human
Betty, I laughed and laughed over that letter. It was too clever for words. And the funny things that happened to you! How do people ever keep house and remember all the things that they have to be careful about? I suppose it's nothing unusual to have somebody at the back door, a ring at the front door, the ice man coming and all while a body is talking at the telephone and trying to get an important message, but you certainly made it funny. 'Hello, hello--yes, Father--I don't quite get that--where did you say to meet you?--mercy, there is the ice man and somebody else is knocking, too and the door-bell is ringing--what'll I do?--you can't hold the 'phone?'--something like that, Kathryn. And you _must_ have been scared the time you forgot to keep the screen door fastened and that agent walked right in.
gpt
Yes, laughed Betty.
human
I thought he was taking a gun from his pocket and I backed toward the front room door, ready to run, while he fixed me with his awful eye, and then asked me if I wanted to buy whatever he had. I didn't even look at it. I gasped out, 'No, sir,' and then I heard what I had on the gas stove boiling over and knew it would put out the gas; so I turned and fled, and when I came back the man was gone and nothing was missing!
gpt
How soon can you girls come out? I'll be unpacking tomorrow and the house will be upset while things are getting back into shape again, but the day after that--oh, have you heard about Louise Madison, and Ted Dorrance?
human
What about them? asked Kathryn,
gpt
Not a bit of it. Just the other way. My sister heard all about it. Somebody wrote to her from the same summer resort where the Dorrances and the Madisons _happened_ to be together. Somebody that goes to the University was there, too, and paid a lot of attention to Louise; and she liked it--and him, of course--and you may imagine what Ted thought about it. So all at once Ted left and went somewhere else, with some boys from here, and the girl that wrote to sister claims that Louise is engaged to the other man, though we don't believe it. Louise is only a freshman in college!
human
You never can tell, Carolyn, wisely returned Kathryn.
gpt
Louise is sort of flirty anyhow. And, for that matter, Ted is pretty nice to all the girls, only since he has been taking Louise around there's been nobody else.
human
It seems too bad, remarked Betty, pondering.
gpt
They are both so nice. I thought it so romantic last year.
human
I never thought it could last, said Carolyn,
gpt
But Ted is a very unusual boy,
human
Ted _is_ one of those boys that everybody likes, Carolyn assented.
gpt
Well, we'll let him look after himself. Kathryn, did you hear that Finny is coming back to join her more democratic sisters in the sophomore class?
human
Yes. I was just telling Betty about her. Do you know why she decided to come back to high school?
gpt
I wouldn't say anything about it except to you two and Peggy, because it wouldn't be fair to Mathilde not to let her have a chance to make her own reputation in high school; but I'm pretty sure, from all the really mean things I heard said about her, that even 'discounting' the truth of some of them, as the person that repeated the most said to me, the school where she was didn't exactly appreciate her. Besides, she failed in several branches and had to make up what she could this summer. But she'll be a sophomore all right. Now, please don't tell a word of this. I wouldn't want it to come from me, or be mean to Mathilde, though I'm going _very slowly_ in that direction!
human
We'll say nothing, replied Kathryn.
gpt
At least I can promise for myself, and you know Betty.
human
Oh, how did violin practice go, Betty? You didn't say a word about it in your letter. It didn't 'harmonize,' to be very musical in my speech--with washing dishes and cooking and having company did it?
gpt
Not so very well, Carolyn, but I really did a little bit every day and I played for Father and he liked it. He would, you know, because I was doing it, though I will say that Father couldn't stand a discord or a rasping bow. Jazz makes him nearly crazy when the discord lasts too long, you know. He took Cousin Lil and me to a movie and got up and left, asking me if I'd mind first. I whispered that he could stop his ears while the jazz lasted, but he shook his head; and when we got outside there was Father waiting to take us into where we could get a sundae. He said he had accomplished several errands.
human
Think you will get into the orchestra?
gpt
That is another thing. I did want to, you know. But I found out that I couldn't be a real member until I was a junior, unless I was a genius or something so wonderful that they had to have me. I was told that this summer, so my energy lagged in the hot weather. Father said he was sorry because I 'lacked an incentive,' but I don't know. I like violin anyhow, and maybe it's just as well not to feel hurried and lose all your dreams.
human
Now isn't that like you, Betty! That's one reason I like you, Carolyn declared,
gpt
I'm very practical, though, girls. I'm not sure that having dreams is altogether good, either.
human
First you say one thing and then you say another, Kathryn accused her.
gpt
It's as bad as saying it the way Mr. Simcox answers our questions: 'Well, _yes_; and _no!_'
human
What we should say about Betty is that she is hitching her wagon to a star and it makes everybody else want to hitch up, too.
gpt
said Carolyn.
human
What'll I hitch up with? I couldn't play a violin.
gpt
chuckled Betty.
human
Pick out your brightest dream, 'Caro,' and put on the harness!
gpt
She calls me 'Caro.' What kind of syrup do you like best, Betty?
human
You are excused. Really, we might have made some little names of our own to call each other by. Wouldn't it be fun?
gpt
We were talking of nicknames this afternoon, Kathryn and I.
human
Betty!
gpt
You have some secret. That is mean, to leave out your old and tried friend Carolyn.
human
Oh, it wasn't anything, Carolyn, only I'm joking Kathryn about a nickname she doesn't like.
gpt
I'm not so sure now but I _do_ like it, Kathryn replied, taking up Betty's half explanation.
human
Tell Carolyn if you want to.
gpt
Not all of it?
human
Yes, what Peggy is supposed to have said.
gpt
Do you think that Peggy Pollard would be likely to say anything unkind about Kathryn?
human
I can't imagine it. Kathryn, notice how Peggy acts when you see her and if I were you I'd feel around with some reference to something of the sort. I'll wager you'll find Peggy as ignorant as can be of even what you mean. You'll find out that Peggy Pollard is all right. And by the way, I hear that they are having little sororities in spite of the rules. If it is all right, and the authorities allow it, why not? There's one in our class started! The question is who started it, and why, and how, and if so, can we make it, and do we want to make it----
gpt
Hum, said Kathryn.
human
Yes, I've heard about it, but I didn't tell Betty. I heard Betty's father say that he was glad there weren't any sororities in high school!
gpt
Poor Mr. Lee! exclaimed Carolyn.
human
Betty, do you know what you're going in for this year--swimming, I suppose?
gpt
Oh, yes. But no, I haven't thought about it. I took everything with such seriousness last year; but if I want to, I'll sign up for a number of things this year. They don't meet often, and you can always stop if you can't keep on, and I'd love to be on some team, if there'd be no trouble about it.
human
There's always trouble about making a team. There are too many that want to be on it.
gpt
But you can try out, and if you stand better than somebody else, you get it and she doesn't. That _oughtn't_ to make trouble.
human
Why don't you try out for the hockey team in the fall and the basketball in the winter?
gpt
Perhaps I will. Wait till the time comes. Oh, there's your car, Carolyn. What a shame!
human
Yes, and I haven't made a date with you at all.
gpt
There's always the telephone, Betty reminded her.
human
It was lovely of you to stop, Carolyn. See you soon. Come back as soon as you can. 'Bye!