Part 24 (2/2)
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 splas.h.i.+ng 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 soph.o.m.ores, 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 elseI _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.
d.i.c.k 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. n.o.body 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 sayonly 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 gla.s.s of lemonade as she spoke.
”That is so,” said Betty. ”I'll not be Betty Lee, freshman, but Betty Lee, SOPh.o.m.oRE! 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 Soph.o.m.ores! 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 pa.s.sed 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.”
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