“Patty West has patience,” said Betty. “She takes music all the time, too, doesn’t she?”
“I think so, one thing or another. I should think she would be taking chemistry, or botany or something with Dr. Norris this year.”
“She’s had all the easy things that we take, of course, but maybe she can get out on the field trips with us this spring in bird study.”
Cathalina’s ambition had stirred early in the year when she found that there was a possibility of her being graduated from the Academy with the other girls. And having set to work on making up some necessary lines of study she became interested in doing it well.
Lilian was trying for one of the “Van Buskirk” prizes, offered this year by Cathalina’s father. One was for the best original poem; another, for the best short story; another, for the best essay, and a fourth for the best bird list, with dates and descriptions. Second prizes also were to be awarded. Lilian was writing “yards of poetry,” as she said.
Scholarship prizes were always offered by the school, with some special prizes in the different departments, as in the English, French, Oratory, Science and Music departments. These prizes were offered both to collegiates and academy pupils, but separately.
“I want to call a meeting of the club,” said Eloise. “We haven’t done a thing about Dorothy and Jane and I want to find out whether the girls all want to take any more into it. How about pins, Cathalina?”
“I can get those at a moderate price.”
“Another thing, do we want to take in any of the younger girls for Isabel and Avalon. There are Virginia and Olivia, you know. Isabel and Virginia are together so much, and Avalon and Olivia.”
Each girl hesitated to be the first to speak.