“But I like the teacher better,” she said shyly, as she slipped her arm into Miss Phillips’s, and walked with her into the dining-room.
The next day was set aside for the freshman picnic. Miss Phillips and Miss Landis, the chaperones, guided the girls along a winding path which led into a deep pine woods.
“What a wonderful place!” cried Marjorie.
“Yes,” agreed Miss Phillips enthusiastically, “and the beauty of it is that it’s just as nice in winter as at any other time, because it is always secluded from the wind, and the trees never change.”
“I am going to make a map of it,” said Marjorie. “My brother showed me how the Boy Scouts make them.”
Ruth looked scornful. “Marjorie, you are interested in such queer things!” she said.
Mae was standing beside Ruth. “Girls,” she said to Ruth and Marjorie in a low tone, “our crowd is over here under the trees—we’re going to eat together. Will you both come?”
Marjorie was rather surprised to be included in what Mae had designated as “Our crowd,” but she was very glad to be with Ruth. They all walked over to the spot indicated by Mae, and found Evelyn, Doris, and Anna, untying packages of lunch.
Ruth became very gay. “Girls,” she said, “I feel that we ought to stick together to-day, for this is our last chance. To-morrow, of course, is pledge-day—and by supper time, we’ll be divided—and two of us will be left out of the crowd. So let’s be friends as long as we can!”
“Surely you don’t mean that, do you, Ruth?” asked Anna. “Why can’t we keep on all being friends, even if four of you are pledged to ΦΑΒ, and two of us are not?”