Brenda's Ward Read online

  CHAPTER II

  A STRANGE MEETING

  One Saturday morning after a rainy Friday, Martine looked out thewindow.

  "How refreshing to have a fine day again. Really, when it pouredyesterday I thought it would rain forever, and I had such a funnyadventure, Brenda Weston, that if you hadn't been out when I came home Ishould have told you on the spot. Adventures are like buckwheat cakes,so much better when they are fresh from the griddle, and this was a kindof frying-pan affair."

  "I am afraid I don't understand. What was it?"

  "Something that happened after the Rehearsal. I slipped away fromPriscilla and her aunt and there was a great crowd going down the stepsyesterday, so that of course I got separated from Priscilla and heraunt."

  "It seems to me that's a way you have," Brenda tried to speak severely.

  "Oh, yes," sighed Martine, "Mrs. Tilworth is quite resigned now.Generally I separate myself from her only about every other week, butyesterday I wanted some soda water, and I knew she would nevercondescend to go into a drug shop or let Priscilla go with me. However,when I was once in the street the rain was falling in such torrents thatI made a beeline for a Crosstown car that I saw coming. I had had sometrouble in getting away from Mrs. Tilworth, for she kept not only hereagle eye, but her arm on me as long as she could; she meant to bring mehome in a cab, but after all I managed to wriggle away. I don't know whyI thought I ought to run for my car, but I did, and so did another girl,only the trouble was, that she was coming from the opposite direction.Of course you can see what happened. I didn't mean to knock her down,for she was shorter than I and we were both furious."

  "Because she was shorter than you?"

  "Oh, I don't see now why we were both so mad, only she knocked my hatoff, that one with the light blue feathers, and it went sailing down theasphalt, and my umbrella jabbed into her face. 'You're terribly clumsy;I should think you might see what you're doing. You might have put myeye out,' I heard her say in the savagest kind of a tone. Just then Icaught sight of my hat, and all I could do was to laugh and laugh, andshe thought I was laughing at her, and turned her back on me in aregular frigid Boston way, holding her handkerchief to her eye."

  "How could so much happen while two people were getting on a car?"

  "Getting on a car! Naturally we missed the car. It didn't wait for us tosettle matters. I suppose that was partly what made her so cross. But Iwish you could have seen my hat when finally I picked it up."

  "I'm glad I didn't, if it was ruined. I have some responsibility foryour clothes. No wonder Mrs. Tilworth tries to keep her eye on you!"

  "She has to try pretty hard, I can assure you," retorted Martine.

  "You should take things more seriously," rejoined Brenda. "In futureplease come home at least as far as Copley Square with her andPriscilla, but now--yes, now let us go in and look at the table." Andwith her hand in Brenda's arm, Martine led the way to the dining-room.The sight that met her eye there was indeed well worth seeing. Thepolished surface of the round mahogany table shone like a mirror. Coverswere laid for nine and the centrepiece and doilies were embroidered inyellow. In a tall green glass in the middle were some large yellowchrysanthemums. The bonbons were in little gilded baskets and the chinahad yellow blossoms on a white ground.

  With housewifely pride Brenda adjusted the blinds. "Yes," she said, "Ithink that everything will go just as it should. Elinor Naylor, you see,is a sister of one of Arthur's best college friends. I should like tohave asked her to dine, but the cousin she is staying with has anengagement for her this evening, and as Arthur will be away next week, aluncheon was the best thing I could manage."

  "Oh, it's just the thing," cried Martine; "dinners are so stiff. Withthe boys coming in to take us out to Cambridge, a luncheon will be farjollier than any dinner."

  "I hope so," replied Brenda, "and I wonder what this Elinor Naylor islike. She was out when I called, but she writes a beautiful note, andfrom what I have heard, I imagine that she is rather stately andelegant. But dear me, it's nearly twelve, and with luncheon at one weshall really have to hurry." So with a few last touches to the tableBrenda and Martine went to their rooms, and long before one, Brenda,with some trepidation, was waiting in the library for the arrival of herspecial guest. The Harvard boys, however, were the first toarrive--Fritz Tomkins, and Martine's brother Lucian, and Robert Pringle,Lucian's classmate. Next came Priscilla and Amy, the former somewhatabashed at hearing the laughter from the little library, and wonderingif she could be late, until Amy reassured her. Priscilla bore somegood-natured chaffing from her host, who seeing her glance at her watch,could not forbear teasing her.

  "Yes," he said, "I can read the workings of a guilty conscience. Herewe've been waiting for you this long time. The goose is burning up inthe oven--"

  "There isn't any goose in the house, Arthur, except you," protestedBrenda.

  "I am so sorry," began Priscilla, apologetically. "It was because Amy--"

  "Don't throw the blame on another," protested Mr. Weston, solemnly.

  "I don't mean to blame her. We both thought it was earlier, andbesides," fortified by a glance at her watch, Priscilla spoke with moredecision, "my watch says 'a quarter before one.'"

  "That's what our clock says too," interposed Brenda, kindly. "Arthur wasonly teasing. Our guest, evidently, does not mean to be too early."

  "If she's like her brother, she's a punctilious person and will arrivepromptly at five minutes before one."

  Strange to say, the longer hand had just marked five minutes of one whenAngelina announced "Miss Elinor Naylor." A minute or two later the younglady entered the room, and after the other introductions had been made,Martine's turn came last.

  As she greeted all the others, Miss Elinor Naylor had extended her handvery cordially, but when Brenda led Martine to her, her arm fellautomatically to her side. Martine at the same time reddened deeply, andit was not often that Martine was so perceptibly embarrassed. Each girl,however, said a polite word or two, and in a few moments all went out tothe little dining-room.

  After they were seated, the conversation at first was not general, and Iam afraid that anyone who had overheard the words exchanged between anytwo speakers might have called what was said rather commonplace. In ashort time, however, some question arose regarding a recent Yalevictory, and at once Arthur and Fritz plunged into an ardent discussionin which, soon, all took part.

  "Oh, of course," said Arthur; "it's more than six to one. I know you areall against me. I can't even depend on Brenda, and so, Miss Naylor, Imust turn to you as my one supporter in this controversy."

  "You can depend on me," replied the guest; "whatever a Yale man says isbound to be true."

  "The real Yale spirit," commented Martine. "I didn't know that girls hadit as well as their brothers."

  There was an unamiable tinge in Martine's tone that Brenda, too muchoccupied with things more important, did not notice. The more observantArthur, however, had seen that Martine and Elinor had had little to sayto each other, although they had been placed at table where they couldeasily have said more.

  "You two young things," he said at last, "by which I mean our visitorsfrom Chicago and Philadelphia, look at each other as if you had metbefore and were afraid to speak until you had found the clew to theprevious meeting. Is that the case?"

  Elinor was silent, but after a second Martine replied,

  "No, not exactly; that is--" Then Martine came to a pause suddenly andanswered some question that Robert Pringle, on her right hand, had askedher. Any embarrassment that she or Elinor might have felt was speedilyended by something with which they personally had nothing to do.

  Now it happened that although Maggie had returned to her post of duty inBrenda's household, the latter had decided that things would move moresmoothly with two waitresses, and so Angelina had been called in toassist at the little luncheon. All would have gone on well had not aspirit of emulation taken possession of the two helpers, so that eachseemed anxious to reach Elinor first
. Twice, as they entered through theswing door, one almost abreast of the other, although Brenda hadpreviously given them their directions, they both started to serve thespecial guest with her oysters, and only Brenda's warning glanceprevented Maggie's plate from being placed on top of the one thatAngelina had already set before Elinor. This incident ruffled thespirits of the two waitresses, and when they entered with their cups ofbouillon, each was determined to reach Elinor before the other. Theresult of their exertions might have been more disastrous. As it was,Elinor did not suffer, though Martine, looking up suddenly, expected tosee Maggie's cup splash over Elinor's light gown. Luckily--forElinor--Maggie lost her nerve soon enough to drop her bouillon cup tothe floor, and though the crash of china and the splash of liquid on thepolished floor startled all at the table, Elinor escaped a drenching.

  Although everyone knew that there had been an accident, everyone triedto look unconcerned. Maggie, crestfallen, gathered up the pieces;Angelina, with her head high, as if such a catastrophe could never occurto her, went back to the kitchen for other cups--and only Martinegiggled.

  "Your best Dresden," murmured Amy to Brenda. The latter shook her head.Arthur glanced at her approvingly.

  "And mistress of herself, though china fall," and at the hackneyedquotation, all smiled. Then the luncheon went on for two courses withonly one waitress, for Maggie had betaken herself to her sure refuge, aflood of tears, and she returned only with the salad.

  "Now," said Mr. Weston, "since the ice is broken--I mean, the china--youcan see how much livelier we are. During the oysters you were altogethertoo quiet for young people, and I wondered if this was wholly becauseyour host is a Yale man. It's painful to me sometimes to find myself inthe midst of a Harvard crowd."

  "Oh, we are magnanimous, and since you've become a Bostonian, we canforgive you Yale's recent football victory," replied Fritz.

  "Then I can confess that my cheering played a large part in gaining thevictory. I try to be as modest as I can about it," responded ArthurWeston.

  "Wait till the baseball season comes," interposed Robert Pringle, "andthen you'll see another side of Yale."

  "I wish we girls could have seen the game," cried Martine. "I can't seewhy they played it at New Haven; it was the one Saturday of the wholeautumn when I had to stay in Boston."

  "Why, it was New Haven's turn to have the game; you know Harvard andYale have them on their own fields every other year," said Elinor, as ifexplaining something that Martine did not understand.

  "Oh, indeed," began Martine, sarcastically; then, remembering that shewas to a degree Elinor's hostess, she murmured in an aside to Robert,"As if I did not know that better than she."

  "It's strange," continued Elinor, in a placid tone, "that I know solittle of Harvard; we generally rush through Boston on our way to BarHarbor. Once we drove round, one hot summer day in vacation, but I canonly remember a Memorial Hall and some queer old brick buildings."Possibly Elinor's adjectives did not please Martine, for the latterspoke up quickly.

  "They're not queer, but historic; we think everything of Harvard here inBoston."

  "Oh, naturally," replied Elinor, in her most languid tone.

  "So say we all of us," cried Robert Pringle, while Amy and Fritz, whohad been carrying on an animated discussion, looked up quickly. "What'swrong?" asked Fritz, innocently.

  "Nothing, nothing," and Brenda, hastening to change the subject, askedsuddenly, "Did you bring your automobile, Lucian?"

  "Of course. I only wish I could take you all to Cambridge in it."

  "Who's going in which?" asked Amy a little later, as they stood at thedoor, before which were Lucian's automobile and Robert Pringle'sdogcart.

  "Oh, the automobile for me!" cried Martine, impulsively.

  "Will you go in the automobile?" asked Lucian politely, turning towardElinor.

  "Yes, indeed, I should like to, thank you," replied the guest.

  "Priscilla is coming in the dogcart with me," said Mr. Weston.

  "Then I think I'll drive with Priscilla," added Martine.

  "Such affection!" exclaimed Amy. "To give up the automobile because youprefer Priscilla's company!"

  "It isn't that I like Rome more, but Caesar less," rejoined Martine,garbling her quotation and looking toward the automobile, where Elinorhad already taken her seat.

  Amy understood, and decided to give Martine a bit of advice at the firstopportunity; for the present she and Brenda, with Fritz and Lucian, wentin the automobile with Elinor, while Arthur and Robert Pringleaccompanied Martine and Priscilla. The automobile speeded out throughthe Avenue across a corner of Brighton, that Elinor might have a goodview of Soldiers Field. The dogcart proceeded over Harvard Bridge, andMartine tried to make Priscilla take a wager as to which vehicle wouldfirst reach the College Yard.

  When at last, however, they drew up before the Johnston Gate, Lucian andhis party were waiting there, having left the automobile at the garage.

  "As we're going to explore these unknown regions on foot," said Lucian,"we can't allow you to drive haughtily around. There's a boy, Robert, totake your trap over to the stable. And so," he added, after Martine andPriscilla had alighted, "the elephant now goes round, the band begins toplay; in other words, let the procession move in through the great gate.It was given by a Chicago man," he concluded. "That's why I'm proud tohave you see it."

  After the gate had received its share of admiration, "Here are your'queer old brick buildings,' Miss Naylor," cried Fritz. "Every brick hasa history, but I can't show you the college pump. It was blown up byanarchists, who probably meant to blow up one of the buildings."

  "How shocking!" said the sympathetic Elinor.

  "That they did not blow up the buildings?"

  "Oh, no, but that they should behave so badly. I trust they werepunished."

  "Oh, they were blown up too."

  "Really?"

  Although Elinor gazed directly at Fritz, there was no suspicion in hercalm blue eye.

  "Doesn't she remind you of my cousin, Edith Blair?" whispered Martine toAmy.

  "I can't say that they look much alike."

  "Oh, Amy, please don't be literal, too. I mean she believes everythingFritz says, and between him and Mr. Weston she'll have a hard time."

  "And a strange opinion of Harvard," added Brenda, who had joined the twospeakers.

  As the majority of the party, including Elinor, were now out of hearing,Brenda thought this a good time to ask Martine to explain her prejudiceagainst Elinor, "who seems a pleasant and dignified girl," sheconcluded.

  "Yes, that's it; she's too dignified for her size, she ought to bebright and jolly and--"

  "But remember, please, that she's among strangers. You can't dislike hersimply because she's quiet and dignified, so you might as well confess."

  "Well, then," replied Martine, "if I must, I must; but you'llunderstand, when I tell you that she's the girl who knocked my hat off."

  Amy looked puzzled and Brenda smiled as she responded, "Oh, the girlwhom you tried to knock down with your umbrella. I suppose that is whathas made that scratch on her face. No wonder she is on her dignity withyou."

  "I shouldn't have cared," retorted Martine, "if she hadn't refused toshake hands with me to-day. Surely everyone must have noticed that, andit's she who ought to apologize for destroying my third best hat."

  Then, as she recalled the sight of the hat with the pale blue featherssliding along on the asphalt, Martine laughed heartily, and from thatmoment, in her mind, all was peace between her and Elinor.

  "I didn't mean to get so far ahead," explained Lucian, as the otherscame up to the spot where he and Fritz were standing with Elinor. "ButMiss Naylor is delighted with Holden."

  "Yes," murmured Elinor, "it is the cunningest little building! I shouldlike to pick it up and carry it off as a souvenir. It's too bad that itisn't the very oldest of all the buildings now standing."

  "No, Massachusetts has that honor, but Holden is the first to take itsname from an English benefactor,
" said Fritz.

  "It seems too bad that nothing remains of the original Harvard, but thefire of 1764 swept them all away. Massachusetts is older than that, andso are one or two others now standing. The old buildings are notparticularly beautiful," Robert Pringle apologized.

  "But they look like New England," interrupted Martine, "so practical andbusiness-like and angular; that's why I like them."

  "There must be some interesting stories connected with them," saidElinor, sentimentally.

  "Oh, yes, stories, quantities of them. What would you like to hear?"asked Fritz, with an eagerness that showed he was ready to manufactureany tale or legend that Elinor might desire.

  "Did the college go on during the Revolution?" asked Elinor. "I knowWashington had his headquarters in Cambridge."

  "The library was sent up to Andover for safety, and the students to theConcord Reformatory."

  "Oh, Fritz," protested Amy, "if you are not careful, Miss Naylor willbelieve you."

  "Why not?" asked Fritz, innocently. "It's history that they were sent toConcord, and why not to the Reformatory? They must have needed it, ifthey were like some of the present students, and they would have beensent there surely had Concord possessed a reformatory in those benightedyears."

  Upon this Lucian insisted that Miss Naylor must accept him only as herHarvard guide; otherwise she would get an utterly wrong impression.

  "Let me tell you," he began, "about the squirrels. Really, they are ofmore consequence than most other dwellers in the Yard. They will eatanything, from mushrooms to pate de foie gras, and although it's ratherexpensive, we try to give them whatever they demand. The tree trunkshere are probably filled with treasures that they have hidden away; someof them even are fond of books, and I heard of one who had an intimateacquaintance with Greek roots. No nuts are too hard for them to crack;they are real philosophers, and here," he cried as he threw some acornson the grass, "they are so tame one doesn't have even to throw salt ontheir tails to catch them."

  Upon this, with a deft movement, he picked up a bushy-tailed graysquirrel that had been attracted by the bait he had thrown down, and ashe held it toward Elinor, "Here," he exclaimed, "if you wish a souvenirof Harvard, is the real thing," and extending his arm, he pressed thelittle creature's head against Elinor's cheek. Then, to everyone'ssurprise, Elinor Naylor, the dignified Miss Elinor Naylor ofPhiladelphia, screamed loudly, and turning her back on Lucian, ran up toMartine, who happened to be nearest her, and laid her head on Martine'sarm, crying loudly, "Take it away, take it away, it's just like a bigrat."

  Lucian, decidedly crestfallen at this little episode, let the squirrelwhisk itself away, while he walked up to Elinor to offer his apologies.In his heart he was saying, "Thank heaven that Martine has some nerve,"and Martine herself, by a sudden revulsion of feeling, at once becamethe champion of the girl she had recently been criticising.

  Elinor accepted Lucian's apologies very graciously. "I know that I amfoolish," she said, "but I never have liked those little creepy animals;they all seem to be like rats and mice, except at a distance."

  "You were certainly very thoughtless, Lucian." Martine spoke in a toneof deep reproof, and during the remainder of their walk she had Elinorhanging on her arm.

  The suite of rooms occupied by Lucian and Robert Pringle was in adormitory outside the Yard, in the neighborhood of the old ballground,Jarvis Field. To reach it the party went across the Memorial Delta, pastthe statue of John Harvard--concerning which the boys had variousstrange tales to tell--and along a quiet street on which were severalother dormitories.

  "How delightful! This suite is much more attractive than Joe's rooms atYale, as I remember them," cried Elinor.

  "Yes," sighed Arthur Weston, "Joe and I were not sybarites. We went infor hard work, plain living, and high thinking," and he lookedreproachfully toward Lucian and Robert.

  "We work too, I can assure you," insisted Robert. "Of course we had tofurnish up a little."

  "Work! I should say so," added Lucian. "Don't judge us by oursurroundings."

  "We'll try not to," retorted Martine, "for this tea-table is almost tooladylike for two tall boys like you."

  "Oh, when we're alone we never look at the tea-table. We fold it up andkeep it in the closet. To-day we brought it out only for you girls," andLucian bowed profoundly to his guests.

  "I think that your belongings are rather frivolous," and Brenda took thelittle silver tea caddy in her hand.

  "Oh, I picked that up in Holland; it's a mere trifle," cried Robert.

  "These things are wasted on boys," added Martine, examining the littlecoffee spoons that lay on the tray.

  Amy, walking round the room, gazed critically at the two or threewater-color sketches and the fine photographs hanging on the walls, andshe thought that the easy-chairs, the broad divan, and all the otherhandsome belongings were really too elaborate for the rooms of boysunder twenty.

  "But there's one good thing," she said aloud; "you have plenty of books,Lucian, and you have made an excellent choice in many cases."

  "Yes," replied Lucian, "thanks to Fritz, our library has made a goodbeginning; he took it in hand last spring, and what do you think? Fritzsays that if it hadn't been for you, he couldn't have helped us half aswell. So, Miss Amy Redmond, when you praise our library, indirectly youpraise yourself."

  Before their hour in Lucian's room was over, few things in thesitting-room had escaped the scrutiny of the three younger girls. Theyhandled the steins on the mantelpiece, read the certificates ofmembership in various clubs and athletic societies, and admired thephotographs of all, and finally Martine struck up a few chords on thepiano, which Lucian and Robert recognizing, accompanied with a jollycollege song. At Lucian's request Priscilla made tea, and although,while the water was boiling, she wondered whether she would rememberjust what proportion of tea should be used for each cup of water, shepassed through the ordeal successfully and was highly praised for herskill.

  When the boys indiscreetly offered Elinor her choice among the sightsthey might see before their return to the city, Elinor too promptlychose the Botanic Garden. In spite of their sophomorific air of worldlywisdom, Robert and Lucian could not quite conceal their dismay at thissuggestion, especially as she expressed a desire to see the Shakespearegarden, of which they knew nothing.

  "In that case I fear that you will have to lose the glass flowers, asthe garden is in just the opposite direction," said Lucian, politely.

  "The glass flowers!" cried Elinor, perceiving that her former suggestionhad not been received with favor. "Why, of course I would much rathersee the glass flowers." And so the whole party set out toward the greatmuseum.

  "Not to throw cold water on the efforts of Lucian to guide you to thebest that Cambridge offers," said Fritz, "I must tell you that a visitto the glass flowers is almost commonplace. They share with touristsfrom afar the attraction of Bunker Hill; in the minds of many not tohave seen the glass flowers is not to have seen Cambridge. If you wishto be original, pass them by."

  "Thank you," replied Elinor; "but really I never have cared especiallyto be original."

  Later, after Elinor had seen not only the glass flowers but many of theother treasures in the great museum, she admitted that even Yale hadlittle better to offer. From the museum the party went on to MemorialHall.

  "It's a pity that you cannot wait a little longer, it would be such funto see the students at dinner," sighed Martine, for whom human naturealways had more interest than tablets and pictures.

  "I should love to stay, but I promised to be at my cousin's before six.Yet there is so much to see here in Memorial, these windows andportraits are so fascinating, that it's very hard to go away withoutstudying them all more carefully."

  Elinor had barely time for a glance at the portraits and the stainedglass windows in the great hall.

  "It's the finest hall I ever saw," said the girl from Philadelphia; "Ilike everything about it except--"

  "Except what? This is an age of improvements, and
if you'll just mentionwhat you have in mind, so far as Lucian and I can carry out yoursuggestion it shall be accomplished," and Robert Pringle bowed low toElinor. Elinor seemed so embarrassed by this mock courtesy that Martinehastened to her rescue. The older members of the party were out ofhearing.

  "You are as great a tease now as Lucian. I could mention dozens ofthings that could be done to improve Memorial Hall, handsome as it is."Martine cast about in her mind for something to strengthen herassertion. Up to this moment she had never realized any specialimperfection in the great building. But now--

  "For example!" she exclaimed emphatically, "just look at thesedining-tables in a hall like this. It's casting your pearls beforeswine. They ought to be taken away."

  "Well, I'm glad that Robert and I board at a club table. I should hateto be included in your group of swine, whom you wish to have takenaway--"

  "Oh, Lucian!"

  It was now Elinor's turn to come to Martine's rescue.

  "Why, that is just what I meant. I think that the tables ought to betaken away. It seems a pity that Memorial Hall should be a meredining-room. I should like to see it quite clear of them."

  "Then you must come here Class Day. Can't you wait for ours? I'll showyou Memorial Hall as it should be--filled with youth and beauty dancing,and not a tablecloth in sight."

  "Oh, it doesn't seem the place for dancing either," and Elinor gazedsolemnly at one of the class windows, on which were portrayedEpaminondas and Sir Philip Sidney, as examples of valor.

  "You must remember, Miss Naylor, that in the long waits between courses,the undergraduates who board here have a fine chance to study thesewindows, with their lessons of patriotism and valor. This food forreflection goes a long way toward making them forget the real nature ofthe food served here--"

  "Come, come, Robert! Remember you are talking to a Yale girl, and not aningenuous Harvard maiden. We must not have derogatory reports getabroad."

  But Elinor and Martine had no intention of wasting their time listeningto Robert's nonsense, and were now pushing through the doors into thetransept.

  "The real Memorial is here," said Elinor, reverently, passing from onetablet to another, on which were inscribed the names of those Harvardmen who fell in the Civil War.

  "'The real Memorial is here,' said Elinor, reverently,passing from one tablet to another."]

  "A short life hath Nature given to man, but the remembrance of a lifenobly rendered up is eternal!" she murmured, translating one of theinscriptions on the wall.

  "Oh!" sighed Martine. "How wonderful that you can translate Latin atsight! I have taken a tremendous fancy to Latin, but now I'm only in thebeginning of Virgil, and I have to look up every other word, and you arenot much older than I."

  In her admiration for Elinor's ability, she wondered if Elinor hadrealized the prejudice she had felt when they started on their drive.How strange that in a few hours her feeling toward anyone should changeso completely.

  Lucian and Robert, slightly bored by the girls' interest in theinscriptions, walked to the door, where they almost ran into Brenda,Fritz, and the rest of the party, who had been strolling through theYard.

  "Your vehicles are here!" cried Fritz. "They are just around thecorner--"

  "Good enough," responded Lucian. "It's rather boresome taking visitorsaround Memorial--Oh, they won't hear!" he concluded, as Brenda raised awarning finger. "Come, Martine," he cried in a louder voice, "we are allwaiting."

  Reluctantly Elinor and Martine turned toward the others. Each had justmade the discovery that her companion was a very entertaining girl.

  "Who's going in the auto?" asked Lucian.

  "Oh, Elinor and I, certainly."

  Martine was some distance ahead of Elinor.

  "But I thought that was why you scorned the auto coming out toCambridge--because you didn't wish to ride with Elinor."

  "Oh, everything is changed now. She is one of the most charming girls."

  "Then she has forgiven you for knocking her down and hitting her withyour umbrella?"

  "Why, we haven't even spoken of it, though she knows that I know thatshe--"

  "Come, girls, tumble in!" cried Lucian, and Lucian had so manyremarkable Harvard tales to tell as they speeded along that neither hadtime to refer to the rainy-day episode and their first strange meeting.