CHAPTER XIII
“THE MERRY HEARTS” ABROAD
Never was there such a bustling, confused, hurried, but withal happy departure from Harding as “The Merry Hearts” made on the last day of the long winter term. The stay-at-homes—Rachel, Katherine, Nita and little Dora Carlson—were all at the station to see them off and wish them a successful journey. They left at ten o’clock in the morning, and their boat sailed the same afternoon at five. There would not be time in New York, therefore, for anything but to get themselves and their baggage across the city and safely on shipboard. Madeline and Mary, the experienced travelers of the party, were “elected” to attend to the trunks, for Miss Hale was suffering with a bad headache.
“Anyway,” as Mary told her, "we don’t want you to bother with anything like that. You are just to tell us what to do and what not to do, and then to sit still and see that we do it.”
And Miss Hale had laughingly responded that she should not forget for a minute that she was mistress of nine willing slaves; and she had submitted without a protest to being tucked up comfortably in a corner of her seat, with Betty’s suit case for a foot-rest and Madeline’s steamer-rug for a pillow.
Meanwhile the matter that was agitating “The Merry Hearts” was the whereabouts of Dr. Eaton. Was he going to Florida by rail after all? Or had he missed the train? Perhaps he was ill; he almost always came to chapel, and everybody was positive that he had not been there that morning. Finally an off-campus senior, who took her meals at the same house where he did, was appealed to for information, and she quickly solved the difficulty. Dr. Eaton had gone away the night before. “The Merry Hearts” breathed a sigh of relief. They were becoming vastly interested in Mary’s match-making scheme. Indeed Betty Wales was a little worried lest their well-meant enthusiasm should carry some of them too far.
“You needn’t be one bit afraid,” Mary reassured her. “We’re awfully sensible, you know, when we try to be. Besides, I don’t suppose we shall have to do anything but just watch proceedings. Judging by all the stories you read, I should say that you almost have to fall in love on shipboard, because there’s nothing else to do.”
“‘The time and the place,’” quoted Madeline. “Then how about the rest of us, Mary? Do you expect us all to fall in love too?”
Mary surveyed the group scornfully. “I don’t forget,” she said, “that you are children, far too young even to think of such things. As for me, I shall have the responsibility of you all on my shoulders.” Mary sighed deeply. “Let me see; is it you, Betty, or Roberta, whose trunk is to go in the hold?”
“Mine,” said Roberta, shivering forlornly. “Isn’t this car cold, girls? I know I shall never want all those thin dresses that I put in.”