[CHAPTER XVIII: THE COUNTESS ENTERTAINS]
Spring affairs came on with their hikes, their different activities, their work and their fun, till Betty almost forgot what Lucia had said to her, in the interest of other things. She saw very little of Lucia now, for the sorority seemed to take up Lucia’s time, so far as her associations were concerned.
Betty was working hard on her studies. She had passed her mid-years with credit and now she was keeping up the standard for the second semester. It was not so hard as the freshman year’s work, yet there were more distractions as she increasingly took part in the school’s activities.
However, there was no basketball. She made progress in swimming, took a little part in other athletic affairs, earned points and hoped that she would win “something or other” on honor night, that last function and climax of the G. A. A. The girls had wanted her to play baseball, but she “said them nay” as she stated at home. And in her free time she took up serious practice upon her violin, as well as regular lessons again. Saturdays she saved for picnics and hikes, except a few hours devoted to study. Mrs. Lee had a little maid come in now to help at home, though Doris and Betty still had very light tasks, chiefly in looking after their own room and keeping things in order. School was exacting and the girls needed their time if they stood well in their studies, Mrs. Lee said.
There was some discussion between the parents as to whether it was not outside affairs that took the girls’ time and strength, but inasmuch as more of it was in the line of healthful activity than of late parties, the decision was to let the girls, particularly Betty, just now, “have their chance” and their good times. The little maid needed the work, moreover, and it gave Mrs. Lee the freedom she needed to leave Amy Lou and get away from cares.
Betty was “crazy” to get into the junior orchestra another year. Ted, who had been somewhat of an attraction, to be sure, would not be in the senior orchestra, but Betty liked the idea, with or without any interesting boy. He had not invited Betty to accompany him again to any school or city entertainment, but he had asked her to a picnic with a few chosen friends and she had had a wonderful time, she reported to the girls. However, Ted said that Chet and some of the other boys had said “Hands off” about Betty Lee. So Ted put it, and while he reported it jokingly, Betty had an idea that it would make a difference. Well, it was better than being invited and dropped without a reason, and no boy should think that she wanted his attentions! And of course Ted was very much interested in this other girl. They both would be in the University next year.
Betty felt more grown up when she was with an older boy like Ted and enjoyed the feeling. The junior girls and some of the senior girls knew Betty and were quite inclined to be chummy, at least when thrown with Betty at any gathering.
The sophomores had a picnic, to which Chet invited Betty and one of the girls whom Betty did not know so well, remarked: “Well, the Dorrance boys keep you in the family, don’t they?”
“Oh, no,” lightly answered Betty, who did not like the remark, but did not know how to answer it. Betty did not like to resent what was probably not meant to be annoying. From certain indications she was pretty sure that Chet had resented Ted’s taking her out and that Ted had promised Chet not to interfere.
So the time flew, till in the lovely Maytime Mrs. Lee was invited by the Countess Coletti to an afternoon tea at the Murchison home, and Betty was reminded of Lucia’s remarks. The countess was “being nice to Mother” now, and Mrs. Lee reported a large gathering of charming ladies, some of them not so attractive or cultured, but many of them simple and interesting with the results of many opportunities for travel and reading, study and pleasure. “The countess herself is very delightful as a hostess, Betty,” said Mrs. Lee. “I feel sure that if she entertains for Lucia it will be a gathering planned in every detail.”