The next afternoon Mr. Masters and the committee, deciding that Jean’s Bassanio was possibly just a shade more attractive than Mary Horton’s, gave her the part. Kate Denise was Portia, and everybody exclaimed over the suitability of having the lovers played by such a devoted pair of friends. As for Betty, she breathed a sigh of relief that it was all settled at last. Jean had won the part strictly on her merits, and she fully understood Betty’s construction of a committee-woman’s duty to the play. Nevertheless Betty felt that, in spite of all their recent contests and differences of opinion, they came nearer to being friends than at any time since their freshman year, and she wasn’t sorry that she had gone more than halfway in bringing about this happy result.
Meanwhile the date of the Glee Club concert was fast approaching. Georgia Ames came in one afternoon to consult Betty about the important matter of dress.
“I suppose that, as long as we’re going to sit in a box, I ought to wear an evening gown,” she said.
“Why, yes,” agreed Betty, “if you can as well as not. It’s a very dressy occasion.”
“Oh, I can,” said Georgia sadly. “I’ve got one all beautifully spick and span, because I hate it so. I never feel at home in anything but a shirt-waist. Beside my neck looks awfully bony to me, but mother says it’s no different from most people’s. The men are coming, I suppose?”
“Oh, yes, they’re coming,” assented Betty gaily, “and between us we’ve been asked to every tea on the campus, I should think. So they ought to have a good time in the afternoon, and college men are always crazy over our concerts.”
“Your man will be all right,” said Georgia admiringly, “and I’ll do my best for the other one. Truly, Betty, I am grateful to you. I think it’s awfully good of you to ask me. Even if you asked me because I’m the other Georgia’s namesake, you wouldn’t do it if you didn’t like me a little for myself, would you?”
“Of course not, you silly child,” laughed Betty.
“I want you to have my reserved seat for the basket-ball game,” went on Georgia. “The subs each have one seat to give away, and I’ve swapped mine with a sophomore, so you can sit on your own side.”
“I shall clap for you, though,” Betty told her, “and I hope you’ll get a chance to play. The other Georgia wasn’t a bit athletic, so your basket-ball record will never be mixed with hers.”