Part 5 (1/2)

”It's gone to her head,” she muttered sadly as if communing with herself, ”the idea of music has gone to her head. I must address her soothingly.

Yes, yes, we're going--we're going soon, don't worry. But we're a-going clothed and in our right mind--mine at least, and fed.”

On tiptoe they flitted down to the big empty dining-room. A special breakfast was being served to the dozen or more students who intended to take the early train to the city. The unaccustomed stillness in the vast apartment usually vibrating with clatter of dishes and chatter of tongues seemed dreamlike to Berta in her exalted mood. Robbie Belle found it necessary to exert her firmest authority in order to get Berta to eat even a roll and swallow a cup of chocolate.

Two of the seniors who were going shopping lamented that they had neglected to apply for opera tickets until the house had been sold out.

Berta gazed at them pityingly. To have the money and to be in the city, and yet not to be able to go! Why hadn't they thought of it in time? She had antic.i.p.ated it years in advance. This world was full of queer people--all sorts of people who did not care for music, and even some who did not care for books. Wasn't it the strangest thing--not to care!

When somebody consulting her watch announced that the special electric car was to leave the Lodge Gates for the station in seven minutes, Berta dropped spoon and napkin in eager haste to depart. Out into the corridor and around the bal.u.s.ters to the messenger room where they were required to register their names and destination. At the foot of the broad staircase hung the bulletin board in the pale flicker of a lowered gas-jet. The morning light was brightening through the windows beyond.

Berta halted mechanically to scan the oblong of dark red in search of possible new notices. Something may have been posted since chapel last night.

Ah, yes, there was a fresh square of white tucked under the tapes that marked the felt into convenient diamonds. Berta read it at a glance.

”All students requiring financial a.s.sistance for the coming year are requested to make written application to the President before May 10th.

It is understood that those receiving such aid will exercise all reasonable economy in avoiding unnecessary expenditure.”

Berta did not move, though her mobile face seemed to harden in a curiously stony expression. She read the notice again. Robbie Belle came breezily from the messenger room.

”Anything new, Berta? You look queer.” She followed the direction of the fascinated eyes. She read it slowly and drew a deep breath.

”So we can't go after all,” she said.

Berta seemed to wake up suddenly from a trance. ”Robbie Belle!”

”I can't help it,” doggedly though the smooth forehead had clouded in a quick frown of pain at the cry, ”it would not be honest. I didn't know before.”

”It's our own money,” protested Berta defiantly.

”But our scholars.h.i.+ps are the same as borrowed.”

[Ill.u.s.tration: ”ANYTHING NEW?”]

”The tickets are bought and paid for.”

Robbie Belle caught a glimpse of figures emerging from the dining-room.

”There come those two seniors who forgot to get seats in advance. Isn't it lucky! Now we can sell them ours.”

”Give me my ticket,” demanded Berta's voice sullenly, ”you never cared.”

”But it is not honest,” repeated Robbie Belle stubbornly. ”I never thought of it in that light before. It is not honest to spend five dollars and more for a luxury while we are living on borrowed money.”

”Give--me--my--ticket.”

The seniors rustled past. To Berta their laughter sounded far away. ”Oh, girls, we'll have to hurry! Hear that bell jangle.”

”The conductor does it on purpose to see us run. We have three minutes yet. Those two freshmen by the bulletin-board are going.”