“I don’t know. They say the cold weather will begin early this year.”
By this time they had reached the dining room, where white tables, flowers, music and savory odors greeted them. A little orchestra from Greycliff Heights, or Greycliff Village, as the girls usually called it, played during the meal. This was as great an event to the young people as the ice carnival of the year before.
Most of the company had found their places at table by the time Betty and Donald entered the dining room. They had not hurried, merely keeping in sight the others who were ahead of them, while a few lingered behind them. Part way down the long room they saw a beckoning hand, that of Harry Mills, who was with Lilian, Jack Appleton and Hilary, and was trying to indicate that their place cards were at that table. Betty and Donald hurried on to join them, and found a table of gay young cadets and their guests. The place cards all had the picture of a tent and Uncle Sam in front of it, welcoming a charming maiden, who represented Greycliff and was receiving the roses which he offered. There was a rose at each place, as well, and a silver pin, suitable for a corsage bouquet, for each of the girls. The bouquets had been sent to Greycliff, but these pins were reserved for the evening’s souvenir. (They each bore the academy “arms” and seal.) “Such a beautiful souvenir!” exclaimed Betty to Donald. “I shall always keep it in memory of a very happy evening.”
“That is very good of you to say,” replied Donald. “It is happy to me, too, since everything is all right with you.”
Late as it was when the girls arrived at Greycliff, Cathalina and Betty were both too excited to sleep. Betty had too much to think over and Cathalina wanted to hear all Betty’s news. But they dutifully put lights out, and each lying in her little cot, related the most outstanding events of the evening.
“Did Louise have on fresh gloves, Betty?”
“Why, yes, she did. I never thought of it, though. Yes, I remember how snug they were, probably a bit too small, but just as clean as could be.”
“Maybe they were her own, after all.”
“Perhaps, and perhaps she succeeded in getting some one to lend them to her. But she was just lovely all the time we were together. And I liked Captain Holley better than I ever did before. I thought he was terribly officious at first, but it was very nice to have somebody to be really attentive till Donald came. Only I don’t think it was very kind of him to have me look out and see the poor boy!”
“You remember he wanted to have you for his own guest, and perhaps he felt a little put out about Donald’s getting ahead of him again.”