“It looks just darling, Laura,” Bess said.
“Perfectly lovely,” Nan agreed. “You’ll be the belle of the boat.”
“Do you really like it?” Laura sounded just a little worried as she looked at them. “Do you think that Dr. Prescott will approve?” she asked Nan anxiously.
“Of course she will,” Nan answered confidently. “Why Laura,” she said, turning her friend’s head around so that she could get a side view again, “you’ve changed from an ugly duckling to a pretty young lady. I don’t see how Dr. Prescott could possibly object.”
Laura grinned roguishly. “Do you know, when I look into the mirror, I hardly recognize myself, but then when I open my mouth and hear what comes out, I’m perfectly sure that I haven’t changed a bit. Then I feel utterly discouraged.” She looked as woeful as possible, when she finished the sentence, but nothing could disguise the fact that Laura and the whole crowd of Lakeview Hall students were on top of the world. It was a merry bunch that tumbled out of the car and into the Mason home.
In no time at all, they had unpacked, washed, changed their clothes and were coming down the broad stairway together for lunch. They stopped midway.
“Whose voice is that?” Bess whispered the question.
“Could it be—” Nan paused to listen again,—“Dr. Beulah?”
“I’m afraid it is,” Grace laughed. “In the excitement, I forgot entirely to tell you. Mother asked her to stop on her way back to school, too, and we are all to go together this afternoon for our passports.”
“Hey, come here!” It was Nan’s whisper again, arresting Laura who had tried to retreat up the stairway as soon as she heard Dr. Beulah. Nan caught her by the arm. “You can’t do that,” she said, “You’ve got to face the music sometime.”