“How would you make them pay? Cora never has any money, anyway,” said Nancy, remembering the sum that her ex-roommate already owed her from the year before. “And they’d both deny touching the plug, anyway. We can’t prove it.”
“Well, I don’t care! I hate to have those girls get the best of us. I’ll think up some trick by which we can pay them back.”
“Nonsense, Jennie!” reproved Nancy. “You wouldn’t be mean just because they are mean.”
“I don’t know but I would—if it wasn’t for you,” admitted her chum, sighing.
But in the end nothing was done about the skiff and the girls’ adventure. The matter blew over. There was so much going on at Pinewood Hall that fall, and the sophomores were so very busy, that the loss of the boat soon ceased to be a topic of conversation—saving between the owners and, possibly, the two other girls who knew all about the incident.
The seniors and juniors promised the school a very lively social season this winter. And of course the sophs. were “in on it,” as Jennie said, to a degree.
As early as October the big girls got permission to plan a dance, with the Academy boys invited, for Thanksgiving Eve. It was to be a masquerade, too, and that gave the girls a delightful time choosing costumes and—in some cases—making them at odd hours themselves.
Those who would, might gather, twice a week, with Jessie Pease and learn to sew. Nancy and Jennie were faithful to this “extra” and both made their own costumes under Jessie’s sharp eye.
Jennie was going to be dressed as an owl, and wear huge spectacles and carry an open book.
“I’d never look wise at any other time,” giggled the irrepressible. “So I will do so now.”