human
Do you remember how homesick I was in September, Beth, and how you came to the rescue like a good angel? What should I have done without you? It will be only a month now until the Christmas holidays, and I certainly ought to be able to stand it four weeks without getting lonesome.
gpt
You should have seen what a forlorn object she was, Mary, interrupted Beth.
human
She sat on the edge of her bed looking as if she had not a friend in all the world.
gpt
In all the college, you mean, and I had not, either, until you walked in. I shall bless you forever for that deed of humanity. Even my room-mate was missing then; you stayed for the marriage of a sister, did you not, Mary?
human
Yes, and I am afraid that I was not much comfort to you after I _did_ appear. I didn't mean to be dictatorial and horrid, but I am afraid that--
gpt
You were nothing but what was all right, Mary, Dolly interrupted.
human
We were not acquainted at first, that was all.
gpt
I was not nice, but I meant to be, and I'll try to fit in better hereafter. You should have had Beth for a room-mate, though I'm too selfish to propose any change this year.
human
We can all three be good friends, Mary, so far as that goes, but I certainly wish that some other room-mate had been allotted to me than Margery Ainsworth.
gpt
You were going to tell us something about her, Beth; now is a good opportunity.
human
Very well, only you girls must understand that I am telling this in confidence, because I want your advice. I don't know whether it is my duty to say anything or not. Of course, girls don't like to be tell-tales any more than boys do, but it seems to me that the good name of the college is more or less concerned in this, and we cannot afford to have any girl do things which would bring us into disrepute.
gpt
Of course not, Dolly said energetically.
human
Well, what is it?
gpt
In the first place, she systematically breaks all of the rules. I cannot room with her, of course, and not know that. She probably depends upon my good nature or sense of honor not to give her away. She never reports any broken rule, and she goes downtown whenever she feels inclined, and only once a month or so gets permission. I imagine that she goes for some reason instead of shopping, for she never has any bundles sent home. The worst thing, in my mind, was a couple of Sundays ago. She pretended to go to church with the rest of us, but she did not; she went off some place else and appeared again just as church was over. She went back to the college with the rest of us. I did ask her what she had been doing that time.
human
What did she say?
gpt
Nothing very satisfactory. She wanted to know if I would like an outline of the sermon, and she proceeded to give me the text and some of the leading points. Of course, she heard all of the girls discussing it at the table, for it was the day that Dr. Hyde preached, and we were all intensely interested.
human
Where do you suppose she was?
gpt
I really have not the faintest idea. I know, though, that she was some place where, of course, she could not have gotten permission to go, had she asked, for otherwise she would never have run the risk she ran. The faculty do not overlook that sort of thing readily.
human
She would certainly be suspended at the least.
gpt
Well, I cannot go and tell any one of the professors what she does, but I wish something would happen to make her more careful. I don't like to have the college girls talked about. I feel jealous of our good name.