Part 5 (1/2)
”And that girl defied me with a threat of friends! She has friends who are not in the freshman ranks? I remember she said that. Who can they be? My enemies naturally,” decided Jane.
How these enemies would fill that foolish head with nonsense, and how far they might urge her on to mischief if not to actual danger, Jane Allen did not venture to estimate.
”But Dozia tried first shot to send her home to her 'maw!'”
The humor of the situation now struck Jane like a blow on the funny bone, and she burst out laughing in the very face of the th.o.r.n.y rose bush.
”After all it is too delicious!” she told herself. ”And even if she is my dad's scholars.h.i.+p girl there's a heap of fun in the ridiculous situation. I'll find Judy and tell her the whole thing. Too good to keep; too funny to spoil,” and the blue serge skirt that fanned the boxwood a moment later never swished a swish. Jane did not give it tune to do so.
CHAPTER VI
JANE AND JUDITH
Oh, do tell me, Janie. I was watching behind the big elm the whole time. Couldn't hear a word of course, but I could have seen any attempt at violence. That girl, I tell you, is no ordinary 'critter.' I fully expected she would draw something from that broad satin belt. But do tell? What was it all about?”
”Thank you for the chance, Judy, I was just wondering when you would take breath. It is funny--so funny I am laughing all over,” and the gray eyes sent out sparks of mirth, as a senior might have put it.
”Isn't it!” howled Judith, pegging a pillow at Jane's head to keep the fun a-going or the ”pot a-boiling” as you will.
”I don't know where to begin Judy. At first I was sort of awe- stricken. Considering the handicaps poor s.h.i.+rley has loaded herself up with----”
”Including the name. Have you a.n.a.lyzed that?”
”Yes, love, I have. Some maiden aunt with a paper covered library must have inflicted her with that. It doesn't suit at all, although she seems very proud of it.”
”And no chance of her growing into it either. Like a chauffeur named Claude or Clarence. Her last name now would be much snappier for her. Duncan makes a topping Dunny,” suggested Judith.
”But the girl would never believe that,” sighed Jane. ”She asked me to call her s.h.i.+rley and I tried to; now, Judith, listen. Here are a few difficult facts. s.h.i.+rley Duncan is bound to fight. She has been brought up in the school of affectionate antagonism, and with her it is a case of getting the best of everyone and everything. I did not say getting the better, I mean best.”
”I savvy, as our old friend cow-boy Pedro would say. Have you heard from home lately, d.i.n.ks?”
”Yes, Judith. All well and lonely. But please concentrate. This matter is serious. s.h.i.+rley threatened me with friends--says she has friends here who are not fres.h.i.+es. Can you guess who they may be?”
”Never saw a girl speak to her a second time unless she, s.h.i.+rley, stepped on the other's toes or knocked her hat off. Then the conversation was naturally brief and snappy. It happened to Mabel.”
”I can't imagine whom she means, but they are somewhere ready to pounce on us, so let us beware. Next point is: she seems to have money: offered to pay for the broken mirror. In fact she sort of lorded it over me.”
”Dozia should strike for a new vanity dresser. One with three side gla.s.ses big enough to reflect her wonderful, long flowing locks. A rare chance for Dozia.”
”But how could a girl coming in on scholars.h.i.+p have money to squander?” reflected Jane.
”That maiden aunt with the paper covered novels would love good looking-gla.s.ses. It might be the salvation of this s.h.i.+rley girl, if she did have access to a true mirror.”
Judith snapped the top on her fountain pen and slammed shut her note-book. Indifferent work was worse than none, she seemed to have decided.
”Had you finished your Lat? Isn't it awful to have to work off a condition? Please don't let me bother you ever, Jude, when you have that task on hand,” said Jane seriously.
”I have and it is, if you kept your two questions properly tabulated. You see I am straining for mental stuff. I want to improve the old condition of forgetfulness. That was what knocked friend Virgil, or was it Cicero? I loved the stories and forgot the period. But I am finished for this evening, dear, and you know we have some initiation stunts to take part in. I am glad they are so simple. It seems to me each year the nonsense gets more rational.”