Part 13 (2/2)

”I haven't unpacked yet. I think, if I have a minute, I had better take my gowns out of the trunk,” Blue Bonnet answered.

”You won't have much time now. Wait until this afternoon. We have from four to five o'clock free. I'll help you then.”

The rest of the morning was spent in the cla.s.sroom. By noon Blue Bonnet had met a number of the girls--including two of Annabel's most intimate friends: Sue Hemphill, from somewhere in the Middle West, and Ruth Biddle, a Pennsylvania girl. Ruth was Annabel's room-mate; a plain-looking girl, but decidedly aristocratic--blue blood written in every line of her delicate features and rather aloof bearing.

Sue Hemphill was the nicer, Blue Bonnet thought after a few moments'

conversation. She was much friendlier, and much prettier; with soft grey eyes that twinkled mischievously, and a saucy little nose that inclined upward, giving her face a piquant, merry expression, quite irresistible.

”Miss Ashe is a new girl--a Junior,” Annabel explained to her friends.

”She's on our floor--in number ten, with Joy Cross.”

Sue Hemphill crumpled up like a withered rose-leaf and leaned against a blackboard for support.

”Oh, you poor thing! You must have been born for trouble--.”

”Now, Sue, don't!” Annabel protested. ”Just because you had her last year and didn't like her--”

”Do you? Does Ruth? Does anybody?” Sue asked.

”Miss North does,” Ruth replied; ”and Mrs. Goodwin and Mrs. White and Madame de Cartier and Professor Howe--”

”The entire Faculty, to say nothing of the janitor and maids,” Sue interrupted.

”You mean--that she's a sort of teacher's pet?” Blue Bonnet, asked slowly.

”Well--'pet' would be going some, for Joy,” Annabel laughed. ”But you're warm--very warm!”

”Or you will be, before many days. You'll be a regular barometer, going up--going up--going up--”

Annabel put her hand over Sue's mouth.

”Stop, Sue! Don't mind her, Miss Ashe. She's an awful tease. Joy isn't anything worse than a stick--a bore. If you have a nice disposition you'll get on splendidly--Sue hasn't!”

”Oh, thanks,” Sue said, bowing profoundly. ”It is because of my long a.s.sociation with you, then;” and with this good-natured banter she was off to lunch.

At two-thirty in the afternoon there was a general exodus from the cla.s.srooms, the recitations for the day being over. It had been rather a strenuous period for Blue Bonnet--the continuous round from seven o'clock in the morning. She was a little weary as she left the English cla.s.s, and filed out with the other girls who stopped to chat for a minute as they put away their books.

Down the hall came Mary Boyd with Carita still in her train. Blue Bonnet stopped them and inquired how Carita had got on during the day.

Carita was all enthusiasm.

”Oh, just fine, Blue Bonnet, thank you. Mary has been such an angel. We are in the same Algebra cla.s.s--and French, too. Isn't that nice? We can get our lessons together.”

Annabel Jackson came out of a cla.s.sroom and joined the group.

”h.e.l.lo, Sozie,” she said to Mary, pinching her cheek affectionately.

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