It did not take Beth long to unpack her trunk. It was a small affair at best, and she had had hard work to find enough to fill it properly before leaving home. She hung her dresses in the closet very quickly and shut the door. She was actually ashamed to have Molly or any of the other girls examine her possessions.
The girls were continually running back and forth from room to room, chattering and displaying their new possessions, and having a good time generally. For, there being no lessons on this day, there was naturally more freedom allowed than usual.
Molly, Beth found, had a wealth of ornaments, photographs, pennants, Indian beadwork, a real Navajo blanket, cushions galore, and a multitude of other articles for the adornment of Number Eighty-one. Many of these possessions she had left in the school storeroom during the vacation months, and now brought them forth.
Beth had brought with her photographs of the home folk, of course. She had also her own pretty toilet set and various nicknacks that she fancied particularly. But Number Eighty looked like a poor place indeed beside Molly’s room.
“Oh, it takes a year or two at school for a girl to collect sufficient ‘lares and penates’ for her room to look real homey,” declared Molly, when Beth mentioned this difference in the appearance of their rooms.
“It’s really scarcely worth while my spreading around my poor little possessions,” laughed Beth. “There are not enough of them to make a show in this big room.”
“Quite true, Miss Baldwin,” drawled a voice at the open door of Number Eighty. “And, therefore, before you unpack any more of your things I’ve a proposal to make to you.”
“Hullo! here’s Princess Fancyfoot,” muttered Molly Granger.
“Good morning, Miss Grimshaw,” said Beth, placidly, to the girl from across the hall.
“I want you to know my friend, Miss Laura Hedden,” went on Maude, with a most patronizing air. “Miss Baldwin, Laura.”