But Laura Hedden and her personal friends, as well as Miss Rice and her chums, had no intention of giving up their point of view.
There was a well-defined “party of the opposition” to the senior class president and to her supporters, organized during these few final days of the term. Beth Baldwin went home with the feeling that on her return she would have to face the active enmity of a not inconsiderable number of her classmates.
CHAPTER XXVIII
MISS FREYLINGHAUSEN
Larry’s surprise included a novel way for Beth and a dozen of her girl friends to get home for the holidays. These girls, besides Beth and Molly, lived in the river towns strung along the Nessing between the school and Hudsonvale. Larry secured a huge sleigh in Jackson City and a team of well sharpened horses with a sober driver to take them down the river on the ice. Miss Hammersly approved of the party starting early in the morning so as to make Hudsonvale before night.
The girls could drop off at their several home towns, while Molly would remain over night with Beth and go on to Hambro—and the seven aunts—the next day. Larry was to sit on the driver’s seat and act as courier for the party.
It was an exciting and novel ride, and all the girls pronounced it a lovely adventure. They thanked Beth as their hostess, for all seemed to take it for granted that had it not been for Beth, Larry Haven would not have done such a thing.
There was a crowd to see them off when the the sleigh slid down upon the ice, and in it Molly saw Mr. Roland Severn. She beckoned to him to come close, and whispered:
“Grieve not, brave youth! There are other fish in the sea quite as good as those already hooked.”
“Thank you, Miss Granger. I am quite sure of it,” he returned, with gravity. “I shall be in Hambro before New Year. May I call?”
“Cracky-me!” Molly was startled into exclaiming. “I wasn’t looking upon myself in the light of a fish, nor do I wish to be so considered.”