad and announced to Betty, +“We have everything ready now, I think.” + +“Well, you certainly have been a help to +Mother,” said Betty warmly, “and did you know +that Ramon Balinsky is the ‘Don’?” + +“Why Betty Lee! How wonderful! No, I +never saw him close enough at school; and then +you couldn’t tell, on the field, in his football +clothes! My, won’t Dick be simply stunned? +I’m going to see where he is and call him!” + +“His name has been in the school papers, but +we’ve always called him the ‘Don’, so for a +minute I didn’t know him, all dressed up, too, +in his Sunday clothes, I suppose. He usually +looks so dingy at school, but Mother says he +works, so of course, poor kid!” + +“Maybe he doesn’t have enough neckties and +shirts, Betty,” added Doris, in a sepulchral +whisper. “Bet he’ll like our dinner all right!” + +Dick needed no rounding up, for he breezed +into the back door just then, to be told by Doris +to, “just go into the front room and see who’s +going to be here for dinner!” And the girls +busy with trips back and forth, from kitchen +to dining room and dining room to kitchen, +smiled to hear the whoop with which Dick welcomed +the older boy. It was not loud, but enthusiastic, +and an immediate sound of conversation +in Dick’s boyish treble and Ramon’s +deeper tones indicated, so Betty whispered, that +Dick was finding out everything that they +“wanted to know but wouldn’t ask.” + +Mr. Lee came in from the garage and held up +his hands as he heard Ramon’s voice. Then +he pretended to be frightened and whipped outside +again into the little back hallway where +the refrigerator stood. “You are forgiven, sir,” +laughed his wife. “Come and carry the platter +with the turkey to the biggest place I’ve +prepared, and do not drop it on pain of dire consequences!” + +“Honestly, Mother, I forgot all about it, but +you don’t mind, do you?” + +“Not a bit. I supposed he was some lonesome +youngster that you had found, but you can +tell me all about it later.” + +“I knew you would have a big dinner as +usual”–but Mr. Lee now accepted the hot +platter with the turkey and reserved further remarks +for the future. And soon both young +and older heads were bowed around the long +table while Mr. Lee said grace. + +“Our heavenly Father, we thank Thee for +these evidences of Thy goodness and bounty +and for all the mercies of the year–for health +and strength and work and human love and +friendship. Bless us all as we offer our gratitude. +Forgive us if we have not served Thee +well, strengthen us for the future, and keep us +in Thy care, for Jesus’ sake. Amen.” + +Ramon’s solemn black eyes looked respectfully +at Mr. Lee as he raised his head after the +blessing; but Amy Lou made them all smile +by a long sigh and a little leap in her high chair +as her father picked up the carving knife and +fork There was plenty of conversation at once, +in which Ramon could take part if he liked; +but no one expected anything, it was evident, +and the chief interest, it must be said, centered +in the good dinner, with compliments to the +cook. Never was there such good dressing, or a +turkey so well done and juicy at the same time. +The cranberry jelly was a success and Betty’s +mashed potato was a marvel of whiteness. It +was fortunate that there was plenty of gravy. +Janet had brought the spiced peaches from the +home town and felt much honored that Ramon +liked them better than the cranberry jelly with +his turkey, not that he said so, of course. + +As usual, there were too many things, but +there would be other meals, as Mrs. Lee said +when her husband told her that nobody was +eating “the other vegetables” and that dressing +and mashed potato would have been enough. +Ramon cast a look at the great dish of grapes, +oranges and other fruit on the buffet, with a +little bowl of cracked nuts and a plate of fudge, +and then viewed the hot mince pie before him. +“You must have a piece of Mother’s pumpkin +pie, too, Ramon,” said Betty. “She always +bakes pies for the suppers and things at home, +church suppers, I mean. And do you remember, +Mother, the time we had the dining hall +at the fair?” + +“Do I?” smiled Mrs. Lee. “Our aid society +made enough money to buy new dishes and carpet +the church, but oh, how we worked!” + +“I think that it is cake where your Mother +excels,” said Mr. Lee, “but I suppose we shall +not have any this noon.” + +“If you want it, Father,” said Betty. + +“We shall reserve that for our supper lunch, +Betty,” said Mrs. Lee, “and we want you to +stay for that, Ramon.” + +“Thank you, madam–that would be too much, +I’m sure. I expect one of the boys, I think. +I–I ought to call him up, I suppose, for he +was to come for me at three-thirty or four and +I may not be able to get back to where I board +by that time.” + +“Call from here, Ramon,” said Betty. “Oh, +Mother, I’m glad you did put those fat raisins +in the mince meat!” + +But all the conversation did not center upon +the food. Mr. Lee drew out in the course of the +dinner some facts from Ramon in which the +girls were very much interested. He had, +indeed, come to America directly from Spain, but +his father was Polish and Ramon had seen +Paderewski in Poland. He had attended school +for several years in a small eastern town where +he studied “English and American,” he said. + +“I was so behind in everything English, you +see, that I had to be put in a lower grade at +first than I would have been in in my own +country; but I made three grades in one year +because I could do the mathematics and such +things; and so when I learned to read and speak +your language pretty well, it was not so hard. +A friend of my father’s brought me here, but +he died.” + +“Oh, do you understand all the football language +now?” asked Dick. + +“He certainly must, Dicky, or he wouldn’t +have done what he did,” suggested Betty, who +did not think that Dick should have asked that +question. But Ramon only laughed a little. + +“I know most of it now, Dick,” Ramon replied, +“and I can stand being punched or kicked +without wanting to knock the player down. Is +that what you call ‘good sport’?” + +“Yep,” said Dick. “That’s good football.” + +“Do you expect to finish high school here?” +kindly asked Mrs. Lee. + +“If I can,” answered Ramon. + +After dinner all but Betty and her mother +went into the living room to visit; but the two +made short work of putting away the food and +making neat piles of the soiled dishes, and soon +they joined the rest. Amy Lou was sleepy but +would not leave the scene without a fuss. Consequently +she was permitted to stay. Ramon +called up the “boy,” who proved to be Ted Dorrance. + +A little music and a few quiet games were +all that the time afforded before Ted alighted +from a big car and ran into the yard and up +the steps to ring the doorbell. Betty answered +the ring and friendly Ted strode in. “Can’t stay +a minute,” said he, “the ‘Don’ here?” + +“Yes, come in.” + +“In a moment. Say, Betty, I’d like to have +a hand in giving the girls a good time. How +about a little fun tonight? Chet has an idea.” + +“I’m sure we are free for anything, Ted, and +it is good of you. Father and Mother say that +Ramon must be brought back here for supper +tonight, so why can’t you come, too? Or, I tell +you what–would some of you come for a taffy +pull? Come to supper, too, of course.” + +“I couldn’t do that, Betty–had such a big +dinner and all the folks are around at home. +But do you give me leave to bring whom I can +tonight?” + +“I *think so!* Bring Louise and somebody else +for Ramon.” + +“Great idea. Let’s see, three of you, all freshmen?” + +“Yes. The girls were in my class.” + +“All right. It’s a surprise party, then, just +as Chet had the nerve to suggest. Tell your +mother and surprise the girls.” + +“Glorious. I’m delighted that he though of it. +Do get Carolyn and Peggy if you can.” + +“They already know about it, in case it is decided.” + +“Oh, then you really meant to do something!” + +“She doubts my word! Listen–don’t get refreshments +ready, unless you have the stuff to +make the taffy. I don’t know whether the girls +could bring that or not and the stores are closed. +We were just going to order ice-cream sent +around, and what else we could get.” + +“Listen, Ted, yourself. Mother has the most +delicious cake, extra big, because we baked up +for company, you know. Have the ice-cream if +you must, but not another thing, please.” + +What fun it was to plan something with Ted! +Betty felt quite grown up. First they had a +senior to dinner, now here was a junior, with +probably Louise coming and loads of fun +ahead! + +The girls and Ramon were both wondering +what could detain Ted and Betty in the hall, +but Ramon hesitated to rise until Ted should +appear. That he did at once, however, with a +last word to Betty. He was properly respectful +in meeting Betty’s father and mother and +bowed a friendly greeting to the girls, Dick, +Doris and little Amy Lou, who had wakened and +was sleepily arranging a row of tiny dolls on the +window sill. + +“The boys have something on hand and want +the ‘Don’ this afternoon. I’ll deliver him in +two or three hours or so. Supper will not be too +early, will it?” + +“Not after a late dinner,” Mrs. Lee assured +Ted, “but it would be better to ‘deliver’ our +guest by seven at least.” + +“Before that, I promise you,” answered Ted. +“Don’t forget, Betty, our little scheme.” + +“How could I?” replied Betty. + +CHAPTER XI: THE “SURPRISE” PARTY +================================ + +“What is the great scheme, Betty?” asked +Doris. + +“I’m not telling, Dodie,” said Betty, “but you +will know before long perhaps. It’s just something +the boys and girls are going to do. By the +way, Mother, may I consult you about something? +I need permission for something not to +be divulged as yet.” + +“You are making us curious, Betty,” lightly +said Janet. “Come on, Sue, try that new tune +of yours on Betty’s piano.” + +Mr. Lee had left the room and Dick followed +him to ask that the car be gotten out for a +ride. “All right, son. Perhaps the girls and +Mother will like to go.” + +Betty and her Mother escaped to the kitchen, +where they started on the dishes, hoping that +the sounds of china would not be noticeable in +the front room. The visitors were only too good +about offering their services. “You must go, +Mother, with Amy Lou, because you’ve been in +working all day,” said Betty, with decision, “and +that will never do on Thanksgiving. Besides, +there’s something else on hand and I don’t know +what you’ll think of it!” + +“Confess, Betty,” said Mrs. Lee, smiling and +making a fine suds for her glasses and silver. + +“First tell me that you’ll go, Mother, for I’ll +stay and finish these up and begin to fix things +for our supper.” + +“All right, child. I’ll go. Now what?” + +Betty at once told about the surprise party +“all rather on the spur of the moment, +Mother, at least as far as having it tonight is +concerned. And I think Ted is in it only because +he found Ramon here and thought it would be +good for him to stay.” + +“Why do you think so–because Ted is older?” + +“Yes. But it gives him a chance to take Louise +to something different, you see. I think that +Ted has a sort of ‘case’ on Louise Madison.” + +“I see. Yes, Betty, I think we can manage +it. Haven’t you any idea how many are +coming?” + +“No–that’s the mischief, but I suppose not +a great many.” + +“We are well prepared for things to eat. If +the cake does not last as long as we thought, +it does not matter. Your friends will be welcome. +There is that fruit cake that I baked for +Christmas, too, and we can use that if we run +short. We’ll make a hot drink and the cake and +ice-cream, with taffy, ought to be enough in all +conscience, especially on Thanksgiving. If your +father is ready before we finish, whisk off the +tablecloth, Betty, and use the lunch things for +supper. But don’t concern yourself about the +meal. Just get your room ready for the girls +to take their wraps to and look around to pick +up anything that is out of order. Fortunately, +Amy Lou will want to go to bed before they +come.” + +“Yes, and everything is all fixed up for company, +even if it doesn’t exactly stay put with all +of us. Oh, you’re so nice, Mother! It’s such a +relief!” + +At this point, Janet and Sue ran out to the +kitchen and took aprons from the hooks upon +the wall. “Did you think that we wouldn’t want +to help?” asked Sue, reproachfully. “Let me +wipe and you put away, Betty, for I don’t know +where things go.” + +“Well, since you insist,” laughed Betty, pulling +a dry towel from a drawer. “Come help me +take off and fold up the big tablecloth, Janet, +and a lot of the dishes and nearly all of the silver +can go back on the table. Where are the +other linen things, Mother?” + +“Same drawer as usual. After lunch we’ll +take out the leaves and,”–but Mrs. Lee did not +finish, for she had nearly told the reason for +making more room in the dining room. The two +large rooms ought to hold quite a number of +boys and girls, she thought. But Mother was +tired, as Betty had surmised, and she knew that +she needed to get away for a few minutes at +least. + +Mr. Lee had been obliged to do something to +the car, or change a tire, though no one inquired +what, when, after just time enough to get the +main part of the dishes done, they heard a honking +in front. “That couldn’t be Ted back with +Ramon, could it?” thought Betty, rather panicky. +But it was only the family car honking +for passengers. All was well! + +“Aren’t you coming Betty?” asked Janet, surprised. + +“No, Janet, I want to start things and some +one ought to be here in case Ramon comes back +early. He has to come when they bring him, +you know. Moreover, if you all go, it is just as +well not to be too crowded.” + +Betty was glad to be by herself for a little +while. She finished putting the kitchen in +order, washing the last pan. Then she flew back +to the bedroom to see that dresser and all were +neat and to hang away a few things that she +and the girls had left out. She decided that +there was a prettier set of lace covers for the +little dressing table and put them out. She +hoped that the girls would not notice particularly +and she looked up some embroidered guest +towels, ready to whisk them into place when the +guest should first arrive. Or her mother could +put on the finishing touches in the bath room if +she were welcoming the crowd. Betty felt a +little excited, wanting her friends to like her +home and knowing that some of them, Carolyn +among others, had so much more room. It was +hard to be so crowded. No, it wasn’t. It was +all right when they were by themselves, and she +was sure that anybody that *was* anybody would +like her for herself! It was Betty’s first feeling +of responsibility for the appearance of a house, +a temporary one, to be sure. She had been accustomed +to do what she was told, but the roomy +old place “at home” had no such problems as +this apartment. + +There was a ring of the bell before Betty had +thought about the light supper, though to be +sure her mother had said she was to feel no responsibility +for that. Betty rushed to the door, +to find Ramon there. Again he looked apologetic +and hesitatingly said, “I’m afraid I’m too +early, but Ted and the boys brought me on. Ted +is driving around to see one or two of the girls.” + +“Come right in,” cordially Betty invited. “Sit +down and read the paper or something till I +start things a little in the kitchen. I think the +earlier we get our supper, or lunch of a sort, out +of the way the better, don’t you? Or did Ted tell +you what is going on?” + +“Yes, he did,” replied Ramon, as he obediently +walked into the living room after having divested +himself of his overcoat and hat. “Say, Miss +Betty, we had such a wonderful dinner that you +surely won’t do much for supper, will you? I +feel as if it’s an imposition for me to come back, +and yet,—” + +“And yet what would be the use of going home +and then coming right back to a party?” finished +Betty. + +“Well, that was it, of course; and then it is so +homelike here and so different from what I have +all the time.” + +“Do you really like it, then?” asked Betty, +pleased. + +“Who could help it? And now why couldn’t +I help be *chef*? It would be what you call fun. +I could tell you of so many things that I have +done since I came to your country, and I earned +my meals one time in a restaurant. I do not +always tell that to the boys and girls, for they +do not understand, and yet my people in Spain +and Hungary and Poland are of the best.” + +“Father thinks it is what you are, inside, that +makes you,” said Betty, nodding a determined +little head. They were still standing just within +the living room door. + +“Oh, your father! He is a big man! I fix his +car at the garage where I work after school, and +before school, too. And he forgot to tell your +sweet mother and yet she made me welcome.” +Ramon was smiling in amusement as well as +appreciation. + +“Oh, could you tell that?” Betty chuckled. +“Mother thought that she had successfully concealed +her surprise. But she was glad to have +you come, you understand that, don’t you?” + +“Yes, and all of you helped.” + +“Well, now let’s see, Ramon. Come on into +the kitchen and help me decide what we want. +We’ve got a lot of that salad fixed and if you +will crack a few more English walnuts we’ll fix +a pretty big glass bowl of it and pass it instead +of putting salad around at each place. Nobody +could finish his salad at dinner time. And I’ll +put on the lunch cloth or what-you-call-it–and +you can set down all that fruit and the bowl of +nuts on the buffet. My, imagine me bossing the +gr-reat football hero of Lyon High, and a senior +at that!” + +Ramon only laughed at that and took the +large apron, soberly offered him by a Betty with +twinkling eyes, and tried to fasten it around +himself. But he was not used to tying a bow in +the back, Betty told him, so she would finish the +operation. “Now see what an artist you are in +the dining room first, Ramon.” + +Thus Betty, while she arranged the linen +pieces on the table, waved a hand at the buffet +and flew into the kitchen herself. “Won’t they +be surprised when they come back?” she called, +appearing in the door with a whole head of lettuce +in her hands. “And it will be fine to have +you to help us make the table small after supper. +Father always has to help with that because +the table sticks and we can hardly push it +together. Do you think you would be strong +enough?” + +Ramon gave Betty an amused look. “Yes, +Miss Betty, I think I’m strong enough and I’d +do anything for any of you!” + +“Well,” sighed Betty, “I really don’t believe +in having your company work, but under the +circumstances it is a great help! You see Mother +had been doing so much cooking, so I made her +promise to go out for a ride.” With this Betty +disappeared from view, to wash the lettuce +under the faucet and run into the pantry for the +big glass dish or bowl. + +Ramon finished arranging the fruit and nuts +and went out into the kitchen declaring that he +was no artist and that she could change anything +that he had done. Betty managed to keep +him busy, but it was only about fifteen minutes +before the whole family arrived, Dick to utter +another whoop at seeing his hero in an apron, +and the girls to join the activities with much +fun and lively conversation. Mrs. Lee was allowed +only to supervise and make the coffee and +Mr. Lee declared that he would not think of being +underfoot in such a busy kitchen and dining +room. + +“The boy looks happy,” he said to his wife. +“I’m glad I asked him to come. He’s a very +sober, lonely chap, so far as home is concerned. +He probably has a good enough time at school, +especially since he made such a hit in football, +as you tell me.” + +“I wonder how he gets his lessons, if he works +so hard,” said Mrs. Lee. + +“How do any of them get their lessons?” asked +Mr. Lee in return, “with all that is going on. +It hasn’t hit Betty yet, thanks to our management.” + +Young appetites were ready for the supper +that spread so invitingly on the pretty table; +for it was decided to set everything conveniently +near, since they were their own servants. +Then afterwards the girls quickly +cleared the table, and Ramon, without remark and +under Betty’s direction, took out the leaves and +made the table small. Betty and Janet together +at one end pushed against Ramon on the other. +“It will give us more room and look better,” explained +Betty to the girls, who were still ignorant +of what was to come. Betty, too, was ignorant +in regard to *who* was to come. She was as +uneasy and restless as a girl could be and not +show that something was on her mind. Ramon +was wondering what excuse he could offer for +staying so long, but it took some time to clear +away the supper and while Mrs. Lee told Betty +to “go and entertain her guests and she would +finish up the dishes,” Betty, by way of camouflage, +said, “we *could* leave them till morning +of course; but it will be nicer in the morning +not to have them before us.” Sue rather +wondered at Betty’s easy compliance. + +At last the bell rang, not a steady ring with +perhaps another, but a series of rings in rhythm. +Janet and Sue looked up surprised from a +puzzle that Betty had given them and Ramon +to work out. But Ramon grinned and Betty +laughed, running to the door. “*Something’s +up*,” said Sue. “I *suspected* it!” + +Laughter and greetings filled the hall. +“S’prise Party!” called Peggy’s voice. + +“Ted again!” exclaimed Janet, rising, “and +Peggy Pollard and Carolyn Gwynne!” + +And now they thronged in, bringing the cold +air with them from the open hall door. The +girls entered first, surrounding Janet and Sue, +to shake hands in the spirit of fun and surprise, +while Carolyn saw that the names of the girls +were understood by Janet and Sue who might +not have met them all or had not remembered +their names. Carolyn was always thoughtful. + +Betty, after telling the boys to leave their +hats, caps and coats in the hall, came to the +group of girls and led them back to the room +where they could take off their wraps and powder +their noses if they liked. Mother, bless her, +had swiftly put on the finishing touches and the +guest towels in the bath room after Amy Lou +was in bed and the various washings up after +supper were completed. + +“Yes, Betty,” Carolyn excitedly told Betty, +“we had thought of doing it and then pretty +nearly gave it up because we weren’t sure of +your liking it; and I hadn’t been in this ducky +apartment before and wasn’t sure that you had +room for a party. But when old Ted called up +and told me what boys he’d rounded up, I telephoned +then to the girls and we all met at +Louise’s.” + +So it was a “ducky apartment,” was it? Trust +Carolyn’s generous soul. Betty was sure that +Carolyn liked her for herself! + +Naturally Ted had a “few souls” old enough +for himself and Ramon. There was Louise +Madison and a pretty junior named Roberta +Ayers. The Harry Norris whom Betty had first +seen with Ted Dorrance was there, a good +friend, evidently, of a small, fair sophomore +girl, Daisy Richards. It was rather unusual, +of course, this mingling of ages or classes at a +small party, but the invitation to Ramon was +the cause of it all, and Betty was so glad to +have Ted, who had been so “nice” to her, she +thought, at a party in her house. Yet, of course, +she had not given the invitations. Where would +she have stopped if she had? For not all the +girls and boys that she would have wanted were +here. + +Of the younger boys there was Chet Dorrance, +Chauncey Allen, Brad Warren, Budd LeRoy, +James Simmonds and two freshmen boys whom +Betty scarcely knew, Andy Sanford and Michael +Carlin, whom the boys called Mickey or Mike +according to their fancy. + +Janet and Sue found themselves surrounded +by the group of boys when they came in from +the hall and Betty had escorted the girls back +to the bedroom. Ted did the honors of introduction, +but it was only a few minutes before +Betty was back and acting as hostess. + +Mr. Lee had disappeared long since. Mrs. +Lee was putting Amy Lou to bed at last accounts +and the door of bedroom and dressing +room was shut. Dick and Doris, feeling rather +out of it, had moved into the kitchen till Betty, +at last seeing everything started, thought of +them and looked them up. + +“No, Betty,” said Dick, “I don’t want to be +introduced all around! But I’ll come into the +dining room, if you want us, and talk to some +of the boys, if it happens that way.” + +“I’d like to have you at least see the fun and +of course when the refreshments are served you +must be with us. I’ll probably need you. +Would you mind?” + +“I’ll help,” said Doris. “It would look better.” + +“So it would. And will you, Dick?” + +“Yes.” + +“And you can help pull the taffy. I do hope +Mother will know how to cook it, though perhaps +Louise knows.” + +“I’ll tell her,” said Dick, and Betty felt relieved +about the family. Everything was just +all right! And Mother did know, she said. + +Ted and Louise were good at starting games. +Brad, however, was prevailed upon to play +some lively tunes upon Betty’s piano and the +rest hummed to tunes or sang when there were +words to the melodies. + +Pencils and paper were called for by Louise +Madison, who announced that five minutes, or +less, would be given for every one to make words +out of what would be given them when they were +ready to commence. Betty hurried to get paper +and as many pencils as the family could command. +Fortunately, most of the boys carried +pencils in their pockets, Dick and Doris had a +supply of stubs among their school things, and +with much whirling of the pencil sharpener in +the kitchen, they were soon ready. + +“And, O, Mother, won’t you please start the +candy to cooking? It has to cool and be pulled +after that, you know.” + +“Yes, I know,” said Mrs. Lee, who rather regretted +sacrificing the excellent syrup from the +home town, so much better than that she bought +in the city. But it was worth while, for Betty’s +pleasure, and to entertain her friends, after all. +“I will see to it and call you when it is ready. +Luckily Amy Lou is sound asleep.” + +But no sooner had Betty remarked to Louise, +as she handed her the supplies, that her mother +was starting the syrup than Louise cried, “Oh, +I have to learn how to do that. I never pulled +candy but once and it was such fun. Would +your mother mind having me around?” + +“I’m sure she wouldn’t.” + +Immediately the kitchen was invaded by +several of the girls, but all except Louise came +back for the game. Ted, thereupon, told the +“Don” to “call time,” and he vanished in the +direction of the kitchen, while a few smiles +were exchanged among those that were left. +“Ted will know how to boil candy for taffy after +this,” said Kathryn Allen. + +“Well, somebody has to try and taste it.” +smiled Betty. + +“Everybody ready!” called the “Don,” quite +at his ease by this time and with a real home +atmosphere back of him. Had he not been the +only one of them invited to the Thanksgiving +dinner? And Mr. Lee had not known then that +he was a football player, either. “Don” was +not aware that that fact would have made no +difference to Mr. Lee, one way or another, +though he was not opposed to the game. + +“Five minutes, Louise Madison said,” he continued. +“I will now announce the words. No +proper names, or foreign words, Louise says. +It’s ‘Lyon High School.’” + +The scribbling began. “Can you use slang?” +inquired Brad. + +“Better not.” + +“Why isn’t there an ‘e’ or a ‘t’ in it?” remarked +Janet. “I could make so many more.” + +Carolyn was writing fast and furiously. “Oh, +give us five minutes more, so we can really +*think* on each letter!” she begged. + +“Of course a girl will beat,” said Chauncey. +“They’re so much better in English!” Chauncey +was pretending to scratch his head and think. +In reality he was too lazy to bother with a game +he did not enjoy, though too polite to beg off. +He had sixteen words and that was enough. He +bet nobody else had “solo.” + +But Chauncey was right on the girls’ having +the most words. Several boys had twenty words +in the five minutes, but the girls made a business +of it and Kathryn Allen had the largest number, +though Andy Sanford, who was on the staff of +the school paper, came within two of her number, +forty-five. + +“How did you do it so fast, Kathryn?” asked +Mary Emma. + +“I just went lickity-cut in any old order till +I got through the letters that way. Then I went +back again and did a little thinking that time +and had the other few minutes to do it in. I +took *ly* and *li* and *lo*, and did the same way with +all the letters.” + +“Did anybody else get *solo*?” asked Chauncey. + +Alas, Kathryn had that, also *holy*, of which +Chauncey had not thought. + +A delicious odor of boiling syrup was commented +upon by several. Louise, carrying the +glass in which she had just tested the candy, +came in to inquire who had the most words and +how many. “All right, Kathryn gets the prize. +Ted, *where’s* that prize?” + +From the kitchen Ted appeared, hunting in +his pocket for something. + +“Nobody said there was to be any prize. +That’s not fair,” said Sim, grinning. + +“Would you have worked harder, Sim?” Ted +inquired. “Here it is, Kathryn,” and he handed +her a long, slim package tied with a blue ribbon. +They all watched while Kathryn took the ribbon +and tissue paper from what was so evidently a +gift “of pencils. Two five centers, Kathryn,” said +Ted. “May they bring you to fame.” + +“You did well, Kathryn,” said Louise. “Somebody +got fifty at a senior party the other day, +but I’m not sure but we had more time.” + +“Help me, Andy,” said Kathryn, “and let’s +see how many we can get. Please give me all +the papers, so we can compare.” Consequently, +while Ted, accused of “licking his chops” over +all the candy he was tasting, followed Louise +out to the kitchen, and somebody started up the +music again, Kathryn and Andy, helped by +Betty, who gathered up all the other efforts, +made a fairly full list. “I had just started on +the s-h’s,” said Andy. A little later, after +working as much out themselves as they felt +like doing and comparing their papers, they announced +that they could read what they had +if any one wanted to hear. + +*“Let’s* hear them, Andy,” called Chauncey +from near the piano. “How many words can +the experts make out of the old school name?” + +“Leaving out abbreviations, plurals, and odd words, here they are: +*lying*, *lingo*, *lion*, *lo*, *log*, +*loch*, *loo*, *loon*, *loin*; *yon*, +*yo-ho*; *O*, *oh*, *on*, *oil*, *oily*, +*only*; *no*, *nigh*, *noisy*; *high*, *ho*, +*hog*, *hill*, *hilly*, *holy*, *his*, +*hollo*, *holly*; *I*, *is*, *in*, *ill*, +*illy*, *inch*, *inly*; *go*, *gill*, +*gin*; *scion*, *shiny*, *shin*, *shy*, +*si*, *sigh*, *sign*, *silo*, *silly*, +*sill*, *sin*, *sing*, *sling*, *soil*, +*solo*, *soon*, *song*, *son*, *sol*, +*so*; *chic*, *chill*, *chilly*, *chin*, +*cling*, *clog*, *cog*, *coil*, *coin*, +*colon*, *con*, *colony*, *coo*, *cool*, +*coolly*, *coon*, *cosy*, *coy*–and we forgot +*lynch, shoo* and *shooing*, and Andy says that *colin* +is another word for *quail* and that *shoon* is in the +dictionary. So that’s over eighty and pretty good, we think.” + +Chauncey started a mild applause and remarked +that Andy and Kathryn would probably +teach English some day. + +“Not on your life,” said Andy, “though I may +run a paper at that!” + +Mrs. Lee could not help wondering if every +one would be careful not to drop his candy +while it was in the process of being pulled, but +she said nothing and provided plenty of greased +receptacles. Ted and Louise started several +other quiet games while the candy was getting +to the proper temperature. Then they began +to try a small portion. + +“How many want to pull?” asked Ted. Every +one wanted to try “just a little bit,” which was +well, or the supply would not have been sufficient. +Those who had never pulled candy +before were instructed, that there should be no +sticky or slippery masses clinging more unhappily +than wet dough to the greased hands–after +a great performance of hand-washing in +the kitchen. + +All this made much laughter and general +merriment, not to mention certain antics of Ted +and Harry and a few of the younger boys. But +no one tried any “sticky” tricks, as Betty put it; +for once upon a time, Dick had come home from +a party with his hair full of taffy, horrible +dictu! + +In various stages of whiteness, the separate +pieces of taffy were carefully laid upon the +owner’s saucer or plate, with a clean white label +bearing the “name of the author,” said Betty. +Much had been eaten during the pulling, for some +“preferred their taffy hot,” they claimed; but +each was to take a little home, to prove that they +had pulled it, Ted said. Oiled paper would be +in demand, thought Mrs. Lee, who hunted up a +roll to have ready. + +But the ice-cream had arrived. The big white +cake was cut, also a loaf of fruit cake; and in +the chairs which had been gathered up and +brought to the front of the house with the appearance +of the guests, the girls and boys sat +to eat slowly the cold cream, enjoy their cake +and lay the foundations of future friendships +or cement those already formed. The high +school “case” between Ted Dorrance and Louise +Madison was not particularly serious in its outlook; +for Ted, like many boys, was admiring a +girl older than himself just now, but some +demure young miss of a younger class, or not +in his school at all, was likely to take his later +attention. + +CHAPTER XII: A CHANGE OF PLAN +============================= + +“Is this Mr. Gwynne’s residence?” asked +Betty, a little timid, for a deep masculine voice +had answered her ring at the telephone. + +“Yes,” the response came, pleasantly. + +“May I speak to Carolyn, please? It is Betty +Lee.” + +“I’ll call Carolyn.” There was a few moments +of waiting. + +“’Lo, Bettykins. I was just going to call +you.” + +“Were you? What were you going to tell +me?” + +“You say what *you* were going to first.” + +“I’d rather not.” + +“Please.” + +“Well, though I just hate so to tell you what +I’m going to.” + +“So do I hate to tell you!” + +Betty’s little laugh, came to Carolyn over the +wire. + +“Wouldn’t it be funny if it is about the same +thing! Why Carolyn, I’m just sick about it, +but I don’t see how we can come to your house +tonight. Father has to have a conference or +something tonight down town and can’t drive +us out to your place. He’s staying down for +dinner somewhere, you know. So there’s no +one to take us and Mother doesn’t think it’s +safe for us to go on the car and then walk as +far as we’d have to, especially coming home.” + +“That would be all right with our putting you +on the car here. But really, Betty, it is a sort +of relief, because I was wondering how to tell +you that I can’t have the party at all! Sister’s +having the house both nights, and besides, I was +going to have you at least taken back home, so +your father wouldn’t have to come for you, but +the cars will be in use, too. It was too bad of +my sister not to tell me and Mother did not +happen to say anything till this morning when +she was asking my sister what she wanted for +decorations. I said, ‘Why, Mother, didn’t you +tell me I could have a party?’ and Mother looked +startled. ‘Why so I did! I hope you haven’t +everybody invited!’ + +“So then I made it as nice for her as I could +and said I thought I could change it to an afternoon +one, and Betty, since you had that +gorgeous party at your house, won’t you let me +have you and some of the other girls at our +house Saturday, tomorrow afternoon? Please. +I’ve telephoned the *boys* that my party had to +be postponed, so this will be a ‘hen party.’ I’ll +have some sort of a party in the Christmas vacation, +perhaps, to make it up to the boys, not +to mention liking the fun myself. + +“Will you mind *awfully*, Betty?” Carolyn’s +voice was both regretful and persuasive. + +“Why–no, Carolyn–only it isn’t necessary +for you to have us at all, you know, and I’ve +invited all the other girls.” + +“I know how we can fix that, easy as pie, +Betty. I’ll call all of them up–I know whom +you were going to have, you know, and I’ll tell +them that you and I are entertaining together +at our house!” + +“We-ll, but you’ll have to let me really help, +you know, get the refreshments and everything.” + +“I’ll see about that–there will be such oodles +around, with Sister’s two parties, and we’ll +have all the benefits of her spuzzy decorations +and won’t hurt a thing, you know. Let’s have +it a thimble party. Didn’t I see you making +something for Christmas?” + +“Yes. I brought a hanky I’m hemstitching +for Mother in school and worked on it a little +while in between lunch and class. It’s so hard +to get a chance without her catching me at it at +home.” + +“Bring it along and finish it up, then, Betty. +Is it settled, then?” + +“Are you *sure* you want it that way?” + +“Sure; and Mother will feel better about it, +too.” + +“Very well, Carolyn. I’m sure Janet and Sue +will be delighted to come, and of course I shall.” + +Thus it happened that Betty and her guests +enjoyed an excellent moving picture, censored +by Mrs. Lee, on Friday afternoon, with attendant +pleasure of favorite sundaes and shopping +in the big stores; and they had the evening +quietly at home, early to bed this time, to catch +up for the night before. “It is a good deal of +fun with those boys,” said Janet, “but I think +that it will be more *restful* tomorrow at Carolyn’s +without them.” + +“And you will love Carolyn’s home, Janet,” +replied Betty, though laughing at Janet’s expression. + +A soft snow fell that night. In the morning +the girls looked out upon a beautiful world of +white, soon to be spoiled in the city by the +traffic and the soot from the good furnace fires +that kept the people warm. But at Carolyn’s +that afternoon little had occurred to lessen the +loveliness of the snow scene. Beautiful evergreens +drooped a little with the weight upon +their branches. Drifts piled here and there by +bushes that seemed to bear feathery blossoms. +It was the first “real snow,” Dick said, and welcome, +particularly to the children. + +Betty had not expected so many girls, but +here were not only those whom she had invited +to her expected party but a number of others. +It was very satisfactory. Now Janet and Sue +would know just about all the girls that she +wanted them to meet. + +Opinions might differ about the afternoon’s +being “restful.” But it was as restful as girls +of high school age would be likely to want it +to prove. Janet and Sue were impressed with +Carolyn’s lovely home, inside and out, and declared +that seeing it with the snow must be +almost as good as seeing it with its flowers. +Carolyn brought all the girls whom they had not +met to each of them and although they did settle +down with their bits of fancy-work or Christmas +presents, Carolyn had them change their seats +in order that groups of different girls might be +together. Some things made in the arts and +crafts department of the school could be brought +to be worked on and Betty saw articles that she +“longed to make,” she said. Janet was always +a little quiet when she was first with girls +strange to her, but her lack of conversation was +not noticeable in the babel of voices after the +girls were fairly launched upon various topics +that interested them. + +“Yes,” replied Betty to one, “I’ve met the +mysterious ‘Don.’ His real name is Ramon, but +the boys all call him ‘Don’ now, I’ve noticed, so +I suppose we might as well. He doesn’t mind, +he said.” + +“Did you hear that, Lucille? Betty Lee +knows the ‘Don.’ Well, what is he, anyhow? +Spanish, as they say. I always think that the +boys may be ‘kiddin’ us, you know.” + +“He really is part Spanish and part Polish +and some of his people were Hungarian, at +least they lived in Hungary for a while and he +said they were ‘nice people.’” + +“How did you know so much? Is there anything +mysterious about him?” + +“I was just talking to him one time. He +doesn’t seem the least bit mysterious to me, +but I don’t think that he has anybody related +to him in this country. He just boards somewhere, +I suppose.” + +“Then that isn’t a bit interesting.” + +“Oh, yes, it is, Lucille,” spoke Peggy Pollard. +“Chet Dorrance said that the Don told Ted a +little bit one time and there’s somebody that’s +either after him or that he’s after, I think.” + +“My, isn’t that news for you?” laughed +Lucille. “Peggy, you’re always so clear!” + +“Well, do you suppose that Ted would tell +what the boy told him in confidence?” + +“Ted must have told something.” + +“Couldn’t Chet overhear it, maybe?” + +“Then he is really mysterious, you think, +Peggy.” + +“Yes. I asked him last night if he *was* mysterious +and he said he was!” + +There was a general laugh at this. “Peggy’s +drawing on her imagination,” said Mary Emma. + +“Where did the Don take you last night, +Peggy?” queried Lucille, “to a picture show?” + +“No, but he was at the same surprise party +I went to,” and Peggy gave a mirthful glance +in Carolyn’s direction. + +“Well, if Don as the boys call him isn’t mysterious, +you are, so let’s change the subject.” + +Peggy had thought that with so many other +girls, about twenty in all, Betty might not like +to have the surprise party talked over; or it +might be that some one would feel hurt at not +having been included in the sudden affair. For +these reasons she was quite willing to have the +subject changed. + +“Wouldn’t this be a delicious night to go sledding, +girls?” she asked, looking out from the +large window near which she sat toward the +broad expanse of snow that covered the lawn +and stretched beyond the clumps of bushes and +trees over the spacious grounds. + +“Too soft, I’m afraid, Peggy,” said Mary +Emma Howland. “It didn’t melt, though, when +the sun came out. I wonder if it would pack +and make enough. The wind had swept the +ground pretty bare at our house, but hasn’t out +here.” + +“Perhaps it didn’t snow everywhere alike,” +brightly suggested Kathryn Allen. “Sometimes +it rains out in our suburb when my father says +there isn’t a particle of rain down town.” + +“The paper says that there is a blizzard out +West,” said Carolyn. “Wouldn’t it be wonderful +if we did have sledding, next week anyhow?” + +Betty explained to Janet and Sue what she +had mentioned before, that the winters were +considerably more mild here than their own and +that everybody rejoiced when there were winter +sports, making the most of them; but none of +the three thought of any particular good time +as on its way to them because of this unexpected +snow. Soon came the pretty refreshments, when +all the girls laid aside their work to enjoy them. + +They were asked to go into another room, +apparently a breakfast room, or a dining room +on a small scale, Betty thought, where a round +table was set for them. There a tiny turkey, +which was a container for candy or nuts, stood +at each place, connected with the central lights +overhead by a gay ribbon. Betty’s place card +bore an Indian on snowshoes, a wild turkey +over one shoulder and a bow in one hand. + +“I ’spect there’s some turkey in this ‘chicken +salad,’ don’t you, Betty?” said Janet next to +her. + +“Carolyn *always* has such lovely things,” replied +Betty, though she had been entertained +there but once before. But this was perfect for +an “afternoon tea.” Instead of tea they drank +cocoa, however, and last they were served to +tiny ice-cream roses and delicious little cakes +with pink, white or chocolate frosting. + +“I’ve done nothing but eat good things since +I came to this city,” Sue declared after they +came home, “and we’ve had enough different +kinds of fun to last all winter! No, thank you, +Mrs. Lee, I don’t believe we can eat a speck of +supper, or dinner, whichever you call it here.” + +“We might sit down with them, girls,” Betty +suggested, “for we didn’t really have a heavy +meal at Carolyn’s!” + +But Betty had scarcely gotten seated at the +home dinner table than she rose to answer the +telephone. “Oh, who is it? I can’t quite understand. +The telephone buzzes a little. Now +I get it–oh, yes, Chet! Honestly? Why, yes, +that would be great fun. I don’t know, though.” + +Betty listened a little. “Wait a minute. I’ll +have to ask Mother and see what the girls say. +Please hold the ’phone a minute.” + +The telephone was in the hall and Betty +rushed around through the living room to where +the family were. “Mother!” she began excitedly, +“that was Chet Dorrance and he wants to +know if we girls can go bob-sled riding tonight. +It’s freezing like everything and the boys have +got water poured on some hill–this afternoon, +you know, and the snow all packed down!” + +“What boys are going and what hill is it, +Betty?” inquired her father. + +“Chet said that he and Chauncey Allen and +Budd LeRoy would come after us. We can take +the car, the street-car, he said, and get off almost +right at the hill, anyhow the place where +it is, one of the houses, I suppose, maybe a +place like Carolyn’s.” + +“Betty, I can’t have you start in to go out +with the boys in the evening.” + +“But this isn’t like that, Mother. It’s a big +crowd, not so very big perhaps, but at least +two bob-sleds and we take turns.” + +“Sure the hill doesn’t deposit you near some +car line or shoot you across one? I saw a kiddie +nearly killed this afternoon shooting across a +road, down hill, on his sled.” Mr. Lee was interposing +this remark. + +Betty looked worried. “Chet is waiting on +the line, Mother. Oh, I do want to go!” + +“Suppose I talk to him, then, Betty,” suggested +Mrs. Lee. “I don’t want to keep you +from any pleasure, but I want to make sure +that it is safe, you know. Yes, a crowd to enjoy +the sport is all right if they are careful +boys, not reckless.” + +“You met them all here, Mother.” + +“Yes.” Mrs. Lee was on her way to the hall. + +“This is Betty’s mother speaking,” she said, +taking the receiver. “Betty is anxious to accept +your kind invitation, but I want to inquire about +the safety of the sport. Where is the hill located +and just what are you going to do?” + +“Aw, Mother’ll spoil it all, Betty,” said Dick, +who was listening, while Betty stood half-way +between hall and the dining room double doors. +Betty frowned and shook her head at her +brother, who passed his plate for a second helping +of meat and potato. Dick was going out +himself with his sled and the hill had been +passed upon by his father, though Dick in his +peregrinations did not always ask permission. +That was one of Mr. Lee’s little worries for +fear that in a city he could not so easily know +just where his son was spending his leisure +hours or whether his company was all that it +should be. In the country town there was just +as much danger of contamination, but they knew +so well what was to be avoided and what companions +were safe and who were unsafe. + +Mother, however, had not “spoiled it all.” +She came back smiling and put her arm about +Betty to lead her in the room with her. “Chet +explained it all satisfactorily, and I am rather +glad to know that Ted Dorrance and a group +of the older high school boys and girls will +be there. There is a ‘sled load,’ I understand, +though that used to mean a different sort of +sled, in the country. Moreover, it is on the Dorrance +place, and it may be that you can be called +for. I think myself that the street car is safer, +however, and so I told him.” + +“Mother!” exclaimed Betty, half embarrassed. + +“Don’t worry, child. Parents have to +manage some of these things. I liked Chet and he +is not offended. It is most likely that his own +parents have a few remarks to make occasionally. +Chet is not old enough to drive a car, +Betty.” + +“Well, I’m obliged to you anyway, Mother, +for letting us go. Did you ring off?” + +“Yes, I never thought that Chet might like to +speak to you again.” + +“Your mother isn’t yet used to having young +men ring up and talk to her daughter,” mischievously +said Mr. Lee. + +“And I hope that I shall *not* get used to it +for some time,” firmly replied his wife. “Betty’s +not going to run around regardless; and I’m +so sure of her that I know she does not want +to do it either.” + +“I’m perfectly willing to wait until I grow +up a little more,” said Betty. “But this is different.” + +“Yes, this is different.” + +It was different. Betty never forgot this +first winter fun of her freshman year, the night +so beautiful, the snow so white, the little company +so gay. Moonlight made the most of the +scene. It was the first time that Betty had seen +the Dorrance place, rather the house, which +stood back, facing a road which was marked +“Private” and wound around a short ascent to +where two houses were built, some distance +apart, upon a hill in a thick grove of trees. But +the hill began to descend where the houses were +and only the trees and chimneys could be seen +from the main road where ran the street cars. +A path had been well cleared and machines had +gone over the road since the snow had fallen. +Escorted by the three boys, the three girls ascended +the hill after leaving the street car and +heard, while they talked, the merry laughter of +a group just preceding them. + +“So this is where you live, Chet,” said Janet, +by this time well acquainted, for she and Chet +had pulled taffy together and joked each other +while they did it. + +“Yes; it’s a bit of a climb for some folks, +but my mother uses the car most of the time +and I suppose it isn’t more than a good square’s +walk to the house. The hill we’re going to slide +on is the other side of the house. You see there’s +really a ravine there, but this hill is wide and +the way the ground slopes and humps around it +makes a good long hill of it. We’ve got it as +slick as can be and we’ll shoot across a narrow +brook at the foot. It’s good and frozen +tonight and getting colder. You’ll all come in +the house and meet Mother first. But we’re going +to make a big bonfire to get warm by and +Louise, Ted’s girl, you know, says we can roast +marshmallows the same as if it were summer.” + +“So this is Betty Lee,” said pretty Mrs. Dorrance, +holding Betty’s hand a trifle longer, as +she was the last girl of the group. “Both Ted +and Chet have spoken of you. I am glad to +meet you and I hope that my boys can give all +you girls a good time tonight. I’ve cautioned +them to be careful of you.” + +“Now, Mother!” cried Chet. “You don’t understand. +Of course we’ll take care of them, +but they’re pretty independent, too, and they’ll +tell us if they don’t want to do anything, at +least Louise will tell Ted!” + +“I hope so.” + +“We want to do what everybody does,” gently +said Betty, “and I’m sure the boys know about +the hill and everything, don’t they, Mrs. Dorrance?” + +“I hope so,” whimsically replied Mrs. Dorrance, +who was timid about sports of all sorts, +though she rather liked this confidence in her +boys. + +Then the fun began. The girls and boys in +warm sweaters and woollen caps gathered about +the bob sleds at the top of the hill. One with +Ted guiding and full of the older ones went first, +down, down around, up a little, swooping down +till it was lost to view and only the little squeals +and shrieks of excitement or a whoop from some +boy reached Betty’s ears. + +“I’ll let you take this one down, Budd,” said +Chet. “Budd’s an expert, girls. Now not too +many. We’ve another right here and I’ll take +that first. Chauncey, watch how I take that +curve and you can take it down next time. Come +on, Betty, as soon as Budd’s sled goes and +rounds the curve all right we’ll start, I think.” + +Shortly Betty found herself flying among the +shadows, through patches of moonlight, around +the breath-taking curve, shooting down a +straight, steep descent, holding tight, breathing +in the fresh, frosty air, happy as a bird. Again +and again they climbed and descended till they +were tired and lit the great pile prepared by +the boys in an open space. The flames shot up, +lighting the gay colors of the sweaters and coats, +the bright young faces and the snow man that +some one started to build while marshmallows +were really being toasted. A snowball fight or +two livened the scene for a little, and oh, how +surprised they all were, when some one looked at +a watch in the firelight and announced that it +was getting late. + +“Don’t put on any more wood, boys,” said +Louise Madison. “I’ve only been able to toast +anything in this one corner as it is; and if it is +as late as that we’ll go in, for Mrs. Dorrance +will be calling us.” + +As if the hour had been noted at just the right +time, some one came running out of the house +to tell the company that refreshments were +ready–and such funny ones, ordered by the +boys, no doubt, the two Dorrance boys that were +hosts. There were hot tea and bottles of pop, +hot “wieners” and fresh buns to put them in, +hot beans in tomato sauce, pickles, real spiced +home-made ones, and for dessert what Dick always +called “Wiggle,” jello or a kindred article, +this time holding an assortment of fresh fruit +together and served on a plate with an immense +piece of frosted spice cake. + +Somebody, the cook, Betty supposed, stood +behind a long table by which they were to pass +in cafeteria style, each taking, as the cook indicated, +plate and silver and being served to +the variety of foods by Chet and Ted, who with +laughing faces had put on a white paper cap +and a white apron. These the two boys kept +on as they followed the rest into the dining +room, to which a maid beckoned them. But all +helpers disappeared at once. Mrs. Dorrance +only looked in upon them to see that they were +happy, and perhaps to assure Louise that the +chaperon was doing her duty in being about. +Jokes and fun and more hot things offered by +Chet and Ted completed the evening’s enjoyment. + +“It’s too much for you to go home with us, +boys,” said Betty, rather thinking that she made +a “social blunder” by saying so, but feeling that +if they put her on the car she could see herself +and her friends home. + +“Couldn’t think of anything else,” replied +Chet, guiding Janet down the rather slippery +hill at the front. “You don’t know how late and +dark it will be when we get off the car near +your house. The moon’s setting now, or else +there’s a cloud or two. Wouldn’t it be great if +we kept on having snow!” + +“But dear sakes,” said Betty, “we’ll be in +school and have to study!” + +“Not to *hurt*,” remarked Chauncey Allen. + +CHAPTER XIII: BETTY MEETS TROUBLE +================================= + +There are degrees of satisfaction or of disappointment, +but Betty Lee had never met what +she would consider real trouble connected with +her school life until after Christmas in her +freshman year. + +The happy Thanksgiving vacation with Janet +and Sue as her guests came duly to a close after +a pleasant Sabbath during which they went to +Sabbath school and church and spent part of +the afternoon in wandering around the main art +gallery of the city, open to visitors. The girls +took an early morning train on Monday and +Betty, more or less upset by too many good +times, went back to school not feeling much like +study. But neither did any one else and the +teachers in the main, having had a good rest +themselves, seemed not to be too hard on any +one. + +Betty, however, buckled down to the work of +what is always the hardest term of the year, +that before Christmas, and had many +delightful anticipations of that beautiful celebration. +They could not “go to Grandma’s” this year, but +they could and did enjoy Christmas day together. +Accustomed, now, to the demands of +the city school, she felt a real satisfaction in the +fact that her work was being well done and her +grades upon the cards such that she need not +feel ashamed. + +There were many interesting distractions +toward Christmas and Betty joined the Girl Reserves, +the group that included freshmen in her +high school, in time to help with the Christmas +basket which was to go to make some one’s +Christmas brighter. The stores, with their fascinating +windows, the hurrying crowds of shoppers, +the entertainments and the Christmas +music, all had their accustomed charm; but +Betty’s vacation of only the one week, with an +extra week-end, was spent largely at home, for +none of the girls whom she knew well entertained +and were absorbed in home affairs. + +Again it was hard to settle down to work, but +Betty was anxious to do well in the semester +examinations and worked particularly hard on +her Latin and mathematics. By some shifting +of pupils, Betty was now in the adorable Miss +Heath’s Latin class, though she had not begun +the year with her. Betty was always very shy +with her teachers and although Miss Heath was +most “human,” as Carolyn said, and friendly +with the girls and boys there was a certain +bound over which none of them stepped and +Betty never presumed even upon the privileges +which she might have enjoyed, in a chat or talk +or consultation. It was characteristic of her +family, perhaps, to be independent. Even at +home she always wanted to “get everything herself” +if she could, preferring to spend much +more time upon a problem rather than ask any +one for light upon it. + +And now Miss Heath, gave them an examination +which they all felt was important. Indeed +she told them so. “It is going to help me find +out whether you have gotten the important +things that I have tried to teach you,” she said. +“As you know, I have emphasized some things. +Some things we have gone over again and again. +I see you smile, for you think that we have gone +over *everything* again and again. So we have. +But this may help you, too, in reviewing for +your semester finals. The questions for those I +do not make out, except in some line assigned to +me by the head of the department. This I call +a review examination and its results will be +most interesting to me. This is not to ‘scare’ +you at all, and it will be recorded in my grade +book as an ordinary test, but I want you to *use +your brains* to the best of your ability. Day after +tomorrow, Thursday, at this hour, come prepared +for a test.” + +The next day a strange teacher was at the +desk, a “substitute,” young and worried. The +boys who were in the habit of “acting up” performed +as far as they dared, Betty reported at +home; and the girls giggled, “because they +couldn’t help it. It was so funny.” + +“You have to know how to manage the freshmen +in this school,” said Carolyn to Betty on +their way from the room. “I wonder if Miss +Heath will be back tomorrow. She looked half +sick yesterday and took some medicine as we +went out.” + +“Did she? I didn’t notice. That is too bad. +I wonder if we’ll have the test, then.” + +“Oh, of course. That would be the easiest +thing for a substitute to give and she wouldn’t +miss doing it, I should think. But perhaps,” +Carolyn hopefully added, “perhaps Miss Heath +couldn’t make out the questions.” + +“She talked as if she had them already made +out,” thoughtfully returned Betty, determined +to go over all the vocabulary and the paradigms +hardest for her to remember. “I’m going to +put all the time I can on Latin tonight.” + +“I’m not,” laughed a boy behind Betty, who +had caught her last words. “We have basketball +practice and I’m invited to a good show tonight. +Oh boy!” + +Betty smilingly remarked that he’d better not +miss a little study even if he did know everything, +but the lad grinned and shook his head +as he passed her. + +“I don’t like Jakey,” said Carolyn, as her +eyes followed him and the confused group of +boys and girls, passing and repassing in the +hall. “He’s smart as can be and gets along in +Latin better than I do, but there’s something +tricky about him once in awhile and he’s so terribly +conceited. He can’t stand it when you can +answer a question that he has missed or can’t +put up his hand for. I know. I’ve watched +him. Did you see those boys change their seats? +*She* didn’t know any better and they did it for +fun I suppose, just to do something.” + +“Do you mean during class?” + +“No. Just before class began. Jakey slid +into that one just behind you.” + +“I didn’t notice.” + +“*She* may, if they are in different seats tomorrow.” + +----- + +The zero hour came. Betty looked at the +questions on the board. Oh, they weren’t so bad. +It was fair. There were the special things that +Miss Heath had emphasized, some of the hardest +to get, to be sure, but Betty had studied hard +and she had freshened up on the vocabulary +lists and some of the rules of syntax, for she +dreaded the translations, sentences that Miss +Heath would make up, some of them at least. + +Betty’s cheeks were hot, but she worked +away. Mercy, her fountain pen had given out. +She took a pencil and found its point blunt. +Hastily she traveled to the pencil sharpener and +put on it as sharp a point as possible. Miss +Heath did not want them to use pencil for examinations +if it were not necessary; but this +wasn’t the semester final, when Carolyn said +you *had* to use ink, they said. But she’d better +sharpen two pencils, perhaps. + +Betty scarcely saw the rest of the scholars +as she returned to her desk for another pencil, +so absorbed was she in thoughts of the examination +questions. There was a whisking of something +on several desks as she and some one else +passed down parallel aisles at the same time, +she to return, the other to go to the pencil sharpener. +As she sat down and looked off thoughtfully +at the board, the teacher was looking in +her direction and two of the boys were chuckling +behind her. + +The teacher rapped for order and Betty, turning, +caught a glimpse of Peggy, who was looking +daggers at somebody behind Betty. But +Betty was finishing her paper. The time was +nearly up. She read over what she had, put in +a long mark over a vowel in one of the declensions, +looked for other omissions or mistakes, +and puzzled over her last English to Latin sentence. +She hoped it was right. There went the +bell. Betty made ready her paper. Now it was +handed in. Now they were in the hall. The +test was over. What a relief! + +“Did you see what those boys were doing?” +asked Peggy, as Betty and Carolyn caught up +with her at the door of the room where they +were entering for another class. + +“No, what was it?” questioned Carolyn, but +the teacher just then beckoned Betty, to give +her back a paper that she had failed to return +with the rest given out to the class, and Betty +missed Peggy’s reply. + +“That was a very good paper, Betty,” said +her teacher. “I found it with some sophomore +papers where it had gotten by mistake.” + +Betty was disappointed to find only an eighty-eight +for her grade, but she knew that anything +over eighty was good with Miss Smith. Tests +were popular just now at Lyon High. All too +soon would come the semester finals! + +----- + +The busy week ended and Monday came +again. The same young substitute was in Miss +Heath’s place. She was “terribly cross” with +the boys, Peggy said, but she didn’t blame her. +Four or five of the freshman boys tried to see +how far they could go and went a little too far +for their own good, for when there was some +chalk throwing at the blackboard, during written +exercises there, the teacher called several +boys by name to take their seats and see her +after class. “If any one else longs to be sent +to detention, he or she may just keep on with +the fun as these have done!” + +There was an immediate cessation of performances, +for D. T., as it was called, was not +popular. + +“By the way,” the teacher added, “I should +like to see after class for a moment Betty Lee +and Peggy Pollard.” + +Betty, who was at the board, pausing in her +work to listen to the startling interruptions, was +surprised to hear her own name. What could +the teacher want with her? But after a surprised +look at the somewhat grim face of an +otherwise attractive young woman, Betty +turned again to the board and finished the verb +synopsis on which she was engaged. The class +work went on as usual, with correction and assignments +by the teacher, recitation and occasional +question on the part of the class. + +The boys who had been told to stay remained +in their seats at the close of class and Betty, +raising her eyebrows at Peggy, gathered up her +books and went to one of the front seats to +wait the teacher’s pleasure. She felt in a hurry, +for she was due at study hall on this day and +it was on the third floor, quite a climb from the +basement floor. + +With eyes demurely on her books, she listened +to a brief and sharp rebuke delivered to the +boys, who scurried out of the room as soon as +they were ordered to “detention” that evening, +immediately after the close of school. At “detention” +some victim among the teachers, who +took turns at the disagreeable task, was in +charge of a room devoted to the derelicts from +duty who had from one cause or another been +assigned to an extra hour in study after their +classmates and others had gone. How long that +extra hour! And when there was “doubly +D. T.” or detention for several days, alas! + +That Betty was to receive any rebuke was the +last thing that she expected, though she was +nervously wondering for what she was asked to +stay. She looked inquiringly, and in Betty’s unconsciously +sweet way, as the boys disappeared, +and was beckoned to a seat in front of the desk. +“Come also, Peggy Pollard,” said the teacher, +Miss Masterman. “I believe this is Peggy, isn’t +it?” + +“Yes’m, and that’s Betty Lee.” + +“Peggy, did you exchange papers with any +one Thursday?” + +“No’m,” replied Peggy, looking surprised. + +“Did you communicate with any one?” + +“No’m.” + +“Think a minute. Are you sure that you did +not say anything?” + +“No’m–oh, yes, I did say something, but it +wasn’t anything about the examination. One of +the boys was acting smarty and I told him to +stop it.” + +“Just what did you say?” + +“It wasn’t very polite,” said Peggy, her face +very red, but her lips curving into a smile. “I +told him to mind his own affairs and leave me +alone. I was mad for a moment.” + +“Are you sure that was all of the communication?” + +“Yes’m, perfectly sure. I was too *busy*!” + +“Very well. You may go, Peggy. That is +all.” + +The teacher’s face was calm and cold as she +turned to Betty. Peggy had flown from the room +in relief and Betty heard her unlocking her +locker outside in the hall. She wondered if +Peggy would wait. + +“Please wait here a few minutes, Betty Lee,” +said Miss Masterman. Betty, wondering, waited. +She didn’t like the way the teacher looked at +her. What *could* she have done to offend her. +It couldn’t be anything like what Peggy was +kept for. Why, she’d been “busy,” too, and had +scarcely noticed anything except the questions +and her paper. Besides, this teacher hadn’t +walked around like Miss Heath, to go to the +rear sometimes and know just what everybody +was doing. She hadn’t seemed to be a bit suspicious +that day. Miss Masterman now left the +room. + +In the next room her voice was to be heard. +Why, she was telephoning–the office, Betty supposed. +Mer\ *cee*! what in the world was the +matter? Betty’s hands were cold. She grew +more scared every minute. Perhaps something +was wrong at home and Miss Masterman had +gotten word. No, she had looked at her as if +she had done something. Perhaps she’d have +to go to detention, if not tonight, then tomorrow! + +Betty unpiled her books and piled them up +again. She would leave all but her algebra in +her locker tonight. There! Miss Masterman +was coming back. She walked to her desk, took +up a book, looked at it, put it down, gathered +up some papers and put them inside the desk, +went after her wraps and laid them across one +of the desks. She was almost as uneasy as Betty +felt. Probably she wanted to get home, though +it was still the last period. + +At last she said, “I suppose you are anxious +to know why I am keeping you. You are to +go to the office of the assistant principal and he +is busy with some other pupils still. He or +someone will telephone me when he is ready for +you. He seems to have a good deal of business +tonight.” Miss Masterman smiled disagreeably. +“It is in connection with cheating at examination +that he wants to see you,” and Miss Masterman +looked keenly at Betty as she made this +statement quickly in a sharp tone. + +Betty gasped. “Why, Miss Masterman! I +don’t know anything about any cheating in the +examination!” + +“So?” coolly replied Miss Masterman. “Tell +that to the assistant principal, then.” + +“Do–do you mean that you think I *cheated*?” +vigorously asked Betty. + +“I think that very thing.” + +“Then you are mistaken, Miss Masterman,” +said Betty, firmly and with some dignity. “I +hope to be able to prove it.” + +The telephone bell rang just then and Miss +Masterman answered it, saying, “at last,” as she +crossed to the room. + +Betty, too, thought “at last.” She was trembling +from head to foot; but a little anger at the +injustice of the charge sustained her and she +remembered the kind face of the assistant principal. +He had some children. Maybe he would +listen to her. But what could she say, only tell +him that she did not cheat. How did they think +she could? Miss Heath would have called the +assistant principal by his name in speaking of +him–oh, if only Miss Heath had been there at +that examination! + +CHAPTER XIV: SENT TO THE PRINCIPAL +================================== + +Betty went to her locker, put away all her +books and took out her wraps. She would *never* +come back if they thought she cheated! As in a +dream she mounted the stairs and rounded the +hall toward the office of the assistant principal. +Several pupils were about the central hall, some +of them leaving the office toward which she was +making her way. Jakey Bechstein was slapping +a cap upon his quite good-looking head and +starting for the big outer doors with two companions. +His big dark eyes were upon the nearest +boy and he did not see Betty, though he +closely passed her. + +“What did he say to you, Jakey?” the boys +was asking. It was one of the other freshman +boys. + +“’Lo, Betty, going home?” asked a girl behind +her. Betty turned and waved pleasantly to +the girl, whom she knew slightly. “Not now, +Adelaide–sorry. I have to stop at the office +a minute.” + +“Been into mischief, I suppose,” laughed +Adelaide. + +“Of course,” returned Betty, knowing that +Adelaide was only in fun. But alas, it was +only too true that something was wrong. + +As Betty entered the office a boy was just +leaving the desk, going out with tense mouth and +a frown. But the assistant principal looked up +in a friendly way at Betty, whose face showed +plainly her troubled mind. + +“Sit down, Betty. This is Betty Lee, I suppose.” +Mr. Franklin, who as assistant principal +usually saw all the offenders in school discipline +before his chief, now came from behind +his desk and drew up a chair not far from +Betty’s. He looked tired as he stretched out a +pair of long legs, crossed his feet and leaned +back, one hand reaching the desk, the other +dropped in his lap. Here was only an innocent-looking +child, whom he did not recall meeting. + +“Yes, sir; I am Betty Lee. Miss Masterman +told me that I was to come here.” + +“M-m. Tell you why you were to come?” + +“She said that she thought I–I cheated in +examination.” + +The tears which Betty thought she would be +able to keep back sprang quickly to her eyes, +but she set her lips, wiped her eyes hastily, and +continued. “But I did not cheat and I did not +see it if the whole room cheated. I tried to make +a good paper for Miss Heath!” + +“You like Miss Heath, do you?” + +“Oh, yes sir! If she had only–” Betty +stopped, for she would not imply anything +against the substitute. + +“Sometimes it is a temptation to try to do well +for some one.” Mr. Franklin was looking at her +kindly, but soberly. + +“I’ve been taught that it is wrong to cheat, +sir; and I don’t believe it pays in the long run. +Father says that the teacher usually finds out +what you know or don’t know.” + +“Usually, but not always when there are so +many. Tell me about it, Betty.” + +“But there isn’t anything to tell! I can’t +think why anybody *thinks* I cheated. I worked +hard on the review and went over the things I +was weakest on, I thought, and ran over the +vocabulary we’ve had, the night before. But +I’m pretty good on vocabulary.” + +“Girls sometimes are,” joked Mr. Franklin, +at which Betty took heart. + +“Won’t you tell me what happened, Mr. +Franklin, to make her think I cheated?” + +“Not yet. Near whom did you sit, Betty?” + +“Why, Dora Jenkins sits in front of me; and +on the aisle next, to the right, Mickey Carlin is +across from Dora and Sim, James Simmonds, +I mean, sits across from me and on the other +aisle, across from me, there’s Sally Wright, a +colored girl, and Peggy Pollard back of her. +The alphabet is all mixed up in this class.” + +“Who is back of you?” + +“Andy–oh, no, Mr. Franklin, it was all different +that day. I remember the boys changed–but +I shouldn’t tell you!” + +“Go on. One of the boys told me that they +changed seats for fun on the day you had a +substitute and it was not an exactly criminal +act, though I don’t stand for it. Then they +didn’t change back?” + +“I suppose they thought they’d better not +since she had seen them there, though I imagine +Miss Heath’s roll is made out that way.” + +“Never mind. Haven’t you the least remembrance +who sat behind you or to the side back?” + +“Seems to me it was Jakey Bechstein behind +me and the boys seemed to be all mixed up +around there. But I wasn’t thinking about it.” + +“Did you leave your seat at any time?” + +Betty thought. “Yes sir. I have an extra +fountain pen and I thought I’d better fill it when +I was partly through. But the ink at the desk +was out. Then the ink in my pen that I was +using gave out and I went up, twice, to sharpen +pencils, thinking that I would need sharp points +to make it legible enough for Miss Heath. She +is always talking about our making our test +papers especially legible.” + +Mr. Franklin smiled. “Sensible woman. Well, +Betty, I will tell you that there are three papers +almost exactly alike and one of them is yours. +Do you suspect any one of copying from you?” + +“No, sir. If Jakey was where he could do it, +he would never have to because he is as smart +as any one in the class and almost never doesn’t +have his lesson.” + +“In other words, he almost always does,” +smiled Mr. Franklin. “I am afraid we can not +go by the usual order of seats, but I am finding +out where the persons involved sat. You will +admit that where papers are so alike there is +room for suspicion.” + +“Yes, sir. Is Miss Masterson correcting, or +will Miss Heath do it?” + +“Miss Masterson has read the papers carefully +and discovered the similarity. Miss Heath +will be back tomorrow. Every one has denied +copying.” + +Betty looked at Mr. Franklin and shook her +head soberly. “Of course,” she said, “and I’m +only one of them, I suppose. Well, Mr. +Franklin, I’m not going to stay in school if any one +thinks I’m that kind of a girl!” + +“Do you think that you would be allowed to +drop out, Betty? Think this over tonight and +come to see me tomorrow at the same time. I +may have more light on it–and you may think +of something to tell me.” + +Betty flushed at this. He meant if she had +some confession to make! But Mr. Franklin +was rising. She was dismissed, she saw. “I +will come,” she said and went out, out of the +main doors, too, down the steps, on to catch a +street car home. + +All the way Betty sat almost unconscious of +the other people on the car, for at the first +glance she saw no one whom she knew. From +the first the incidents of the last few hours and +those of the examination went through her +mind. She tried to gather up a few fleeting impressions. +Yes, it was Jakey who sat behind +her, though it was unusual to see him there. +That was why she could recall it, she supposed. +He had grinned at her as she came back from +the pencil sharpener. And there had been some +whisking of something somewhere, just before +Peggy had been seen to glare at one of the +boys. That was probably what he was doing, +taking something from her desk or teasing her +in some way. My, it was a puzzle. But it was +simply terrible to be under suspicion. Could it +really be Betty Lee that was going through this? +And the old nursery rhyme ran through her +head: + + | “But when the old woman got home in the dark, + | Up jumped the little dog and he began to bark! + | He began to bark + | And she began to cry, + | ’Goodness, mercy on me, this is none of I!’” + +When she reached home she tried to say this +to her dear mother, who was sitting by the window +mending an almost hopeless stocking of +Amy Lou’s. But when she got to the “this is +none of I,” her lips quivered and she ran to +bury her head in the comfortable lap and sob +out the story as soon as she could control herself +sufficiently. Here was some one who would +take her word! + +“Dear child, dear child!” soothingly said her +mother. “Don’t take it too seriously. I know +how hard it is when a young person cannot +justify herself to schoolmates or friends, but +surely you have already made a good +impression on your teachers. Don’t you think that +when Miss Heath comes back tomorrow she will +handle the matter? You said that the assistant +principal is well liked and that the pupils think +him fair. I think that they will probe the matter +a little farther.” + +“But what more can they *do*?” asked Betty +from the floor, her head against her mother’s +knee. “There are those three papers just alike!” + +“And you wrote yours out of your own head. +Stick to that. Besides, your father and I believe +in you. Haven’t we seen your lips moving +in all the declensions and conjugations so far, +while you committed them, and haven’t I asked +you more than once the Latin or English words +of your vocabularies?” + +“You have, sweetest mother that there is!” +Betty drew a long sigh. “Anyhow it doesn’t +do any good to weep and wail, does it? I believe +I’ll call up Peggy and see what she knows +and tell her my tale of woe. I didn’t tell you +that she had to stay after school, too, and got +asked questions.” + +“Are you sure that you’d better, child?” + +“Call Peggy? oh, yes, Mother. Peggy would +be sure to ask me tomorrow morning what Miss +Masterson said. I’ll bet she’s aching to call me +up right now!” + +Mrs. Lee’s face grew serious as soon as Betty +left her to call up her friend. She was more +disturbed by Betty’s news than she would have +admitted to the child herself. Betty was so +comparatively new to the school with no background +of long acquaintance as in the old school. +She had more than half a mind to go to school +with her tomorrow. But she thought better of +that. Let them work it out first. If necessary, she +or Betty’s father would go to see the principal. + +Betty was laughing now over something +funny exchanged between the girls. “But it’s +really very serious,” she heard Betty say next. +“I dread to go to school tomorrow. Tell me +ev’rything that you can remember about that +examination. You wouldn’t mind telling the +principal what you just told me, would you?” + +The answer must have been satisfactory, for +Betty chuckled. The subject must have changed +then, for Betty made some remark not connected +with this recent affair and shortly the telephone +conversation closed. + +CHAPTER XV: DETECTIVE WORK +========================== + +In the good, steadfast atmosphere of a sensible +home, whose heads were not easily stampeded, +Betty felt better. Father was told quietly +by Mother. But Betty’s sleep was troubled that +night and it was with many an inward qualm +that she started to school the next morning. She +intended to go on through the day, as her +mother advised her, with as much quiet dignity +as she could command, discussing the matter +with no one. + +Peggy, however, referred to the conversation +of the day before when she met her by her +locker, next to Betty’s. “The boys *were* up to +something, as I told you. It wasn’t Jakey but +the boy behind him, Sam, that I was glaring at, +as you said. He tried to snatch a piece of paper +off my desk, a blank sheet, it was, and I thought +the boys were doing that just to be smart, taking +things off the girls’ desks and seeing what they +could do without being caught. I mean that +bunch of boys, you know, not Mickey or Andy. +So maybe somebody got hold of part of your +paper.” + +“The wind from that open window blew some +paper off my desk once,” mused Betty. “I believe +it must have been Jakey that handed it to +me, but I didn’t think it was part of my paper +that was written on. I stuck it under the rest. +I did write out my translations on an extra +paper first, for I didn’t want to make any +erasures and have a messy paper. But Jakey +knows as much as I do. It certainly wasn’t +Jakey whose paper was like mine.” + +“Time will tell,” said Peggy. “Don’t worry +too much, Betty. Whatever happens, your +friends among us girls will believe what you +say.” + +“Thanks, Peggy. You’re a comfort. Please +don’t say anything to Carolyn yet.” + +“She might know something.” + +“How could she?” + +“I don’t know. But at least I can tell her how +I was questioned, and everybody knew that you +had to stay after school, so how can you help +telling her?” + +“I’ll tell her that I was questioned, too.” + +Betty however, had started to school as late +as she dared. In consequence lessons and the +day’s program were upon them. At lunch she +remained in the room until after Carolyn and +the rest of those going up to lunch had gone, +and pretended to be detained by some notes +she was writing. Perhaps it was not a pretense +either, she thought, for she needed the notes. +But she would not have taken them then if she +had not wanted to avoid being with the rest +of the girls. A few who were not going to +lunch were nibbling crackers or chocolate bars +and stirring about the room a little. The colored +girl in her Latin class was there and Betty +wondered if she had enough money for the +lunch, little as some of it cost. + +Sure enough, there were some chocolate bars +and an apple in her locker! She had the chocolate +bars in her sweater pocket and the apple +had been presented to her in the hall by no less +a friend than Budd LeRoy. She, too, would +miss lunch and divide with Sally. Quickly she +ran out to her locker, rifled the pocket of her +sweater, discarded since the early cold morning, +and brought her apple and her pocket knife. + +“Have a bar with me, Sally,” she said, “if +you are not going to lunch either, and I’ll cut +this apple in two.” + +“Why–thanks, Betty. That looks good. No, +I thought I wouldn’t go to lunch today. But +you’d better keep all of your apple.” + +“It’s too big and it looks awfully juicy,” +added Betty as she cut the apple in halves. +“With my compliments, Miss Sally,” and Betty +assumed quite an air as she handed the fruit +to Sally, who laughed and thanked Betty again. + +“Have you always lived in this city?” asked +Betty for something to say, as Sally sat down in +her own seat which was opposite Betty’s, by +chance, just as in the Latin class. + +In the soft voice and accent peculiar to her +race at its best, Sally answered this question and +asked Betty how she liked this and that teacher, +Miss Heath among others. Miss Heath had not +met her class that morning, to Betty’s deep disappointment. + +“I saw Miss Heath come in the uppah hall,” +said Sally, “jus’ befo’ the last class. She hurried +into the office and I suppose she couldn’t +get here this mawnin.’” + +“Oh, is she here?” asked Betty brightening. + +“Yes. Say, Betty, did you see Jakey Bechstein +take some of your papers off your desk at +the test?” + +“No; did he?” + +“Yes, while you were sharpening your pencils. +The boys were having fun behind Miss Masterson’s +back when she was pulling down one window +and putting up another for ventilation, +though she didn’t know I suppose that they’re +not supposed to do that with the system they’ve +got here. They were pretendin’ to look at each +other’s papers and grab a few off the desks +and Jakey grabbed yours. But he kept them a +while, and I saw him sneak them back just +before you started for your seat.” + +“I didn’t notice. But Jakey knows as much +about Latin as I do. What would be the point?” + +“Keeping you from getting ahead of him,” +said Sally, taking a large bite of the apple and +being obliged to catch some of the juice in her +handkerchief. “Jakey’s not studying so much, +I reckon, since he started basketball.” + +Betty listened soberly and remembered the +remark Jakey had made about not studying for +the test. *Could* it be that he had copied anything +from her paper? + +It was worth while staying from lunch and +sharing with Sally to hear this. Yet could she +use the information to help herself out? + +“If anything should come up about Jakey, +Sally, or anybody, would you be willing to tell +Miss Heath what you saw?” + +“I sure would. I guess the teacher kept you +and Peggy about something like that yesterday, +didn’t she? I saw her look at Peggy when I +heard Peggy snap off the kid that snatched at +her paper.” + +“Miss Masterson did ask some questions, +Sally.” + +Betty was deep in her lesson for the next +hour when the girls came back from lunch. +“Where *were* you, Betty?” asked Carolyn. + +“Oh, I just decided that I didn’t want to go +up, and I happened to have some chocolate bars +and an apple. I’ll fill up when I get home after +school.” + +“I always do, and eat lunch, too,” said Peggy. +“Miss Heath was upstairs for lunch. I saw her +go into the teachers’ lunch room. It was funny +for her to come in the middle of the day, wasn’t +it?” + +The girls wondered, but Miss Heath, though +not feeling equal to a day of teaching, had come +over for something else, as she had an idea +which she wanted to share with the assistant +principal. When Betty depressed, went into +the office of the assistant principal after school, +Miss Heath was there and looked like a fountain +in the desert, or the sun shining through clouds, +to Betty. + +“Good afternoon, Betty,” she said pleasantly, +though with dignity. “I came over to see about +the little matter of the test. As soon as your +principal is at liberty, I want to go over the +questions with you.” + +This was surprising–did she mean the real +*principal*? Evidently not, for when Mr. Franklin +came into the office, stopped on the way by +several people, both teachers and pupils, she +drew out a paper. “I am ready to go over the +questions with Betty, Mr. Franklin,” she said. + +“Very well,” said he, closing the door. + +“Do you remember the questions, pretty well, +Betty?” asked Miss Heath. + +“I would know them if I saw them.” + +“Have you looked up anything you did not +know?” + +“Yes–I wasn’t sure about several things that +I wrote down; but I have forgotten what they +were now.” + +“Perhaps you will recall them as I go through +the questions. I have your paper here,” and +Miss Heath took out what Betty recognized as +her own paper. + +What was the point of doing all this! Betty +felt confused, but she would answer all the questions +if that would help establish her innocence +of the cheating. + +One by one the examination questions, or +directions in regard to what was desired, were +read. Betty replied slowly, saying in several +places, “I didn’t put that all down on my paper, +I think, Miss Heath. I thought afterward that +I had omitted it, though I went all over it so +carefully.” + +Later, when they came to the translation, she +said, “I couldn’t think of the name of that +Dative, so I just put Indirect Object, because +you said that in a way all Datives were indirect +objects. But I looked it up and I could tell you +now.” + +“Take a piece of paper, Betty, and write +again the English to Latin sentences.” + +Mr. Franklin indicated by a nod some paper +on his desk. Betty took the list of questions, +thought a moment and wrote, slowly. “I always +Have to take plenty of time on the English to +Latin,” she said, “and there is one that I wrote +two ways, but I wasn’t sure that either were +right. It’s the one that has the accusative of +place to which in it.” + +Miss Heath nodded and her eyes twinkled. +Whatever idea she had was turning out successfully, +it seemed. But Betty was very busy with +the sentences. She handed over the paper saying +“It did not take so long, because I’d thought +it out before.” + +“I see. Betty, why did you use *appello* +instead of *voco* here?” + +“Because it is calling in the sense of naming, +as you told us in such sentences.” + +“Good. Why did you use the Ablative in +the second sentence?” + +“Because it specifies that in respect to which”–Betty +got no farther because Miss Heath interrupted +her. + +“That is enough, Betty. Mr. Franklin, I’m +satisfied, are you? The other person did not +know, and the third youngster plainly copied +the whole thing from him.” + +Mr. Franklin nodded assent. “Betty,” he +said, “you are cleared from all suspicion of +copying and cheating. We know which ones of +these papers were copied. You may thank Miss +Heath for her little scheme to find out. We +have already met with the others, but we can +not tell you their names.” + +“Oh, I don’t want to know!” exclaimed Betty. +“Thank you so much!” + +It was another Betty that ran down the steps, +to find both Peggy and Carolyn waiting for her. +Her face must have told them the story. “O, +Betty! Is is all right?” eagerly asked Carolyn. +“Peggy told me, when I asked her why she was +waiting for you. Oh, you should have told me +and let me worry with you! Was that why you +wouldn’t come up to lunch?” + +“Yes.” + +“Please tell us how they found out that you +didn’t—” Carolyn would not finish. + +“Well, you saw Miss Heath, that darling woman! +She came over on purpose to see all +about it and she had the scheme to bring the +questions and find out how much each of us +really knew about things. I really don’t see +how she told, but it must be that whoever copied +couldn’t give good reasons for what he would +have missed on or something. She’s a regular +Sherlock Holmes!” + +“And now, if you’ll never tell a soul, I’ll tell +you what Sally Wright told me during lunch. I +learned a lot by staying down and giving Sally +an old chocolate bar!” + +The girls promised, and the three, Betty in +the middle, walked slowly toward the street, +heads together, arms about each other. + +CHAPTER XVI: SOME FRESHMAN CONCLUSIONS +====================================== + +What had happened between the teachers and +the pupils who had cheated in the test was, +naturally, not known, except that every one +knew the penalty of losing a grade. The boys +that had changed seats and generally “acted up” +during the presence of the substitute were well +rebuked and had to endure some penalty, the +girls understood; but only those who had behaved +ever mentioned the occurrence. The guilty +carried it off with bland ignorance or nonchalance +and pretended not to understand any +jokes at their expense. Jakey Bechstein was +out of school for several days, but came back +as lively as ever and making good recitations. +His basketball team lacked his presence. + +At Betty Jakey never looked, but as she had +never known him very well and as he did not +ordinarily sit near her in any of her classes, +she scarcely noticed that he avoided her till +Peggy called her attention to it. + +But the year went on and Betty had many +more interesting things to take up her mind. +The semester examinations were a nightmare, +Carolyn claimed, but they managed to live +through them, as they usually do. Miss Heath +was particularly fond of Betty, she told her +mother when Mrs. Lee, without Amy Lou, came +to visit Betty’s classes one day. “Betty is a +very charming little girl, Mrs. Lee, and very +bright. She is a friend of some of our best +freshman girls, too, as I imagine you’d like to +know. It is rather important, you know, what +sort of friends the children like.” + +The winter passed. Betty for the most part +worked at her lessons, with pleasant Saturday +afternoons, sometimes with the girls, sometimes +on expeditions with the family. Her father was +greatly absorbed in business affairs, but as +spring approached he often drove his family +to find the first spring flowers at some spot outside +of the city, or to observe the coming of bud +and blossom. + +On one warm April day, rather in advance of +the season, they thought, Mr. Lee and Betty +were alone and the machine was parked by the +roadside near a little stream where some violets +were growing. As the ground was dry upon the +sloping bank, Betty sat down with her bunch of +violets in her hand and her father decided to +join her. “What do you think of this place, +Betty? You’d hardly expect it so near the city, +would you?” + +“No, but there are lots of places in this town +that are what you might call unexpected, because +there are the hills and ravines, you know.” + +“Yes, that is so.” + +“Father,” Betty spoke again after a pause +during which she picked a flower within reach. +“Father, don’t you think that a girl ought to +take advantage of her opportunities?” + +“Seems to me I’ve heard something like that, +Betty.” + +“Well, I’m serious, Father.” + +“To just what advantages do you refer?” + +“I’m thinking about school, you know, and it +does seem as if there are so many things to do +in these high school years, especially here in the +city, that you’ll never have a chance to do +again!” + +“Things that you are not doing now, you +mean?” + +“Yes, Father. Unless you see it, you can’t +realize what lovely things go on at school and +you can’t help wanting to be in them!” + +“What, for instance?” + +“Well, there’s the music for one thing. If +you get your lessons, you haven’t so much time +for other things, but to be trained right here, +where there’s a Symphony Orchestra and everybody +knowing the best music and singing and +playing it–it doesn’t seem right not to do it +if you have any music in you at all. Ted Dorrance +was talking about it the other day. He’s +a junior this year, you know. He was with +some of the girls and boys in a bunch of us, +talking after school. + +“I imagine that Ted gets his lessons, for he’s +smart looking. I heard him talking to a boy +the very first day I was in school, standing in +line to sign up. He said he didn’t know what +he was going to do, not much athletics only +‘swimming, of course.’ You ought to see Ted +swim at a swimming meet. And dive! He can +turn a somersault backwards and everything. + +“He said that his mother wanted him to be +in the orchestra and sure enough he is. Father, +he plays the violin and he’s the very first violin +in the orchestra, the one that does little solo +parts sometimes, or whatever they do.” + +“And do you want to be in the orchestra, +too?” + +“Mer\ *cee*, no! What would I play? But I’d +like to go on with my piano lessons, and at +the Conservatory, too, and then I’d like to be +in the Glee Club. Carolyn says she’s going +to try to be in it next year. But you see all the +practice takes a lot of time.” + +“I see. Anything else, little daughter?” + +Betty laughed. Father was so nice to talk +to. “Yes, a lot of things, but I like the athletics, +gym, you know, and swimming. I think maybe +I’ll get honors in swimming. Some of the girls +are more than half afraid of the water, but I +feel–I feel just like a fish!” + +It was Mr. Lee’s turn to laugh. “I used to +feel that way, too, Betty, and I had a lake to +swim in from the time I was knee-high to a +duck.” + +“Then I suppose I inherit it from you,” Betty +declared. “I’m much, obliged for the trick of +it! But that’s another thing, Father. If you +do a thing, you like to do it well and I suppose +it’s Louise Madison, who is president of the +G. A. A., that has made me so crazy about +athletics. Why, they even have riding horseback, +beside tennis and everything you can +think of.” + +“And everything you can’t think of, I suppose.” + +“Aren’t you funny–who’d ever say that but +you?” + +“Have you thought out, Betty, just what +you’d like to take up?” + +“No, Father, not exactly. I’m just–ruminating, +and trying to think it out.” + +“Then I’m glad you are willing to do it with +me, Betty. Perhaps we can come to some +conclusion.” + +“Perhaps. I’m sure I need help. It’s just +this way. I hate to miss it all, but I can never +get my lessons and do too much. Would you +care awfully, Father, if I didn’t stand at the +head of my class? I did at home, I mean where +we did live, but I don’t believe a body ever could +even *know* who is the head in the big high +schools. I guess it’s only in some line or other +that they get prizes and things. + +“And then, Father, I believe that it’s better +not to be so–keyed up, as Mother says, and +wanting to beat.” + +“The habit of success is a good thing, Betty.” + +Betty pondered a moment. “I see what you +mean. It’s only too easy to let down.” + +“Yes, and when one studies a subject there +is more satisfaction in really covering the +ground, being accurate, I mean, not just having +a sort of hazy idea.” + +“Father, there’s too much! You just can’t +get it all.” + +“You have done pretty well so far, my child. +I am satisfied with your grades. Isn’t there +always an honor roll?” + +“Yes, and I’m on it, so far.” + +“Then that is enough. You need not try to +beat anybody. Wasn’t that the trouble with +your friend that copied your answers?” + +“Yes. I wouldn’t do that, of course, but there +is a sort of nervousness about reciting well and +making an impression on the teacher, whether +you have your lesson or haven’t had a chance +to get it real well. And sometimes you recite +when you don’t know much.” + +“I see. It is a problem, Betty. I see nothing +for it but to make a good general plan, not including +too much, then work it out every day the +best you can. But it’s the little decisions every +day that count in anything. I have it in business +too. And I wouldn’t let down altogether in the +ideals of hard work and getting lessons. It’s +chiefly in putting your mind on it when you are +working, isn’t it?” + +“A good deal.” + +“You would really like to be in that orchestra, +wouldn’t you, Betty?” + +Betty looked up at the smiling face of her +father, who wasn’t so very old, after all. He +had a fellow feeling! + +“Didn’t you take a few violin lessons once?” + +“Yes, when that college girl taught a class for +a while, but I can’t *play*, Father. They wouldn’t +*look* at me for the orchestra!” + +“Probably not now; but if you took more lessons, +and of a proper teacher this summer–how +about it?” + +“I might,” said Betty, dropping her flowers in +her lap to clap her hands. “Would you *let* me?” + +“Would you like it as much as that?” + +“I’d love it!” + +“Then we shall see about it at once. I’m +going to send your Mother and Amy Lou to +your grandmother’s this summer, but not all of +you could go there. Dick and Doris might take +turns. And how would you like to keep house +for me, practice violin, and get taken on +rides to give you an occasional breath of the country?” + +“That would be great. I’m not a good housekeeper, +though.” + +“We’ll never tell anybody how we keep house, +Betty, and I’ll be ‘boss.’ We’ll drive over to +the Conservatory, Saturday, sign you up for +violin with somebody–come on child. Gather +up your flowers. We must go home.” + +Mr. Lee sprang to his feet, gave a hand to +Betty, who did not need it, but accepted it. + +“But *Father*, I don’t know how good the old +violin is and the bow is terrible. It never did +do what it ought to! How *can* I begin?” + +“The trouble with the ‘old violin’ is not that +it is ‘old,’ Betty,” laughed Mr. Lee, as Betty +ran after him on his way to the car. “It simply +isn’t much good at all. You shall have a better +one. You used to play some sweet little tunes. +Here’s for a Stradivarius or ‘whatever it is,’ +as you say. And you shall see how I keep you +at hard work this summer! We’ll have some of +the school extras or perish in the attempt.” + +Betty chuckled as she climbed into the car. +“All right, my dear Daddy. The neighbors will +hate me, but *I’ll practice*, and it can’t be any +worse than that horn across the street. How +did you read my mind and know that I’d rather +be in an orchestra than take piano lessons?” + +“It was just instinct, Betty,” replied Mr. Lee, +as he started the car, “with perhaps a few +deductions and putting two and two together.” + +“Really, Father, can you afford to get me a +good violin and let me take lessons?” + +“Yes. It is necessary to do things *when* they +ought to be done, and we shall do this. But I’m +counting on my girl to make good.” + +“Oh, I will try! But you know me!” + +“I’m not expecting too much, Betty, only the +same effort that you always make in everything. +I shall watch to keep you well and safe. Perhaps +the athletics that you like so much will +help to keep you well. But don’t get reckless in +‘gym.’ We’ll see about the riding some other +year, perhaps.” + +CHAPTER XVII: SPRING AT LYON HIGH +================================= + +If the autumn, with its excitement of football +and the starting of school activities, was +thrilling to Betty Lee, what should be said of +the springtime, with those same activities matured +and new interests of the season? It was +baseball among the boys now. Seniors were +thinking of their graduation. Freshmen had +nearly completed their first year of high school +and had changed by contact with the older +classes and with their own new ambitions. + +Betty could not keep up with it all, nor attend +all of the entertainments offered by the different +organizations. In some of them she had a part, +as when the Girl Reserves did something special +with a good program, or when the swimming +contests took place, for then not alone the best +swimmers took part, but those of modest attainments. +In this Betty had occasion to take a +little pride in winning points. + +Her mother accompanied her to attend the +great musical affair of the year, when all the +musical organizations, orchestra and glee clubs, +combined to show their parents what they could +do. Mrs. Lee exclaimed over the ability of the +orchestra and Betty explained. “In the first place, +Mother, they have a wonderful leader. He’s a +foreigner and hasn’t much patience with anybody, +Ted says, but it isn’t a bad thing for the +way things turn out, you see. Then the boys +and girls are used to hearing good music.” + +“They hear some very terrible jazz, too,” remarked +Mrs. Lee. + +“I’ll have to admit it,” laughed Betty, “but +not in school, except, perhaps, at the minstrel +show they had. I wasn’t there, so I can’t state.” + +The school grounds were more attractive than +in the fall. The garden club worked under the +direction of the botany teacher. First came the +forsythia, in welcome yellow delicacy all over +the city, and here and there about the grounds. +Then other flowers came on, with magnolia and +Japanese cherry trees in blossom, and in their +time gay tulips, and purple iris lining some of +the walks. With the windows of class rooms, +study halls and library open, the pupils and +teachers could hear the songs of birds, more free +than they were, to be sure, but with their daily +bread and nesting entailing much hunting and +work on the part of the little creatures. Betty +never failed to visit a part of the grounds devoted +to wild flowers, including May-apples and +jack-in-the-pulpit. + +She was occasionally out at the Gwynne place, +when Carolyn carried her off in a car which +sometimes came for her, or accompanied her as +far as the street car went, to take the rest of the +way in a strolling hike, enlivened with much discourse, +after the manner of girls. They saw +very little of the boys, by the way, for baseball +and other active, outdoor affairs engaged their +attention; but the girls, with so many of their +own, did not notice it. Of these girl activities, +Color Day, the annual track meet of the girls +was of importance. + +This was held on the last of April in the stadium +and the competition was between classes. +The freshmen girls were quite excited over it, +for they had some very athletic girls in their +various teams this year, and while they did not +expect to win the meet they expected to make a +good showing. Both Betty and Carolyn were in +this, though Betty was not allowed to do competitive +running. But there was the throwing, +baseball and hurl-ball, and some other events. +Numbers told for your class, it seemed. And +when it finally came off it was great fun, Betty +reported. + +“You ought to have been there, Mother!” she +cried when she came home. “You simply *must* +come more next year. We’ll get somebody to +stay with Amy Lou, though she would think anything +like this just wonderful, wouldn’t you, +Amy Lou?” + +“Yes, Betty. Why can’t I go?” + +“You can next time. You ought to have seen +the girls run and jump over the hurdles and +everything! We had a tug of war and the freshmen +won that. Then one of our freshman girls +made a brand-new record in the sixty-yard +hurdles. I’ve forgotten just what it was, but it +beat last year’s record just a little bit. + +“I didn’t do so badly in the throwing, Mother, +but I didn’t take first place by any means; and +the relay in overhead basketball was great!” + +“It seems to me that you make work of your +playing, Betty.” + +“Yes, I suppose we do. But isn’t it better to +have athletics watched over and amounting to +something?” + +“I suppose it is, unless you push it too far +for your health.” + +“Well, I suppose it does hurt some of the boys +and girls once in a while, when they get reckless +and try more than they ought to do; but they +are all examined, you know, and they have rules. +The seniors beat, by the way, so I suppose +they’re satisfied. It would be hard to be beaten +when it was your last year. And, Mother, may +I go to the G. A. A. banquet with Carolyn? And, +won’t you think twice about going yourself? +Carolyn says that her mother is going and +wants to entertain you and me. I suppose we +couldn’t get Father there, could we?” + +“Oh, no, Betty. He is too busy to take time +now for a girls’ affair. Perhaps I can go another +year, but not now.” + +“Mrs. Gwynne was going to call you up, or +come to see you if she could.” + +“That will be very kind,” said Mrs. Lee. “You +may go, Betty, but I think that you’d better pay +for your own ticket. We shall see what seems +polite to do.” + +“You see, Mother, honors are distributed that +night and we find out who the honor girl is and +get whatever we do get for our points.” + +This was one of the last events before the +“finals” and Commencement. Betty, in her +“partiest frock,” came home full of enthusiasm +to report that the mystery was a mystery no +longer and that Louise Madison “got the honor +ring.” That was the crowning honor and the +last thing given. + +For the “first time in history” the freshmen +received the baseball chevrons. Betty declared +that she wasn’t ashamed of being a freshman, +but oh, to think that her first year was nearly +over! The banquet was simply great, everything +so good; and then after it came the speeches and +the presenting of awards, while the girls that +had done things were “all excited inside,” and +the seniors, of course, all wondering which of +them would get the great honor. + +“I’ve decided that I’m going to ride in order +to get one of those ducky pins, a silver pin with +a tiny black horse and rider, a girl, too, jumping +over a bar!” + +“Now, isn’t that just like a girl!” exclaimed +Dick, who was listening while some of this was +being told at the breakfast table. + +“It ought to take a very strong motive, +Dicky,” mischievously replied his sister, “to induce +one to make an art of riding! Still, I +can stick on a horse out at Grandma’s, can’t I?” + +“Yes–and how?” asked Dick scornfully. + +Examination week to some seemed long, indeed, +with the longer time allowed for the real +tests that had so much to do with passing for +those who were obliged to take them. Fortunately, +Betty had none to take, but it seemed +odd, indeed, to wait for grades during examination +time and the time given the teachers to +correct the important papers. The weather was +hot, but it was a good opportunity for last visits +or picnics. + +Peggy Pollard had one of these at her home, +a pretty place in the same suburb which boasted +the Gwynne place, but Peggy’s home was closer +in toward town and not so large as that of the +Gwynnes. The house was a simple building, +modern, set back among a few handsome trees +in a large lot. There was a pool on whose circular +cement wall, Betty, Peggy and their friends +sat like so many mermaids one hot afternoon. +Bathing suits were the appropriate costume for +this picnic, Peggy had said. In consequence, the +girls came in simple frocks, as cool as they could +muster, and brought their bathing suits, caps, +slippers and all. + +The pool was retired, among the trees and +thick bushes where it was cool with shadows, +and it was well known and favored among +Peggy’s friends. Betty’s eyes opened wide +when she saw it. Good friends as they had been, +this was the first time that Peggy had entertained +her. + +“How did you happen to have such a *big* one, +Peggy?” one of the girls asked, voicing Betty’s +thought. + +“Why, there were so many boys and they +wanted it big enough for real diving and swimming +a bit; so, as they made it themselves, they +had it that way. This is fresh water, girls, just +put in it. Betty, you haven’t been here before, +though I’ve tried to find a good chance to have +folks before this. Mother’s been in the hospital, +as I guess I told you. + +“Why, Betty, I’m the last chick of a big +family, or almost the last chick. Jack is in the +University still, my big brother, but the rest are +all married or away, six brothers–what do you +think of that?” + +“How nice! Any sisters? but you practically +told me you hadn’t any. And here I’ve known +you all year and never knew a word about your +family.” + +“Life is like that, Betty,” laughed Peggy. “I +guess we never told each other our life history. +I know your family because I’ve been at your +house and I saw them.” + +“I’ve known Peggy all my life,” said Mary +Emma, “and I never knew she had *six* brothers. +Are you *sure*, Peggy?” Mary Emma was grinning +as she touched the water with her toes. +Then she slipped into it and lay back, floating a +little. + +It was the signal for a general descent into the +pool whose waters, cooler than the air, were so +refreshing. Nobody seemed to care about +diving, but they swam a little, had mild races +which, no one cared much about beating, and sat +on the steps that led down into the water or +perched again on the upper rim of cement. +“What makes us so doleful?” lazily asked +Carolyn. + +“Oh, it’s the weather, and school’s being +’most out,” returned Kathryn Allen, who looked +like a little red gypsy in her scarlet bathing suit +and cap. “I feel just like splashing around +and doing nothing unless to keep from being +drowned.” + +“I have enough energy for that,” said Betty, +swimming off. + +“What do you suppose we’ll be doing this +time next year?” asked Carolyn. + +“My, you’re looking ahead, Carolyn! By that +time we’ll be through being sophomores, or +almost.” + +Betty curved around and drew herself up on +the steps where Carolyn and Kathryn were. +“I’ve decided, to do something different every +year,” she said. “I can’t do it *all* all the time, +you see. I’ll keep up swimming, and some music, +and then one year I’ll take riding, and another +year something else–I *think* I will, anyhow.” + +“What are you going to do this summer, +Betty?” Carolyn asked. “We’re going away for +July and August, I think I told you.” + +“Yes. I heard you speak of it. It will be +wonderful to be on the ocean beach, Carolyn. +But we’re going to have Mother go to my grandmother’s +on a big farm, where they have tenants +to do the work, mostly. It will be good for Amy +Lou, whose been ‘peaked’ lately, since it grew +so warm. Dick and Doris are to take turns +going, I think, and I’m to keep house for Father. +But that will mean lots of picnics and little trips +out places for our dinner and then something is +to happen for me, he said, when Mother comes +back. But they won’t tell me what it is. So I +have a nice mystery to look forward to, or try +to discover.” + +“Do you mean that either your brother or +sister will stay with you?” + +“I think they’re going to try that, though they +are twins and like to be at least in the same +town. But no telling. In our family we try +experiments and if they don’t work we do something +else. Nobody carries out anything just for +meanness, or because they said they were going +to.” + +“I’ll tell that to Chauncey,” said Kathryn. +“Chauncey hates to acknowledge that anything’s +wrong he starts, and blazes ahead no matter +what happens. You must have a nice family. I +imagine you have a good time with your father +and mother.” + +“Oh, we do,” laughed Betty. “But we children +do what they say–only we’re ‘reasoned with’,” +and Betty pursed up her mouth. + +“Probably they think you have some brains,” +said Kathryn. “I’m not sure that my Dad thinks +I have any. I’d better make a few more prominent, +don’t you think so, Carolyn?” + +“It wouldn’t hurt any.” + +The afternoon was going on wings, Peggy +said, as some one from the house looked out and +Peggy called to ask the time. “That was only +to know about refreshments,” she explained. +“Will the mermaids now turn themselves into +summer girls again and get their frocks on? +We’ll go up the back way to the bath room and +take turns at the shower. Then we’ll dress where +we undressed, and have lunch in the arbor.” + +That was a pleasing outlook. The mermaids +followed directions and presently a cool arbor +back of the pool was the scene of light refreshments +being served to the group of Peggy Pollard’s +friends. Peggy herself ladled out the iced +lemonade from the punch bowl. “Please drink +all that you want, girls; I can’t seem to get +enough myself.” + +A wood thrush sang from the thicket near +them, and they heard a meadow lark from out +toward Carolyn’s. “Can you realize, girls, that +tomorrow we get our grade cards and won’t be +freshmen any longer?” Kathryn waved her +pretty glass of lemonade as she spoke. + +“That is so,” said Betty. “I’ll not be Betty +Lee, freshman, but Betty Lee, SOPHOMORE! +I presume that I *will* receive a card since I +escaped examinations!” + +“It must be so,” dramatically cried Mary +Emma in an exaggerated style, reminiscent of a +ridiculous skit made up by the Girl Reserves, +almost impromptu, when necessity called for a +longer program. “Hail to the Sophomores! I +will meet you at the witching hour of school +time, tomorrow morning!” + +“Come down from the high horse, Mary Emma, +dear,” said Peggy, “and accept this plate of +fudge.” + +“Thank you,” said Mary Emma, putting the +plate down beside her as if she thought it all +for her. But she selected a piece and passed on +the plate. They must really start pretty soon, +yet it was such fun to be together. + +“Peggy, I’ve had a glorious time and I’m +sorry that it’s over. See you tomorrow morning +at school. ’Bye, Peggy.” + +“’Bye, Betty.” + + | “’Bye little Betty, don’t you cry, + | You’ll be a Soph’more by and by!” + +So sang Kathryn, who followed Betty in farewells, +and made room for several others not +quite so intimate with Peggy. “There is your +car, Betty,” she said a little later. “I’m going +to be home a good deal this summer. Let’s try +to see each other.” + +“Let’s,” warmly returned Betty, as she prepared +to catch the car. “We can manage it, I’m +sure. Goodbye, Kathryn, till I see you in the +morning.” + +.. class:: align-center + +THE END + +.. vspace:: 5 + +\*\*\* END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BETTY LEE, FRESHMAN \*\*\* + +.. vspace:: pbr + +.. toc-entry:: + :depth: 0 + +.. _pg-footer: + +A Word from Project Gutenberg +============================= + +We will update this book if we find any errors. + +This book can be found under: http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/34605 + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no one +owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation (and +you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, set +forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg™ electronic works to +protect the Project Gutenberg™ concept and trademark. 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