Part 7 (1/2)
Marjorie felt an imperative tug at her arm. ”Who are those girls? They came from that private car. They are so much like my dear pals at Welden.” Elizabeth Walbert's babyish features were alive with animation.
”They are juniors. I have met a few of them. I can't really say that I have an acquaintance with any of them.” Marjorie could think of nothing else to say of the Sans. She did not care to go into detail regarding them.
”We go down those steps over there to reach the yard where two of my friends have parked their cars,” she continued, with intended change of subject. Her companions were already moving toward the flight of stone steps. Miss Walbert still stood watching the approaching company of smartly-dressed girls.
”Pardon me. What did you say?” The absorbed freshman spoke without looking at Marjorie. ”I think I have met one or two of those girls.
Summer before last, at Newport, I met a Miss Myers and a Miss Stephens.
We had quite a lot of fun together one afternoon at a tennis tournament.
Yes, I am sure those are the same girls. I met them afterward at a dinner dance.”
By this time the party had come within a few feet of where Marjorie and her annoying freshman find were standing. Marjorie felt the warm color flood her cheeks as a battery of unfriendly eyes was turned upon her.
Her chums had already disappeared down the stairway, unaware that she had been left behind. She could hardly have conceived of a more disagreeable situation. Miss Walbert, however, was quite in her element.
She had done precisely what she had intended to do.
”Excuse me, I must really speak to my friends. I'll probably go on to the college with them. Thank you so much.”
With this Miss Walbert stepped hurriedly forward and addressed Joan Myers. ”How do you do? You are Miss Myers whom I met at the Newport tennis tournament, I believe. So surprised to see you here and so pleased.”
Joan Myers stared hard at the speaker before replying. She recognized her as the girl she had met at Newport on the occasion mentioned. She also recalled the second meeting at the dance and acted accordingly.
”How are you?” she returned affably, extending her hand. ”Of course I remember you. Strange I can't recall your name. I met you at the Newport tournament and afterward at Mrs. Barry Symonds' dance. Are you going to enter Hamilton? So pleased, I am sure. Won't you join our party? You seem to be--er--well out of your proper element.” Joan added this with insulting intent.
Marjorie had stepped back as Miss Walbert had stepped forward. Her first impulse, in consideration of the cavalier dismissal she had received, had been to turn and walk away. Courtesy prompted her to wait a moment, thus making sure the freshman was accepted as an acquaintance by Joan Myers and Harriet Stephens. She had barely turned away as she heard Joan Myers say, ”Won't you join our party?” She could, therefore, hardly help hearing the remark which followed.
She went without attempting even a farewell nod. She was not hurt over the ill-bred manner in which she had been treated. She was disgusted with the other girl's utter shallowness. She was also visited by a sense of dull disappointment. Hurrying to overtake her own party, she discovered she was still carrying the freshman's golf bag. In the annoyance of the moment she had forgotten all about it. Bravely she decided to return it at once and have it off her hands immediately. She was half way down the steps when she made this resolve. She quickly remounted the stairs. From the top step she could see the Sans, standing where she had left them. Four or five juniors whom she had seen on the platform before the train came in, were with them now.
”Is this the way to the station yard?” inquired a soft little voice at her elbow. ”Can I get a taxi there that will take me to Hamilton College?”
Marjorie turned quickly to meet the questioning gaze of two velvety black eyes. The owner of the soft voice and black eyes was a girl no taller than Vera. She had a small, straight nose and a red bud of a mouth. Her hair, under the gray sports hat which matched her suit, was a blue black, so soft as to be almost feathery. As she surveyed the pretty stranger, Marjorie's recent pang of disappointment left her. Here, at least, was a freshman more after her own heart.
CHAPTER VII.
THE SANS' NEW RECRUIT.
”If you will wait just a moment or two I will show you the way to the station yard. I am Marjorie Dean, of the soph.o.m.ore cla.s.s. I am down here today purposely to help incoming freshmen. I had one in tow a few minutes ago, but she met some acquaintances of hers and joined them. I carried off her golf bag and must return it. She is over there.”
Marjorie nodded toward the group. ”Pardon me. I'll return instantly.”
”Thank you, ever so much. I shall be glad to wait for you,” sweetly responded the newcomer. ”I am Barbara Severn, of Baltimore.”
Marjorie stopped to acknowledge the introduction, then onerous as was the task, she went staunchly to it. Luckily for her, Miss Walbert stood at the edge of the group, momentarily neglected by her chosen acquaintances. They were busily engaged with their junior cla.s.smates.
”Here is your golf bag, Miss Walbert. I forgot to give it to you when I left you.” Her tone evenly impersonal, it carried a note of reserve which the other caught.
”Oh, thank you. I--that is--I forgot about it, too.” She attempted a smile as she reached out to take it from Marjorie's hands.
”You are welcome.” A slight inclination of the head and Marjorie was gone.
Elizabeth Walbert watched the graceful figure in white across the platform. Certainly this Dean girl was awfully good style, she reflected.
”What did mamma's precious pet want with you?” For the first time, since acknowledging an introduction to Elizabeth, Leslie Cairns had condescended to address her.