Part 23 (1/2)
”Oh!” responded Nan, drily, much amused to hear Bess Harley so very practical.
The practicality of the discussion might be doubted by anybody save boarding-school girls. Bess quickly proved to her own satisfaction, if not entirely to Nan's, that the small, ”after-hours supper” was the most popular form of entertainment then in vogue at Lakeview Hall.
”You know, Cora Courtney and that crowd are always talking about a strawberry festival that she and Linda Riggs engineered last June. And now they are planning to have another big spread soon in some room on their corridor.”
”Well,” observed Nan, ”we won't be invited to it.”
”No. And they won't be invited to ours,” cried Bess, promptly.
”If we have a spread,” agreed Nan.
”It's just the thing,” Bess pursued, very enthusiastic. ”Eating promotes fellows.h.i.+p----”
”And indigestion,” laughed Nan. ”Especially such a combination as Laura had in her room the other night--sour pickles, ice-cream cones, and salted peanuts.”
”Whew! that was fierce!” acknowledged Bess. ”I didn't eat much; but I felt squirmy, just the same, after it. But if we give the girls the big eats, let's have something nice, but digestible.”
”Let's!” agreed Nan. ”Of course, it's against the rules----”
”Oh, dear, now! don't begin that,” begged Bess.
”We--ell----”
”They all do it. If Dr. Beulah wasn't so awfully strict about our having what she calls a 'plain, wholesome supper,' and refusing to let us add sweets, and the like, to the supper bill-of-fare, I'm sure the girls wouldn't be dying for these spreads.”
”If the girls had what they wanted at supper, Dr. Prescott would have to charge about twice what she does now for tuition and board at Lakeview Hall.”
”Never mind that,” said Bess, briskly. ”The question is: Shall we have the spread?”
”If you like,” agreed Nan.
So it was decided. With twenty-five dollars they could have a bountiful feast.
”A dollar a plate will give us a delightful supper, with salad, and ices, and all,” said Bess, who knew more about such things than Nan, for her mother entertained a great deal in Tillbury.
”But how'll we ever get such things up to our room?” gasped Nan.
That puzzled Bess.
”And twenty-five girls would just about swamp us,” Nan added.
”Oh, dear!”
”Hire a hall?” suggested Nan, roguishly.
”Now, don't, Nan Sherwood! You're dreadful!” cried Bess, almost in tears as she saw her castle in the air dissolving.
”Wait!” commanded Nan, good-naturedly patting her chum on the shoulder.
”All is not yet lost! Up and at 'em, guards! Never say die!”