“I am,” said Betty savagely, recounting a few of her woes. “What can we do? I came to be amused.”
“In a Miracle play of this type—” began Katherine, and stopped to dodge a pillow. “But it is amusing, Betty.”
“I’m afraid it will amuse Miss Mills, if the rest is anything like what you read,” said Rachel with a reminiscent smile. “What are you doing, Roberta?”
“Writing home,” drawled Roberta, without looking up from her paper.
“Well, you needn’t shake your fountain pen over me, if you are,” said Katherine. “I also owe my honored parents a letter, but I’ve about made up my mind never to write to them again. Listen to this, will you.” She rummaged in her desk for a minute. “Here it is.
“‘My dear daughter’–he only begins that way when he’s fussed. I always know how he’s feeling when I see whether it’s ‘daughter’ or ‘K.’ ‘My dear daughter:–Your interesting letter of the 12th inst. was received and I enclose a check, which I hope will last for some weeks.’ (“I’m sorry to say it’s nearly gone already,” interpolated Katherine.) “‘Your mother and I enjoyed the account of the dance you attended in the gymnasium, of the candy pull which Mrs. Chapin so kindly arranged for her roomers, and the game of hockey that ended so disastrously for one of your friends. We are glad that you attended the Morality play of “Everyman,” though we are at a loss to know what you mean by the “peanut gallery.” However it occurs to us that with your afternoon gymnasium class, your recitations, which, as I understand it, fully engage your mornings, and all these diversions in one week, you could have spent but little time in the study of your lessons. Do not forget that these years should be devoted to a serious preparation for the multifarious duties of life, and do not neglect the rich opportunities which I am proud to be able to give you. The Wetherbees have—’ Oh well, the rest of it is just Kankakee news,” said Katherine, folding the letter and putting it back in her desk. “But isn’t that first bit lovely? Why, I racked my brain till it ached, positively ached, thinking of interesting things to say in that letter, and now because I didn’t mention that I’d worked three solid hours on my German every day that week and stood in line at the library for an hour to get hold of Bryce’s American Commonwealth, I receive this pathetic appeal to my better self.”
“How poetic you’re getting,” laughed Betty. “Do you know it’s awfully funny, but I got a letter something like that too. Only mine was from Nan, and it just said she hoped I was remembering to avoid low grades and conditions, as they were a great bother. She said she wanted me to have a good time, but as there would be even more to do when I got on the campus, I ought not to fall into the habit of neglecting my work this year.”
“Mine was from Aunt Susan,” chimed in Rachel. “She said she didn’t see when I could do any studying except late at night, and she hoped I wasn’t being so foolish as to undermine my health and ruin my complexion for the sake of a few girlish pleasures. Isn’t that nice–girlish pleasures? She put in a five dollar bill, though I couldn’t see why she should, considering her sentiments.”
Roberta put the cap on to her fountain pen and propped it carefully against an adjacent pillow. “I’ve just answered mine,” she said, sorting the sheets in her lap with a satisfied smile.
“Did you get one, too? What did you say?” demanded Betty.