“This is where we came in.”
“Sh-sh-sh.” Betsy cautioned.
Then Mimi heard the familiar voices too. From the rear, her hat was knocked over on her nose. Sheridan girls chaperoned by Mrs. Cole were filling the row behind them. Mrs. Cole was sputtering and giving orders regardless of the fact that she was disturbing the entire balcony. Mimi and Betsy froze to their seats. No matter what happened, they could not leave now. Without speaking to each other, they agreed to stay still until these girls saw the show and left.
Mimi never knew how long a show could be until she sat through this one the second time. Betsy despaired and went to sleep! How could she? Every nerve in Mimi’s body was taut. Suppose? No, don’t. Why had she ever come? Why didn’t she think how heartbroken Mother and Daddy would be if she were suspended? If she did get back to Sheridan and slip in without being caught she would never, never be so foolish again. Never!
What time was it now? It must be late. Two o’clock plus two whole shows. Omigosh! Suppose they were absent from supper? But if Mrs. Cole and her girls were there, Mimi and Betsy would be too. Giving them only a two-minute start, the culprits flung caution to the wind and ran for the side street. It was almost dark.
“Let’s phone Chloe and Sue to meet us at the back of the campus with our uniforms.”
“Never,” Betsy snapped. “Don’t you know we couldn’t talk to them without giving our life history first. Then someone would likely listen in. There is always the chance that one is phoning for a boy and making a date. No,” Betsy decided, “the only way back in is the way we came out. Let’s cut across.”
Every minute counted. Provided they got back in, they had to change clothes before they could go to supper.
When they reached the edge of the campus, Sue and Chloe rushed up. They were all but hysterical.
“Thank heavens, you’re back. We’ve been worried to death.”