“Practicing, too, every week. You would think we had nothing but a conservatory of music around here by the sounds, especially the last of the week. The Glee Club, the Guitar, Uke and Mandolin Club, the Collegiate and Academy Orchestras, to say nothing of what Hilary calls the Comb Symphony Orchestra, on private serenades, combine to make night hideous.”
Donald was thinking “what a bright, jolly, sweet girl Betty is, and how those dimples do chase around when she laughs!” And Betty was thinking “Isn’t Donald a good, wholesome boy, honest and fine as they are made!”
Harry Mills and Jack Appleton were calling on Dorothy and Jane, and it came about that they all drifted together to chat, since Donald had completed his confidences to Betty.
CHAPTER XVI
CHIVALRY AND ARMS
The annual ice carnival, full of excitement, came again and took its place in history. As Captain Holley was enduring an attack of tonsillitis, nothing marred the occasion for Betty, who again won the highest prize for fine skating. As this was Donald’s unlucky year, according to him, he had twisted his ankle several weeks before and was not at his best. The first prize among the boys went to Jack Appleton, the second to Donald.
Both Jack Appleton and Harry Mills had this year developed a violent fancy for Eloise, who had her hands full to distribute her favors impartially, and not offend either the boys or their sisters. Harry Mills was her partner at the banquet which followed the carnival skating, but Jack claimed her most of the time on the ice. Eloise was almost equal to Betty on skates, and there had been some discussion among the judges about dividing the first prize, but it seemed best to award the second prize to Eloise. Betty had a few more extra performances to her credit.
The good-natured rivalry between Jack and Harry did not escape the comments of the girls, who pretended to deplore the fate of “poor Reginald.” He was away, they said, and had no chance against his rivals.
“It is such a pity to spoil the lovely illusion about Reginald,” said Eloise one day, as some of the girls stood in the hall, reading the letters just received, “but here is the last letter,” and she tossed a letter into Betty’s hands. “I was annoyed at first, then I thought that it would be fun to let you keep on thinking what you did. You thought from my manner that it was some boy I didn’t like, didn’t you?”
“I guess we did,” replied Betty, reading the letter and laughing out when she came to the signature. But she made no remark, and handed the letter, a brief one this time, to Pauline, who was nearest. She rapidly read the page and exclaimed “A girl!”
“Ora Rand!” read Juliet aloud. “The romance of Reggie is o’er!”