Ann Crosses a Secret Trail Read online

  CHAPTER IV

  BACK TO THE JOLLY SIX

  Ann did not think best to trouble her mother with any of the gossipwith which she had been afflicted through Mrs. Lewis. What was the use?Through Suzanne, however, Grandmother heard that Ann had been engagedin a long conversation with the lady, and she spoke of it the nextmorning, as she was taking her outing among the flowers. Ann had joinedher and under her direction was picking some of her grandmother’sfavorites.

  “Suzanne tells me that our friend Mrs. Lewis was entertaining you, ordemanding entertainment of you, yesterday.”

  “Yes, Grandmother. Isn’t she an awful woman?”

  “Did you wonder that I quoted what I did in description?”

  “No. Her tongue is poisonous all right. But it was such a surprise. Shewas so pleasant, indeed, all the way through, you would have thoughtthat she was telling pleasant things. Do you suppose that she meant tobe----.” Ann paused for a fitting word.

  “Malicious?” Grandmother supplied.

  “That is the word. Thank you.”

  “I do not suppose so. I scarcely know. But her conversation alwaysconsists in comments upon other people. She has no other subject, andunfortunately she likes best the unhappy phases, something to makepeople exclaim. But do not let anything she may have said trouble you,Ann. Whatever of criticism or innuendo she may have given you,--letit go. She ought to be a warning to us all,--to let the doings of ourneighbors alone.”

  “That is so, Grandmother. We have enough to do, I guess, to look afterourselves.”

  “We surely have. How would you like, Ann, to go to Florida with us?”

  “O Grandmother!” Ann stopped plucking a posy and straightened up tolook at Madam LeRoy with shining eyes. “Could I--without hurtinganything?”

  Madam LeRoy laughed. “You mean school, I presume?”

  “Yes, of course, Grandmother!”

  “I think that it could be managed, not to have you fall behind in yourstudies.”

  “Study a little there, you mean?”

  “Just that. Will you be thinking happy thoughts about it, Ann?”Grandmother was looking at her with eyes that were half sad, halfamused. Such a combination is possible.

  “_Won’t_ I?” asked Ann. “I’ll want to think about it so much that Iwon’t want to study.”

  “I’ll risk you on that,” said Grandmother. “Don’t forget that I havenever had reason to be anything but proud of you. Please keep up therecord, child.”

  “I will try, Grandmother,” said Ann with earnestness. “You are so goodto me!”

  * * * * *

  Ah, it was not the freshman cottage, or hall, any more! When Ann,Suzanne and Madeline, with several more girls whom they had met onthe train, arrived within the Forest Hill grounds, they saw manyimprovements added during the summer. Greetings from youth to youth,taxis full of jolly old girls and subdued new ones, trucks of trunksand bags and boxes,--all the usual sights of a girls’ school inthe throes of opening were to be seen. Busy teachers, a small hostof assistants in different lines, janitors and assistant janitors,truck-men, grocery wagons and express wagons, bringing supplies,contributed to the general air of enterprise.

  There was not a sign of any one among Ann’s particular friends of theJolly Six at the administration building, where Ann’s party went first.The girls had left their names and application for admittance to thenew sophomore cottage, which was to add to the provisions for thesophomore girls. The school was growing and Ann’s class was one of thelargest freshman classes they had had.

  “Wouldn’t it be awful if there is any mistake and we don’t get ourrooms?” asked Madeline, suddenly taking a panic.

  “Don’t worry, Maddy,” said Suzanne. “They won’t turn us out. For somereason or other, I’m not so particular this year, though I would liketo get in the new cottage. The old girls had the first chance if theywanted it; but some of them wanted to go in the old one anyhow, becauseof ‘tradition’ they said.”

  “Tradition doesn’t appeal to me,” Madeline announced, “though thereis something in those high and airy halls, and the rooms with highceilings. But they are hard to heat in the winter, Mother says. Shewants me to be in the new building.”

  “Let me see, young ladies,” said the teacher who was helping assigngirls to their rooms. There was a crowd in the office, girls waitingtheir turn, for different purposes. The list was consulted. “Miss Tysonand Miss Birch go to the new cottage, suite number 29, with Miss Frostand Miss Simpson, I think.” There seemed to be some difficulty inmaking out the names right there. Something had been written in.

  “Miss Sterling goes to the Castle, with Miss Ward, Miss Frost and MissRobson,--some mistake there, Miss Frost’s name in both places. Well,I suppose that it does not matter. She came several days ago and hasdoubtless found her place.”

  “So you won’t even be in the building with us, Ann,” said Suzanne,quite regretful this time. A year ago she would have been relieved anddelighted.

  “I’d just as lief be in the other building but for that, Suzanne,” saidAnn. “But if we go to Florida at Christmas time, it will not make muchdifference.”

  “Oh, are you going to Florida, Suzanne?” cried Madeline. “Why haven’t Iheard a word about it?”

  “I guess I didn’t think of it when I was with you, Maddy. Besidesthey were only talking of it. Ann says that Grandmother spoke to her,though, as if it were all settled.”

  “I must ask Mother if I can’t go, too,” said Madeline, “but I know thatthey have other plans.”

  If Madeline hoped to be invited to go with the LeRoy-Tyson-Sterlingparty, she was disappointed. Neither of the girls felt free to give theinvitation, for one thing, and Suzanne had been thinking for some timethat Madeline was very cool and exacting at times.

  “It will be fine if your people can go,” said kind Ann. “Have you everbeen there?”

  “Oh, yes,” said Madeline, with a toss of her head. “Mother used to goto Palm Beach every winter.”

  * * * * *

  As Ann rapidly rounded the administration building to reach the walkwhich led to the “Castle,” she almost ran into Marta Ward, who greetedher with enthusiasm. “Why it’s Ann!” she exclaimed. “When did you getin?” The girls embraced and Ann explained that she had only justarrived and had been directed to the Castle.

  “Yes,” cried Marta, “are you disappointed that you did not get into thenew cottage? We were next on the list, I think, but the girls who havebeen here longer got the first chance and then Madeline and Suzannewere to be with Genevieve, and--say, Ann, whom do you think we have inour suite, for they have put four of us together?”

  “I could make a good guess, I think, Marta, from somebody’s name thatwas down in two places. But I am astonished, just the same.”

  “Yes, it’s Frostie herself,” laughed Marta. “Will wonders never cease!”

  “Honestly? How did it happen?”

  “I don’t know exactly, but Aline says that Eleanor and Genevieve had aserious quarrel or misunderstanding or something, and besides, Eleanorcan’t endure Madeline. So it seems that when she found out how thingshad been arranged, without consulting her, she claims, she went up inthe air and went to Miss Tudor; and finally, Miss Tudor arranged for usto be together. She thinks a great deal of you and Aline, and I am anecessary evil, I guess.”

  “Not much. Eleanor need not get snippy, or I’ll do some going up in theair,” Ann laughed.

  “Really, Ann, Eleanor is just as nice as she can be about things. If Ihad not known that bunch of girls last year, I would not suppose thatEleanor belonged.”

  “What in the world will Suzanne and Madeline think about it?” queriedAnn, a little worried. “They just went over there. I wonder who is inEleanor’s place.”

  “I haven’t the least idea. You know that the Sig-Eps wanted to have acottage of their own and took steps about it, didn’t you?”

  “No.”

  “Wel
l, they did; and they wanted this new cottage. But Miss Tudortold them that if they wanted a cottage, perhaps they could get someof their alumnae to help them build one. Otherwise, the school wouldcontinue to be divided according to ‘age and status of scholarship orrank!’ This new hall is too large for a sorority hall any way. Thegirls said that afterwards, and also said that they would want a chapelor small auditorium for their meetings and entertainments.”

  “That wouldn’t be a bad idea for the ‘Bats,’ would it?”

  “No; let’s start working for it. It would be a good way for the schoolto get new dorms, and the girls would love their houses.”

  “The only objection I can see is that it makes things still moreclannish, and they are too much so already. We’d better talk it overwith Miss Tudor before we do anything.”

  “But she really suggested it.”

  “That is so; but perhaps it was on an impulse. Even teachers are knownto do that occasionally, and change their minds afterwards.”

  “I will go back with you,” said Marta, laughing over Ann’s last remark.“Both the other girls are there, and the rest of the Jolly Six havetheir suite there, too, a few doors away. We’ll have to take in Eleanorand Aline and make it the Jolly Eight.”

  “You don’t imagine that Eleanor would ever be intimate with our crowd,do you?”

  “Stranger things have happened. How can she resist us, tell me that?”

  “Of course, I had not thought of how irresistible we are! Have achocolate, Marta. Maurice gave Suzanne and me each a box when westarted. Madeline was disappointed that she was not remembered, too,but Maury did not come to the station. His train, in fact, left beforeours. How did you like Maurice, Marta?”

  “He has the making of a fine man,--if he is not spoiled. His gaytemperament is very taking, but I imagine that it is a source ofdanger, too.”

  “You talk like an old lady, Marta,” laughed Ann, who had been guilty ofsimilar thoughts, however, in regard to her cousin.

  “I thought about him,” said Marta simply. “He watched you so much and Igot to thinking.”

  “It is not wise to think too much, fair room-mate; and by the way, Imay run off at Christmas time for quite a stay.”

  “How is that?”

  “Grandmother plans to have me and Suzanne--Suzanne and me, I mean,--goto Florida with them. I don’t know how long I shall be gone, but I’lldo some studying there, Mother thinks.”

  “It will be fine for you, though I shall certainly miss you.”

  “I hate to go, with you not along, but I couldn’t miss it.”

  “I should think not!”

  “When did you get in, Marta?”

  “Only yesterday evening. I have been unpacking. I gave Aline andEleanor the choice of rooms; was that all right?”

  “Certainly it was. You mean of the bedrooms, I suppose.”

  “Yes. There wasn’t much choice, but I suggested that since both werethere, they select the one they preferred. Both the girls were verypleasant about it and demurred a little, but selected their room andwent ahead. You will find us pretty well fixed up, Miss Sterling!”

  “Good. Let’s stop first and see Katherine and Dots and the others. Myluggage hasn’t been sent up yet, has it?”

  “No.”

  Warm welcome waited at the Katherine-Dots-Ethel-Lucile headquarters.“Oh, is it _Ann_!” exclaimed Dorothy. “Come right in and see ourstudio,--latest effects in tapestry, water colors and oils.”

  Ann saw nothing but new curtains and Lucile’s paints, but expressed heradmiration and returned the embraces of her chums. “Last time I saw yougirls we were in the ‘Western Wilds,’” she said.

  “Yes, and what a grand time we had!” Katherine exclaimed. “Say, Ann, Iheard from Beano Bates,--what do you think of that!”

  “And I have had a letter from your faithful Edgar. Quick, girls, get mea fan,” Lucile added, as Ann pretended to be overcome.

  “Little did I think,” said Ann, “when I urged you girls to come out toMontana, what an effect you would have upon our men!”

  “Seriously, Ann, Edgar wrote a bright, interesting letter. I’ll letyou read it.” Lucile laughed again at Ann’s lugubrious aspect, whichshe threw off at once, however, forgetting the pose in the things thatthe rest had to relate. Lucile Early and Ethel Johns had been at theirhomes in New York, enjoying their native city and incidentally shoppingfor school. Dorothy Horton, in Maine, had visited a girls’ camp for aweek, before her mother returned from her trip. Katherine Neville, inOhio, had spent the time, she said, in “domestic pursuits,” cooking forthe family and trying to reproduce some of Rita’s fine concoctions.“Mother ran off for a little rest,” she said.

  “You have a new family, or, rather are a new family in your suite, Ihear,” said Dots. “Are you surprised, Ann?”

  “Very much so, but it is all right. Marta and I are used to being byourselves, but we can get along and it will be fun to have more in thefamily. We used to envy you girls last year, didn’t we, Marta?”

  “We can call our suite a studio, too,” Marta added, “a musical one, forEleanor sings, Aline plays the violin, and our accomplishments you wellknow!”

  “Sure enough,” laughed Katherine. “Well, let the musical studio joinours tonight and have a good old fudge or something reunion. AskEleanor and Aline, won’t you, for us? If they have any doings plannedwith the Sig-Eps, all right.”

  “Thanks,--we’ll come. You won’t have to make fudge. I’ll bring mychocolates.” But at this the girls laughed, for the box, passed aroundseveral times, was much depleted, and Ann waved it away, when Katherineheld it out to her. “Put it somewhere till the appointed hour, then.I’ll not want it. Now to join the family.”

  Ann gathered up her wraps and umbrella and took her departure, Martaleading the way. Before opening the door, however, Marta turned andgave Ann a whimsical look, as if to say,--“it’s a risk, but here weare.”

  No one was in the little sitting room, which looked cosy with brightcushions, pennants and pictures already in place; but Eleanor lookedout from the other bedroom, as Ann went into hers. “Is that Ann?” sheasked. Ann placed her things in the inner room and went out to meetEleanor, and in a moment, Aline. “Glad to see you,” said Eleanor. “Iimagine that you are surprised to see us in your family. But it is afine old suite and I think it lucky for us to get it. It is larger thanmost of them, and I like being on the second floor.”

  Ann, still holding Eleanor’s hand, for Eleanor had taken hold of herarm, looked around at the large windows, the comfortable couch, thewindow seat with drawers below, to which Eleanor pointed, and expressedher enthusiasm. “Sit down,” said Eleanor, still the hostess. “I supposeMarta told you how this happened?”

  “As much as I knew about it,” said Marta, stretching out on the couch.

  “Yes. I couldn’t say much, could I?”

  “Not if you were wise,” laughed Marta.

  “Well, I had a good reason for not rooming with Genevieve anyhow, andthe whole arrangement was made before I knew much about it. I was toblame a little; for it was suggested to me last spring and I didn’t saynay exactly, too lazy to have the trouble of refusing. Then with myaccustomed habit of putting everything off, I did not even write aboutit this summer; only Mother wrote, asking Miss Tudor to do as wellby me as she could, it seems, and did not ask for a new room-mate,as I wanted her to. _She_ didn’t want to get into trouble either.Then we both forgot about it. We had a lovely trip to Alaska thissummer,--neither of us had ever been there. So it went. My real troublewith Genevieve was about another matter, and of course I’d rather notspeak of that.”

  “Of course not,” said Ann, “and I’m sure you need not have explainedanyway. As you say, we are lucky to have this suite, and if we can getthrough the rushing season without coming to blows over the Sig-Epsand the Bats, I have no doubt but we can be the best of friends.” So,laughingly said Ann; and Marta cried, “Hear, hear!”

  “One thing that will be of great advantage to
me,” smiled Eleanor,“is having all my accompanists in the suite. You can’t get away fromme, girls. Promise me, both of you, that if one is sick the otherwill play,--and poor Aline will have to do it all the time. I adoreviolin accompaniments, and it will be good practice for her in publicappearances!”

  “If I were only a contralto singer,” said Marta, “you would have aworld-renowned quartet. Too bad that you have two pianists!”

  “Suits me,” laughed Eleanor. “I’ll never have to worry.”

  “It will be easy to arrange practice hours, too,” said Ann. “Dear me,no practice to speak of all summer, but oh, such a glorious time!”