“Has any one seen Nita Reese?”
How the evening flew! Nobody in 19— unpacked. It was much better fun to wander in gay exploring parties from one campus house to another, finding out who was back, and who had changed rooms, and hearing all the campus news. The reason why junior year is the nicest speedily became evident to Betty and her friends of 19—. By that time you know everybody and have found your place in the college world; but you are not yet weighed down by the responsibilities of seniority, nor oppressed by the nearness of the end.
When Betty returned to her disheveled apartment at ten o’clock, she found her Cousin Lucile sitting on the window-box in the dark, awaiting her arrival.
“My dear little freshman,” she began in the most patronizing tone she could manage, “don’t you know it’s high time you were safe in bed?”
“Yes,” said Lucile calmly, “but I had to consult you, Betty. I have a chance to get into this house. A Miss Reeve or Reed or something telegraphed the registrar that she was going to the Philippines to be married, and I can have her place. It’s a double room, but——”
“Not T. Reed?” cried Betty.
“I think her name was Theresa. Is her room——”
Betty dashed into the hall. “Girls,” she cried to the avenue of open doors, “T. Reed’s going to be married to a Filipino—well, anyhow, in the Philippines.”
Then she returned to Lucile, leaving her bomb to take effect as it might. “It will be lovely to have you in the house,” she said, “and the campus is certainly the place to be. I wonder if Helen knows that T.’s not coming. If so, she must have had a telegram since I saw her.”