Part 6 (1/2)
”Yes, we have been joying extravagantly,” agreed Judith. ”But Wellington has a reserve stock, you know. Just think of our little Helka. Did we decide she had blue or gray eyes?”
”Oh, they must be blue, we have too many grays,” Jane replied. ”But what concerns me most of all is the adorable task of fitting her out in school togs. Wasn't it lovely dad's scholars.h.i.+p went to a real little-primitive? That is, I suppose she is unspoiled, although how do we know? She may not deign to look at us,” and Jane smiled at the incongruity.
”Wouldn't it be a joke,” soliloquized Judith. ”What if she is a pre-war aristo'? And suppose she only touches Wellington at the extreme corners? Might even be a little n.o.bility sn.o.b, for all we know.”
”The more fun in store at the discoveries,” Jane said. ”But I feel she will be just as I picture her. A little blonde, with blue eyes and a name no one can p.r.o.nounce.”
”What does Helka mean?”
”Oh, that is Helen in Polish. As she is a 'Helen' I think she will be pretty. They mostly are,” Jane reflected.
”But Helen Bender is a bit cross-eyed,” Judith had to recall, whereat they both laughed, for Helen had a trick of blaming her eyes for every school mistake. Her uncertain eyes had stood her in good stead at difficult tests, etc.
”Soon night will be upon us,” Judith prophesied, noting the shadows that fell in ripples over the revolving rills. ”Just see the sunset.
How different from the red blaze we used to have on the Lake.”
”And the smoke of the approaching city,” Jane reminded. ”Shall we get off for a little rest at St. Paul? We can, if you wish.”
”When do we get to the great city?”
”To-morrow afternoon. But between here and there we will glimpse the Middle West. Very different from the scenery on the other end of the trip.”
”Yes, indeed, but it is all America, so of course we love it,” Judith orated. ”But, Janie dear, we might lose ourselves in St. Paul. I have heard such horrible tales of the girls at railway stations being picked up by bandits and carried off for ransom,” and she doubled up at the joyous thought of such an escapade.
”Well, if you feel that way about it we had best keep to our bunks,”
Jane decided. ”I am acquainted with the station and the big park with the sun dial--”
”And the big dry goods store where you bought my silkies,” recalled Judith. ”But, Jane dear, perhaps we had better keep to the rail. You know what the Indian woman told us? She might be out there on hand just to work out the fortune.”
”Moved and carried that we omit the stop over,” Jane answered. ”Now, Judy, let us brush up a little. I have a premonition we are going to meet someone very interesting in the dining car. I saw that yellow-haired woman smuggle a little poodle in her hand bag. It will surely be interesting if she carries him into the diner. It always is.
The porters know a dog by the bends in the bag. And they go through a regular screen play in getting the lady, the bag, and the poodle out of the car. Dogs must eat in the baggage car. They have a co-operative refectory there.”
”Oh, yes, and the yellow-haired lady has some paper plates. I saw her drop a brace of them, and one rolled way down to the young man with the specks. It was too funny to see him jerk up and look. Guess he thought he was having a fit of eye stigmatis,” and Judith bit her red lips with the afore-mentioned pearly teeth. ”See, the dear boy is reading something like a dictionary. Wonder if he is a new prof going East to try his luck in some co-ed college? Thank goodness we can't get anything like that. The dear old ladies are bad enough, but can you picture Percy handling Mazie?”
”In math for instance,” a.s.sisted Jane. ”I wonder if she will know any more about cubes this year?”
”More likely she has become proficient in cubes for the complexion,”
Judith put in. ”But honestly, Jane, I am so anxious to see them all, good, bad and indifferent, that I would just like to fall asleep and wake up at Wellington. Wouldn't you?”
”Well, I am anxious to get back. But between here and there I hope to pick up a good time or two. Now let's to the primping room. No line there yet. Wait until we get around Chicago. Then we will have to take our turn. I wonder what daddy is doing just now? I always feel a tiny bit lonesome first night--”
”Oh, no, you don't, dearie, as the chorus girls say. It is my special privilege to have the glumps,” and Judith's smile, filtering through the alleged gloom made comedy of her words. ”There, I had to leave El Capitan just when I pa.s.sed my first test in serenades, and when I was becoming expert in cowboy phraseology. Fedario admitted I 'sabied'
beautifully, and Pedro declared the horses knew my yodel. Then I had to tear myself away for hard work at Wellington!”
”I'll be good,” begged off Jane, who realized the effort at regrets was being made to offset her ”glumps.” Judith would not have Jane other than smiling. ”First at the big mirror,” as they made for the dressing room. ”See the little old lady with the sampler! Let us greet her in pa.s.sing,” whispered the youthful junior.
But the best laid plans of school girls may be upset by the exigencies of rail travel, for in pa.s.sing the little old lady, both young ladies were all but precipitated into her black silk lap. The apologies that followed served as fitting introduction, with the result of both girls falling victims to the charm of her complaisant culture, rounded out with satisfying years. The little lady was a thoroughbred, an old school new method graduate. And the girls, keen of perception and generous with appreciation, became acquainted at once with a promise of developing interest along the route.