“Wait a minute,” Olivia said, holding out her arms and blocking the door to the room. “Another girl whose hearing is deficient, whose eyesight faileth. Away, lowly one, and wash that powder off your face.”
“What?” Mimi stammered incredulously.
“Go read the bulletin board. Ever hear of Green Cap Week?”
Mimi couldn’t be late to English. She didn’t want to get a bad start so she ducked under Olivia’s arm into the classroom, only to collide with Betsy.
“Trouble?” she asked Olivia.
“A mere trifle—Miss Hammond hasn’t time to remove her make-up.”
“Yes, she has.”
“I’ll be late,” Mimi protested. She could feel her cheeks burning. Why hadn’t she collided with anyone else in school but Betsy?
“Be late, but when you do get here, your face will be so bright and shining Miss Lipscomb may mistake it for intelligence.” Betsy’s tone left no alternative. Mimi turned in her most dignified manner and walked toward the stairs. She did not run until she turned the landing and was out of sight.
Only last night she had been sure she and Betsy would be friends and now——