Of course, as a member of the social committee, it had been Beth’s duty to see that all were made happy if possible; but Miss Rice well knew that it was something besides duty that had suggested to the class president this particular way of aiding in the pleasure of the social occasion for all in the senior class.
To girls in general, and of the age of Beth’s classmates, the attentions of young men are as pleasing and satisfactory as anything in life. It gives even an awkward girl more confidence in herself to be singled out as a dancing partner by young men.
The chums, however, really had little time for “boys,” as Molly scoffingly called them. “Too much to do. And seven aunts to see me duck from under the scholastic yoke,” added the jolly one.
Miss Rice’s discovery, made as she mended her torn lace in the madam’s room, bore fruit. She was really a serious-minded girl.
She could recall now many thoughtful and helpful things Beth Baldwin had proposed for the good of the senior class. Many of these suggestions Miss Rice, herself, and the Laura Hedden crowd had opposed with both vigor and venom.
In fully a dozen cases the awakened girl had to admit that Beth Baldwin’s plans had proved wise. Her withdrawal now from the chairmanship of the social committee was likely to be a real catastrophe.
After all, Miss Rice was loyal to Rivercliff; and she believed that others of the obstructionists were, too. Was their opposition to the will of the majority of the senior class—and especially to Beth Baldwin—going to be of any good in the end?
“Even if we make her resign the presidency,” she told some of her confidants the day following the evening party, “it will create a terrible row. And Miss Hammersly will be just as hurt as she can be.”
“Let her be!” snapped one of Laura Hedden’s particular friends. “What business has she to let a pauper come to Rivercliff, anyway?”
“Now, that’s all nonsense, and we know it,” said Miss Rice, boldly. “In the first place, it’s been awfully handy to have a girl like Beth Baldwin here to do mending and sewing and the like, for us lazy ones. I don’t like the girl, that’s all.”