Part 10 (1/2)

But what could they do for Rhoda?

”I don't think we had better try to do anything _for_ her,” Nan finally said, after suggestions had been discussed ranging from presenting Rhoda with a gold medal to falling down on their knees and begging her forgiveness.

”We have nothing really to ask her pardon for. It actually was her own stupidity that made her begin so unfortunately among us. She, perhaps, can't see that. Or, if she does, she is too obstinate to admit it.”

”Why, Nan!” cried warm-hearted Bess Harley, who, once moved in the right direction, could not do too much for the object of her approval. ”Why, Nan! you speak as though you did not like Rhoda, after all. You are the only one who stood up for her all those weeks.”

”When did I stand up for her?” demanded Nan. ”I would not treat her unkindly. But I have thought all the time she was in the wrong. And there is no use going to Rhoda and telling her we were wrong and that we are sorry. That would not only be a falsehood, but it would do no lasting good.”

”Hear! Hear!” cried Amelia. ”Minerva Sherwood speaks.”

”I guess Nan has got the 'wise' of it,” agreed Laura. ”No matter how well we may think of Rhoda, she would be equally offended if we all suddenly changed toward her in a way to make her conspicuous.

We must begin treating her naturally.”

”That's all right,” agreed Amelia. ”But we cannot overlook the incident of that car ride.”

”I should say not!” exclaimed Bess Harley.

”Everybody is talking about it,” said Grace.

”Dr. Beulah spoke of it this morning at chapel,” Lillie said, ”although she did not mention Rhoda's name.”

”But everybody knew who she meant,” Bess declared.

”For that she can thank Miss March,” laughed Laura. ”She will never get over talking about Rhoda's bravery.”

”And poor Rhoda looked scared in chapel,” said Nan. ”She thought she was going to be publicly commended for what she had done,” and Nan finished with laughter.

”Well,” cried Bess, ”what shall we do, girls?”

”No,” Nan said once more with gravity, ”that isn't it. It's what will she do? That is the question. Let Rhoda meet us half way, at least. Otherwise we'll all be stiff and formal and never get any nearer to that wild Western girl than before. I'll tell you!”

”Go ahead. That's what we are waiting for. Tell us,” begged Laura.

They gathered closer about the girl from Tillbury and Nan lowered her voice while she explained her idea. So the girls of Corridor Four--at least, all those who had been aboard the electric car when Rhoda's self-possession had saved them from disaster--were merely courteous to the girl from Rose Ranch, or smiled at her when they met, and kept deftly away from the exciting adventure in their conversation while Rhoda was near.

Apparently the afternoon tea was given in Room Seven in honor of Beautiful Beulah, Nan's famous doll.

”But I'm too big to play dolls,” Rhoda Hammond objected when Nan urged her attendance on a rainy Sat.u.r.day afternoon.

”Pshaw!” laughed Nan, ”you're not too big to pa.s.s tea and cocoa and sweet crackers to the primes who will come to wors.h.i.+p at the shrine of my Beautiful Beulah. That's what I want you for--to help. Bess and I can't do it all.”

It was hard to refuse Nan Sherwood anything.

”Laura declares one has to be real mad at you to get out of anything you want us to do!” complained Bess one day, when yielding to Nan's pressure and doing something she would have preferred not to do.

These ”doll-teas” in Number Seven, Corridor Four, had become very popular toward the latter end of the previous term at Lakeview Hall. Every girl in the school--even the seniors and juniors--knew of Beautiful Beulah, and the little girls in the primary department flocked to Nan Sherwood's parties whenever they had the chance, bringing their own dolls.

On this particular occasion, however, the young girls came early, were ”primed” (as Laura said) with goodies and cocoa, and sent away; the older girls, dropping in one by one, were huddled on beds, chairs, the couch, and even sat Turk-fas.h.i.+on on the floor, gradually filling the room. The crowd included all those girls who had gone to Adminster two Sat.u.r.days previous.