“I didn’t go,” returned Eleanor shortly.
“Oh, why not?” asked Betty so seriously that Eleanor laughed.
“Because the girl who asked me first was ill; and I wouldn’t tag along with the little Brooks and the Riches and your fascinating roommate. Now don’t say ‘why not?’ again, or I may hurt your feelings. Do you really like Miss Brooks?”
Betty hesitated. As a matter of fact she liked Mary Brooks very much, but she also admired Eleanor Watson and coveted her approval. “I like her well enough,” she said slowly, and disappeared into the closet to get something she did not want and change the subject.
Eleanor laughed. “You’re so polite,” she said. “I wish I were. That is, I wish I could make people think I was, without my taking the trouble. Don’t go to church.”
“Helen and Katherine are coming back for me. You’d better go with us,” urged Betty.
“Now that Kankakee person—” began Eleanor. The door opened suddenly and Katherine and Helen came in. Katherine, who had heard Eleanor’s last remark, flushed but said nothing. Eleanor rose deliberately, smoothed the pillows she had been lying on, and walked slowly off, remarking over her shoulder, “In common politeness, knock before you come in.”
“Or you may hear what I think of you,” added Katherine wickedly, as Eleanor shut the door.
Helen looked perplexed. “Should I, Betty?” she asked, “when it’s my own room.”
“It’s nicer,” said Betty. “Nan and I do. How do you like our room, Katherine?”