Of course, they did not all agree with the girl whose conscience had been awakened. Laura Hedden was by no means of the same type as Miss Rice. Laura managed to hold some of the opposition together.
But before the month rolled around and the date of another of the school parties approached, a paper was circulated in the senior class for signatures, asking Beth Baldwin to reconsider her resignation from the chairmanship of the social committee. The first signature on the paper was that of Miss Rice, followed by the names of several of the former “party of the opposition.”
“So, ‘all’s well that ends well,’” quoted jolly Molly Granger, happily. “You’ve just got to get back into harness, Bethesda. The ranks of the enemy are broken. It just proves what I’ve always said, my dear: You are the most popular girl who ever came to school here at Rivercliff.”
“I wonder!” murmured Beth.
“You wonder what?” questioned her chum.
“I wonder how Rice came to change so.”
But unless Beth Baldwin chances to read this narrative of Rivercliff School, she is likely never to be enlightened regarding this particular mystery. And at this time there was so much else of moment going on that she had little leisure to give to it.
The days were being counted at last. Such a fluttering in the dove-cote as graduation drew nigh! Dresses to try on, last examinations to take, trips to the milliner and shoe stores, theses to write, conditions to make up, letters to write to friends and relatives, enclosing tickets to the formal exercises and invitations to the various receptions and teas.
“Seven tickets to Hambro,” groaned Molly. “I tried to get Miss Hammersly to have a booth, or private box, built for my aunts. But what do you suppose she said to me, girls?” groaned Molly.
“What did she say?” was the response.