“If retribution does not overtake you before that time,” prophesied Tavia.
“Or Bylow,” reminded Cologne. “I rather have a premonition concerning the new teacher.”
“Mine’s worse than that,” declared Tavia. “It’s like a Banshee’s howl.”
“Well, we’ll have our ‘jinks,’ anyhow,” promised Edna, “and if she--”
“Butts in--pardon me, ladies,” and Tavia bowed profusely, “but when I say ‘butts in’ I mean, of course, any other word in the English language that may suit the case. Help yourselves.”
So the first afternoon at Glenwood had slipped by, and now the new girls, as well as the old, realized they were away from home, and must miss all the little fireside loves as well as the after-dinner nonsense that youth is accustomed to indulge in among the dear ones at home. At school it was very different. And the heroic efforts that so often resulted in surprising ventures were really nothing more than brave attempts to cover up these losses.
But would the new teacher regard the girls’ tricks from this viewpoint?
“Now, I must tell you girls,” began Dorothy, an afternoon later, when the “committee” on initiation was in session, “you will have to be gentle with Miette. She has only lately lost her mother, and she is really in deep grief. Mrs. Pangborn asked me to tell you all this, so when it comes Miette’s turn we will just ask her to do a few simple things, and then let her enjoy watching the others.”
“Hum!” sniffed Nita, “I suppose she’s going to be the pet now.”
“No danger of her cutting you out any--with a few, at least,” retorted Edna, who never had patience with Nita Brandt.
“It’s a great thing to be pretty,” fired back Nita.
“But very small to be jealous,” flung in Rose-Mary.
“Girls!” exclaimed Dorothy, “I am quite sure I never intended to make this row. There is no need to quarrel. Mrs. Pangborn just asked me to--”
“Snoop,” growled Nita, who was plainly looking for trouble.
“Not exactly,” replied Dorothy, the color mounting to her cheeks.
“Now, see here, Nita Brandt,” said Tavia sharply, “I won’t stand for another word along that line. We all know perfectly well that Dorothy Dale is no ‘snoop.’ She’s been here long enough to have her reputation for squareness firmly established.”
“Three cheers for Dorothy!” called Cologne, and this was taken up by most of the other girls.