Betty smiled, hesitated, and finally started with the girls. “I ought to carry away a better impression of this lake that I have really loved most of the time. Perhaps, if we have a good time there, I can remember it and the time when Donald so suddenly appeared.”
“That’s a brave Betty. Hurrah for Greycliff’s grey cliffs!”
Taller, older, more serious seemed these Greycliff girls who were to receive diplomas so soon and leave the scenes of so many girlish exploits. They joined Hilary and her aunt, who were sitting out on the rocks, discoursing of many things. Dorothy Appleton, Diane Percy and Evelyn Calvert were coming down from the wood, and Eloise, Pauline and Helen came from the boat house to add to the company as Hilary beckoned. “Come on and sing Greycliff songs for Aunt Hilary,” said she.
Lilian’s guitar started them. Aunt Hilary turned back a page or two in memory of her own schooldays, as the girls ran through their songs, athletic songs, class songs, the whole accumulation of the best efforts.
“This is a good one for today,” said Eloise, and hummed a strain to Lilian.
“Oh, yes,” said Lilian, playing a few chords in a different key.
“All ready, one, two, sing!” This song had a lively accompaniment of chords that came in with most surprising irregularity. Aunt Hilary asked afterward if it were rag-time, and was told that it was.
There are white caps on the water,
And the sky’s as blue
As blue can be;
On the sand the wavelets ripple,
As we raise our song,
Greycliff, to thee.
Alma Mater,
Alma Mater,
Just a song of love
And praise to thee.
Not all the stanzas were as serious as this, one beginning There’s an Island; another, There’s a Cave; still another, There’s a Boat, and all recounted Greycliff doings in ballad form,—the rag-time ballad. At the close, the first stanza was repeated and the guitar finished up in great style.
“Oh, Lilian,” mourned Isabel, who had been a member of this chorus since some one had informed her where “all the girls” were. “Aren’t I going to hear any more the plunk of your glad guitar?”