human
All the other girls have settled their plans, and I have been hoping that Mary would say something to me. She must know that we want to room together. Of course, I like her, but not as much as I like you. I am going to speak to her today, Beth.
gpt
I really think that that is the only thing left to be done; but we don't want to hurt her feelings, Dolly.
human
I'll try not to do that, Beth, but we must settle affairs.
gpt
Of course, I know that you two girls want to room together next year, but I hope that you have not spoken for a room yet.
human
We would not be very apt to make any arrangements without telling you, Mary. You ought to know that we don't do underhanded things.
gpt
Why, Dolly, I didn't mean to hurt your feelings at all, but I supposed you would room together. That was settled long ago, wasn't it? But I have a little scheme, too, that I trust you will like.
human
Tell us about it,
gpt
Aunt Mary has her bedroom and sitting-room, of course, to herself, but opening onto her sitting-room from the other side is a small storeroom. The president says that I may have that as a bedroom if I wish, and I can use Aunt Mary's sitting-room. They will fit it up this summer. The college needs more rooms, anyway. Now beyond my room are some lovely rooms for you girls, if you want them. What do you say? I don't want to be selfish, but it did seem to me that it might be a lovely plan.
human
Lovely? It is grand! Superb! You are a duck and a darling, Mary, to have thought of it.
gpt
Dolly thinks that she will be near Professor Newton now, and she would be willing to room on the roof to effect that,
human
We'll make all sorts of pretty things this summer. By the way, Beth, where do you intend to spend the summer, anyway?
gpt
Father says that Mother and I may decide that weighty matter. We have been in the habit of going to the seashore, but he fancies that some other place would be better for Roy, although the child is very much stronger since Mother has had him at home under her eye.
human
Then, Elizabeth Newby, I will tell you what to do. Mother writes that Father has taken the same cottage at the Thousand Isles that we had last year. You must come there, too. We can have an ideal time. Fred likes fishing and yachting. He will be away part of the summer, but will be with us at first, and a crowd of his friends, too. We can have glorious times! Hurrah!
gpt
Hurrah! echoed Beth, for the idea caught her fancy.
human
We shall certainly do it! Mother will agree to whatever I propose. I wish you were to be there, too, Mary.
gpt
I know it is much more beautiful than our farm, but I don't believe that even a sight of the Alps would induce me to miss my visit home.
human
Of course not. But you see, fortunately, Dolly and I mean to take our families along. What a good time we shall have! I wonder if Professor Newton wouldn't like to make us a little visit? It is beautiful there, and the ride on the steamers, out and in among the islands on a moonlight night, is as lovely as anything in fairyland.
gpt
Go and ask her, Dolly, run right off! Someone else may get her promise first!
human
Be still, Beth! Do you think that she would like to go, Mary?
gpt
I should certainly suppose that she would be delighted. By the way, as we are only insignificant freshies still, and have no receptions or other grand functions on hand like the other classes, she wanted to know if we would spend Tuesday evening with her.
human
Will we? Of course we will! When did she ask us? Why didn't you tell us before?
gpt
She gave me the message this afternoon, and you have really not given me a chance to tell it before.
human
What a libel. Say to her that we will go; no doubt of that, is there, Dolly? Let us put on our best gowns and do justice to the occasion. Is anyone else invited, Mary?
gpt
We are to go immediately after dinner, and a couple of hours later, Miss Hamilton and some fifteen others will arrive. We must help entertain them. You know there is nothing special on hand for Tuesday evening.
human
We should go, anyway, no matter where else we were invited, declared Dolly with decision.
gpt
By the way, girls, the year is practically over, and our president still goes on her way serenely, and the very snobbiest girls in the class adore her.
human
I am glad. We don't want any class rows, and you know very well how Abby Dunbar and Helen Raymond would act, if they knew the truth. Though, after all, I cannot see what difference it makes.
gpt
Where is she going this summer? Do either of you know?
human
I asked her yesterday. She is going home for three or four weeks with Abby Dunbar. After that, she and her mother are going to some quiet country place.
gpt
You know, Mrs. Hamilton never comes to the college, but Margaret goes to see her almost daily. Abby Dunbar must have seen her on the evening of our entertainment, for she told me that she admired Mrs. Hamilton _so_ much; it was such a pity that she was an invalid! Margaret has never said that she was an invalid, you know. I suppose Abby just concluded that she must be, because she leads such a quiet life.
human
She does it entirely for Margaret's sake, I'm sure. Not that Margaret asks her to do it, but she fears to meet people who knew her when she was a servant. Abby approves of her, because she dresses well, and is at the most aristocratic boarding-place in Westover.
gpt
There is just one thing that I should not do, were I Margaret, said Beth slowly.
human
Knowing Abby Dunbar as well as she does, she must be confident that Abby would not take her home, did she know that both of Margaret's parents had been servants the greater part of their lives. Knowing that, I think that Margaret does wrong to go.
gpt
Isn't that a matter of standpoints? Margaret may reason that _she_ is the one invited, and that who or what her parents were, need not concern any person save herself. She would not deny the truth if questioned, but she sees no use in advertising it. I must say, concluded Mary, energetically,
human
Well, in her place, my dear, I should accept no invitations except such as I were sure would be given, even if all the facts were known.
gpt
I hope they will not be known for the next three years, at least. By the way, do you both thoroughly realize that when we return this fall, we shall not be insignificant freshmen, but lofty sophomores? That we shall not be lonely and homesick and have no one to whom to talk, and that we can haze the newcomers?
human
What bliss awaits us! By the way, Dolly, you must be our president next year.
gpt
I don't know,
human
No, she can't be. Don't look so surprised; I am wiser now than formerly, and I want Dolly to be president in our senior year. I find that it is an unwritten law that the same person cannot be president during two years. It seems to be the opinion that there is plenty of good material for officers in the class, and that it would be piggish for one person to be president twice. It doesn't make any difference about the other officers, for they are not so important. I am glad, now, that Margaret Hamilton was elected last fall.
gpt
And I am glad that you confess it at last, Beth. Listen a moment! Let us go and see what all that hubbub in the hall means. Even for the last week of college, it seems to me there is a dreadful amount of noise.
human
There certainly is, and it behooves us to investigate.