Part 13 (1/2)
Recounting to Jerry the talk between Robin and herself, Jerry asked abruptly: ”Have you girls told anyone you were going to try to get hold of those properties? That is, anyone outside our own crowd?”
”I can't say it has been kept a secret,” Marjorie returned. ”At the time of the show we gave last winter, some of the girls who helped a good deal, like Ethel Laird and Grace Dearborn, may have mentioned it. For instance, Grace sold tickets all over the campus. We were talking at that time about how fine it would be to be able to found a dormitory.
Nothing has been said of late outside our crowd, that I recall. Robin and I have only started the ball rolling again. Why did you ask, Jeremiah?”
”I was thinking. If the real estate agent happened to hear you wanted the properties he might raise the price of them to more than they were worth. You don't care to be stung, do you?”
”Certainly _not_. The less we have to pay for the site the more money we shall have to put into the building. Besides, we don't care to be saddled with any larger debt than we can help. We are going to see him next Wednesday. The chances are he won't have heard anything about it in that short s.p.a.ce of time-unless he heard last spring.” Marjorie frowned brief anxiety. Then her face cleared. ”Oh, it isn't at all likely,” she said. ”Robin and I are going to put every minute we can spare into the work. Thank goodness, we studied hard enough our first three years! We are sure of getting through this year without having to dig.”
”We've had loads of good times, but still we have kept up in all our subjects,” commented Jerry with pardonable pride. ”Now, in my sage and profound seniors.h.i.+p I propose to turn philanthropist and promoter with you, Marvelous Manager. By the way, I brought up your mail. It's over there.” Jerry indicated a small pile of letters on the top of a two-shelved wall book-case.
”Thank you.” Marjorie made a dive for them. ”Six; I am lucky today!” She hastily sat down in the nearest chair to enjoy them. Reading each as she opened it, she was slow in coming to the last one of the pile.
”Here's a note from Professor Leonard!” she exclaimed, mystification written on her pretty features. ”He asks me to come to the gymnasium at four-thirty tomorrow afternoon. He doesn't say anything in the note but that.”
”Basket ball, of course,” guessed Jerry.
”But I didn't play on the team last year and he knows it. Oh, I think I know. Maybe he would like me to umpire or referee a game. No, it can't be that, for he dropped basket ball after the Sans made so much trouble.
I am sure I can't guess why he wants to see me.”
”You'll know after you've seen him,” returned Jerry, snickering.
”I have an idea I shall,” retorted Marjorie. ”That was a brilliant remark, Jeremiah.”
When at four-thirty on the following afternoon Marjorie sought the physical culture director in the gymnasium, she was somewhat taken aback by the concise request: ”I would like to make you chairman of the senior sports committee, Miss Dean. I have been urged to resume charge of college sports by President Matthews. You may recall _why_ I refused to act as the director of them two years ago. Well, things have changed here since then. A certain pernicious element has been removed. I am going to try again, simply to please the doctor. Will you help me? I have in mind for that committee, you as chairman, Miss Page, Miss Harding and Miss Hunter. The four of you can arrange a series of basket ball games. In the spring we will have tennis. Miss Hunter is an expert player. I want her chiefly on account of her tennis prowess. It will not take up much of your time. You would probably attend the games held here, at any rate. Think it over and let me know by tomorrow. I wish to make a start as soon as possible.”
Marjorie listened to the director in silent consternation. She did not wish to serve on any such committee. It would interfere, to some extent, in her new plans. On the other hand, she wished very much to help Professor Leonard. He had made a concession in again resuming directors.h.i.+p of college sports. Could she do less than aid him? She aspired to serve her Alma Mater in the best way. Perhaps this work was as important as building a dormitory. Professor Leonard had said, ”Think it over.” Marjorie had already decided.
”I won't wait until tomorrow, Professor Leonard, to decide. I will accept the honor now. If you wish, I will see the other girls. I think you can count on them.”
”Thank you, Miss Dean. I was sure you wouldn't fail me.” The professor's hand went out impulsively.
Marjorie reflected with a twinge of remorse as she returned the handshake that she had come very near to failing him.
”You will help me greatly by seeing your friends. I wish you four would meet me here day after tomorrow at this time. We will then discuss our plans for the season.”
”I'll simply have to make room for committee duties on my programme somehow,” she thought, as she left the gymnasium and cut across the campus, headed for Silverton Hall. ”Robin is in as deeply as I. Still, I know she wouldn't have refused, under the same circ.u.mstances. If I had dreamed, ever since my freshman year, of such an honor, I'd never have attained it. Just because I have about twice as much on hand as I can look after, along comes something else. It's what I should call an embarra.s.sment of riches.”
CHAPTER XIII-ON THE CREST OF HOPE
While Marjorie was sighing a little over the multiplicity of responsibilities which had fallen to her lot, Elizabeth Walbert was also a person with several irons in the fire. She had promised Leslie Cairns that she would glean valuable information concerning the students'
beneficiary fund. She had sworn to be even with Augusta Forbes. She had determined to keep in favor with Alida Burton and Lola Elster.
Leslie being by far the most important person on her horizon, Elizabeth strained a point to gather the information Leslie desired. The day after her talk with the ex-student she set out for Acasia House the moment cla.s.ses were over for the day. Marian Foster, the freshman she had mentioned, was not unlike Elizabeth in disposition. She was an arrant social climber and ranked money and lavish expenditure of it above everything. Introduced to Elizabeth on the campus, by another freshman, she had treated the junior with marked respect. This had pleased Elizabeth, who had grown more unpopular at Hamilton with each year she returned. She had promptly singled out Marian as an object of her patronizing attentions. These had consisted in a luncheon or two.
several drives and one dinner at the Colonial.
Ethel Laird, in her sweet, gracious fas.h.i.+on, had also been kind to Marian, who had been very lonely on first arrival at Acasia House. Thus she stood between two influences. She had been shrewd enough to hide her true character from Ethel, whose popularity as a senior she had quickly discovered. Privately she decided to play two parts. To Ethel she would be merely the friendly, appreciative fres.h.i.+e. It was Elizabeth's favor she really desired.