“Hullo, Jolly Molly!”
“How are the seven pussy cats?” was one mysterious greeting.
“How’s tricks, Molly?” demanded one girl. “Full of new ones?”
“Sh! don’t ruin my reputation right at the start,” begged Molly, of this last girl.
Beth was peering into the open door of Number Eighty—her room, where Jonas had already left her bag. Suddenly a voice drawled behind her:
“Who is that with you, Molly Granger?”
“My new chum,” said Molly, sharply; and Beth turned to see who had first spoken.
A girl stood at the open door directly across the hall from Number Eighty. She was a pale girl in a light blue kimono of heavy, beautiful silk, with silver dragons worked upon it—a most beautiful garment, Beth thought. The girl herself was languid in her manner, had pale eyelashes and hair as well as bloodless complexion. Indeed, she looked as though some pigment was lacking in her system entirely, she was so positively colorless.
“What’s her name, Molly?” drawled this apparition.
“This is Miss Beth Baldwin. Miss Maude Grimshaw, Beth. You live right opposite to each other,” whispered Molly, in conclusion, “and, believe me! you have opposite natures.”