Part 2 (1/2)
”Yes, but at what time?” reminded Muriel. ”Precisely twelve. Four hours'
ride after that on a b.u.mpety-b.u.mpety train is sufficient cause for a quick return of appet.i.te.”
”Quite true, my dear Miss Harding,” allowed Jerry, favoring Muriel with a patronizing smile.
”So glad you agree with me. It might worry me if you didn't.” Muriel returned the smile with one equally patronizing.
”Such smirking and beaming, and so deceitful, at that,” teased Leila.
”I'm merely trying to take Ronny's place with Muriel,” defended Jerry.
”She keeps complaining that she has no one to squabble with.”
”When do you think Veronica will be here?” Miss Remson had been listening in amus.e.m.e.nt to Jerry and Muriel. She was genuinely happy to have the Lookouts back at Wayland Hall again. ”I received one long, delightful letter from her in July.”
”We don't know,” answered Marjorie. She went on to tell the manager what she had already told Leila regarding Ronny.
Such information as she had concerning her missing chum given, the quartette, accompanied by Leila, went on up the staircase and once more made port in their familiar quarters.
”Oh, wow!” e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Jerry, as she dropped her luggage to the floor and sank thankfully upon her own particular chair. ”I'm glad I'm here. I hate leaving home, but, now that I've once more struck this fond, familiar spot, I find it pretty fair, Bean; pretty fair.”
”I echo your sentiments, Macy. I do, indeed; all except the Bean,”
Marjorie retorted, giggling, nevertheless, at the appellation.
It was the derisive name which Leslie Cairns, the leader of the mischief-making Sans, had been pleased to apply to her. It never failed to make Marjorie laugh. There was something so utterly ridiculous about it. Jerry occasionally found amus.e.m.e.nt also in addressing her as ”Bean.”
”You are always so good to us, Miss Remson,” Marjorie gratefully voiced, when presently the hungry travelers had gathered at a table in the long, cool dining room. The day being warm, the manager had thoughtfully provided a tall pitcher of iced tea and a large plate of chicken, olive and lettuce sandwiches.
”Don't think me stingy for not offering you more of a spread. I wish you to have some appet.i.te for dinner. This little bite will be just a help along the way until dinner time.”
”No wonder everybody is crazy to live at Wayland Hall,” commented Muriel, in appreciation of the manager's kindly efforts.
”I am so sorry Anna Towne and the girls off the campus wouldn't allow us to carry out our plan for them.” Marjorie looked her regret. ”We wanted them here, you know.”
The ”plan” to which she now referred had been one mapped out by herself and Robina Page during her junior year at Hamilton. They had agreed to save a part of their spending money through the college year and also the summer vacation. Object of their self-denial, to make it possible for Anna Towne, and one other off-the-campus girl whom Robin should select, to enjoy the comfort of Wayland Hall as a residence. Their particular friends had been quick to imitate the example they had set.
Altogether fourteen girls had joined in the generous movement.
Marjorie and Robin had been detailed to put the offer before the girls each youthful benefactor had elected to help. Two weeks before the close of college Robin had invited them to a spread in her room and there explained matters. No amount of urging, however, on hers and Marjorie's part, could persuade them to take advantage of the offer. It was with reluctance that they even consented to go on accepting a.s.sistance from the students' beneficiary recently formed.
None of the young philanthropists had been sanguine of an acceptance of their generosity. At least it had been made in good faith. According to Jerry it was too bad they ”couldn't see it,” but it hadn't done any special harm to cut out a few extravagances. The money each had saved to such a worthy end was collected by Robin and added to the sum on deposit as the Hamilton College Beneficiary Fund in a Hamilton Bank.
”Oh, well, no one could blame the girls for feeling as they did about letting us help them. In their position, I suppose it would have been the same with us,” was Muriel Harding's opinion. ”It would have been fine to have them at the Hall. They are a dandy lot of girls.”
”I am sorry, too, that they will not be here,” Miss Remson said. She had been signally interested in the idea at the time it had been agitated.
”I expect sixteen freshmen here and eight upper cla.s.s students. Two of these last are from Craig Hall, two from Acasia House, and four from Alston Terrace. I had a number of applications from students at other campus houses but took the first eight who applied.”
”Alston Terrace?” Leila interrogated, lively interest animating her expressive features. ”Would you mind telling us, Miss Remson, who is coming from Alston Terrace?”
Every pair of eyes now fastened upon the manager, looked inquiry. The same thought had flashed through each brain.