Part 23 (2/2)
Helen and Lily Pearl had been invited to Annapolis for June week, by Mrs. Ring, and were to go to the June ball with dear Paul and Charles Purdy. They had not been asked to dance the German since they had made no special friends among the first cla.s.smen. Peggy and Polly were to dance it, one with d.i.c.k Allyn, the other with his room-mate, Calhoun Byrd, who, in Bancroft's vernacular ”spooned on Ralph” and had always considered Polly ”a clipper.” Juno was to go with Guy Bennett, Nelly, Rosalie, Marjorie and Natalie had, alack! to look on from the gallery, escorted by second-cla.s.smen.
But now of immediate happenings at Columbia Heights School.
It had been arranged that Shelby should take Shashai, Star and Tzaritza back to Severndale on the twenty-second, as it was now far too warm to ride in Was.h.i.+ngton. Moreover, Shelby's engagement with Mrs. Vincent expired May fifteenth and he was anxious to get back to Severndale. Then at the last moment, Mrs. Vincent decided to send all the saddle horses to Severndale for the summer months and keep only the carriage horses and the white groom at the school. So Shelby wrote Jim Bolivar that ”he'd better come along down and get on the job too.” Consequently, about a week after the girl's visit to Annapolis and Rosalie's escapade, Jim Bolivar arrived at the school and took up his quarters in the pretty little cottage provided for Shelby. He expected to spend about two days helping to get matters closed up for the summer, then start on with Junius Augustus in charge of Columbine, Lady Belle, the Senator, and Jack-o'-Lantern, Shelby following a day later with Shashai, Star, Madame Goldie and Old Duke. So far so good out in the stables. Within the school Nelly was learning the difference between being the daughter of patrician blood come upon misfortune, and cheerfully making the best of things, and some extremely plebeian blood slopped unexpectedly into fortune, and trying to forget its origin. Had not Nelly possessed such loyal old friends as Peggy and Polly, and made such stanch new ones as Rosalie, Natalie, Stella and Marjorie, her position might have been a very trying one. And now only eight days remained before vacation would begin. Already the girls were in a flutter for June week at Annapolis.
Would it be fair? Would it be scorching hot? Would there be moon-light nights?
”There'll be moon-light if the old lady has half a chance to show herself,” said Polly's a.s.sured voice and nod.
”We had a new moon on the eighteenth,” said Peggy. ”That means brim-full in June week, and, oh, girls, won't it be fairy land! How I wish, though, you were all to dance the German. I can't help feeling selfish to leave you out of that fun.”
”You aren't leaving us out. We understand that even the Little Mother can't ask her boys to take a girl to the German! But we aren't likely to pine away with all the other fun afoot,” cried Natalie gaily, doing a pirouette across the room just by way of relieving pent-up antic.i.p.ation.
”Helen said she might be invited to dance the German after all. Dear Paul's Mamma has a grease with a first cla.s.sman,” laughed Rosalie.
”When I see her on the floor I'll believe it,” said Juno.
”Where is Helen tonight?” asked Marjorie.
”Up in her room. Lily has a sick headache and she went up with her.
Guess that cousin of Helen's who came down from Baltimore, Foxy Grandpa's daughter, or niece, or something, I believe, and spent this afternoon with her, gave those girls too many chocolates. Wasn't she the limit? And big? Well, I'll wager that woman was six feet tall, and she was made up perfectly outrageously. Her skin was fair enough, and her color lovely and I never saw such teeth, if they weren't store ones, but there was something about the lower part of her face that looked queer. Did you notice it, girls?” asked Polly.
”I did. There was such a funny dull tinge, like a man who had just been shaved,” commented Rosalie, with a puzzled frown.
”Her voice struck me funniest. Do you remember Fraulein Shultz who was here the first year school opened, Marjorie?” asked Natalie.
”Yes, we used to call her Herr Shultz. Such a voice you never heard, girls!”
”Well, this cousin's was exactly like Herr Shultz.”
”Her clothes were the climax with me. I believe she must have been on the stage sometime. Oh, yes, they were up-to-date enough, but, so sort of--of--tawdry,” criticised Juno.
”Do you know, she reminded me of somebody I know but who it is I just can't think,” and Peggy puckered her forehead into wrinkles.
”Oh!” cried Nelly, then stopped short.
”What's the matter? Sat on a pin?” asked Rosalie, laughing.
”Something made me jump,” answered Nelly, pulling her skirt as though in search of the pin Rosalie had suggested. Then in a moment she said:
”Reckon I'll go in, girls, I've got to send a note home by father and he starts pretty soon.”
”Why do they start at night?” asked Juno.
”Cooler traveling for the horses. They leave here about eight, travel about nine miles an hour, for two hours, stop at ---- for the night, start again at seven in the morning, and will reach Severndale by ten o'clock at latest. It seems like a long trip, but that makes it an easy one. Shelby will start tomorrow or next day. And won't all those horses have the time of their lives! I am so glad that they're to be there,”
explained Peggy.
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