XI
"Enter Edith Elizabeth Plumtree, restored to health and happiness. Loud cheers from the spectators."
"Hurrah! How nice to see you back, dear! You look a different girl."
"I feel it," declared Miss Plumtree, exchanging vigorous handshakes with everybody.
"What with her being in plain clothes, and having gone up about a stone in weight," said Tony, "I simply didn't know her at the station. Gracie and I tore down on our bicycles to meet her, and thought of commandeering two orderlies and a stretcher to bring her up from the station. Instead of which she's so much stronger than we are that she pushed both bikes up the hill without turning a hair, while Gracie and I panted in the rear!"
"Doesn't she look well?" cried Grace. "I've never seen her look so well—and isn't it becoming?"
Everybody laughed. Personal remarks of any but a markedly facetious order were known by the Hostel to be indelicate; but it was generally conceded that Gracie Jones was so nice it didn't matter what she said, since she probably couldn't help being unlike other people.
Miss Delmege eyed Miss Plumtree's fair round face and plump figure with approval.
"I like that costume," she observed critically. "New, isn't it, dear?"
"No, dyed. It's my last year's grey."