Sat.u.r.day was a busy day for the one hundred and sixty odd girls who were enrolled at Shadyside. Penance and pleasure had a way of marking off the hours. Those who were good were allowed to go twice a month to Edentown, chaperoned by a teacher, for shopping, moving picture treats, and such other simple pleasures as the small city afforded. There were always a number of girls sentenced to "within bounds," which were the s.p.a.cious school grounds, for minor sins of omission and commission. Bobby Littell was usually among these. She was impulsive and heedless, and got herself into hot water with amazing regularity.
"Bobby," announced Betty, one Sat.u.r.day morning not long after the initiation into the Mysterious For, "don"t you think you could manage to have a good record this coming week? We want to go nutting a week from to-day, and if you have to stay in bounds it will spoil all the fun."
"I"ll try my best," promised Bobby solemnly. "I never mean to do a thing, Betty. Trouble is, I think afterward. I did want to go to Edentown to-day, too, but Libbie and Frances have promised to get the wool for my sweater. Want to come down to the gym? I"m going to drill my squad this morning."
In the gymnasium they found Ada Nansen, also in charge of a squad.
"She flunked twice in French and was impudent to Madame," whispered Bobby, who knew all the school gossip. "Mrs. Eustice canceled her Edentown permit."
Ada frankly scowled at the newcomers. She had found the Littell girls slow to overtures of friendship, and they persisted in displaying an annoying fancy for the society of Betty and the Guerin girls, who, for all Ada knew, might be what she described to her mother as "perfect n.o.bodies." So Ada and Ruth Royal gradually formed a circle of their own to which gravitated the more sn.o.bbish girls, those who fought, openly or covertly, the rule for simple dressing, and those who found in Ada"s characteristics of petty meanness, worship of money, and social aspirations a response to similar urgings of their own natures.
"Well, Bobby, I"m glad to see you and your "men,"" said Miss Anderson briskly. "I was just saying to Ada that to-day is too beautiful to waste indoors. I want you all to come out on the campus and we"ll have a race."
Bobby"s squad included Betty--who had refused to leave her chum--the Guerin girls (who refused to go to Edentown because it was almost impossible to avoid spending money for little luxuries and for treats), Constance Howard and Dora Estabrooke, a fat girl who was good-nature itself.
"We"ll have to use elimination," said the teacher when she had her pupils out on the green level that was back of the gymnasium and walled in by tall Lombardy poplars planted closely. "Let"s see, twelve of you" (for Ada"s squad numbered the same). "I think we"ll number off first."
The odd numbers in each squad fell out and were matched, and the even numbers were paired similarly. Betty"s rival was a near-sighted girl who delayed the next step because Miss Anderson discovered that she was wearing high-heeled shoes.
"I don"t care for those flat things," volunteered Violet Canby, as she departed lockerward at Miss Anderson"s stern insistence. "I have a very high instep, and they hurt me."
Nevertheless, she had to wear them, and the physical instructor put the others through a rigid inspection, but bloomers and sneakers were all properly donned.
"Now," said Miss Anderson when Violet had returned minus her pumps, "try to remember that it"s just like a spelling match, girls; gradually we"ll narrow down to the two best runners."
The trial "heats" resulted in leaving Betty, Bobby and Norma of the one squad, and Ada, Ruth and a girl named Edith Harrison, of the other.
Norma was paired with Ruth Royal, and at the signal they got away nicely.
Norma was an excellent runner, and she reached the tape fully three yards ahead of Ruth. Something in her glowing, happy face, prompted Ruth to resentment.
"Oh, well," she remarked disdainfully, taking care that her words should carry clearly, "I suppose a farmer"s daughter does a good deal of running after cows--they ought to be in training."
Norma flushed scarlet.
"My father is a doctor," she said hotly. "I"m not a farmer"s daughter, but I know splendid girls who are--girls too well-bred to say a thing like that."
Ruth walked away--she was out of the finals now--and Norma went back to the starting place. She had not recovered her poise when the time came for her to race Bobby, and that young person won easily only to be outdistanced by Betty.
Rather to the latter"s regret, she found herself the opponent of Ada for the deciding race.
"Go it, Betty--beat her!" whispered Bobby, proud of her chum. "She and Ruth Royal have dispositions like vinegar barrels!"
Betty had often raced with Bob, and she ran like a boy herself--head down, elbows held in. She was running that way, against Ada, when something suddenly shunted her off sideways. She fell, landing in a little heap. High and sharp rose the shrill whistle of the starter.
"Are you hurt, Betty?" demanded Miss Anderson, running up to the dazed girl and lifting her to her feet. "Ada Nansen that was absolutely the most unsportsmanlike trick I ever saw. You"ve lost the race on a foul.
Betty was clearly winning when you tripped her."
"I didn"t," muttered Ada, but she refused to meet her teacher"s eyes.
"I don"t want a race on a foul," argued Betty pluckily, for her skinned elbow was smarting madly. "Let"s begin over."
She had her way, too, and this time won without interference, though Ada was so furious that Bobby was seriously concerned.
"She looks mad enough to put something in your soup," she told Betty, as they went in to dress and have Betty"s elbow attended to. "What is it, Caroline?"
"Two young gentlemen to see you, Miss Bobby and Miss Betty," announced the maid importantly. "They is waiting in the parlor. Mrs. Eustice says you all should go right up."
In the parlor the girls found two slim, uniformed young figures who rose like well-set-up ramrods at their entrance.
"Bob!" e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Betty, her voice betraying her pleasure. "Bob, you look splendid!"
Tommy Tucker glanced hopefully at Bobby.
"Don"t I look splendid, too?" he asked.
"You"re overshadowed by Bob," said Bobby mischievously. "However, when not compared with him, I dare say you look rather well."
CHAPTER XV
NORMA MAKES REPAIRS
This had to content the Tucker twin who took Bobby"s chaffing good-humoredly.
Bob Henderson did indeed look very well. The uniform was most becoming, and though he was studying hard to make up for lack of preparation, his clear eyes and skin and firm muscles told of a wise schedule that included plenty of outdoor exercise.
"We want you girls to come over to a practice game," announced Tommy Tucker presently. "We"ve got rather jolly rooms, and we thought if you brought Miss Thingumbob along we could have you in for tea and show you the sights. Do you think the powers that be will say yes?"
"Well, I don"t know," answered Betty thoughtfully. "I didn"t know you Salsette boys had much to do with girls. Of course the whole school goes to the big football games, but asking us to see a practice game is something new. Of course it will be difficult to get an afternoon when every one is free--"
"Every one!" exploded Bob. "Who said anything about every one? We don"t want the whole school--just you and Bobby and Louise and Frances and Libbie and the Guerin girls."
"Sure, the same bunch that came up on the train," said Tommy Tucker.
"Lead me to Mrs. Eustice and I"ll ask her."
"Mrs. Eustice is not in this afternoon," announced an extremely cold and disapproving voice. "Have you permission, young ladies, to see these er--callers?"
It was the elderly teacher whom Tommy had tormented on the train!
For once in his life that young man was thoroughly abashed. He threw Betty an appealing look that asked her to save him.
"Miss Prettyman, may I present my friends?" said the girl with the formality that is subtly flattering to an older woman. "This is Bob Henderson, who came from the West with me and who is really like my brother, since my uncle is his guardian. And this is Tommy Tucker, who lives in Washington."
"How do you do, Robert and Thomas?" said Miss Prettyman austerely. "Did Mrs. Eustice know you had callers?" she persisted, turning to the girls.
"She took the last bus to Edentown."