Nothing happened of any great annoyance to Shirley that day, though several times she was taken for Sidney. She felt that life had really begun and when she found that the only lessons so far in mathematics were in the nature of a review, her worries disappeared. She was a rapid reader. Her English would be caught up in no time. French was easy,—nothing could make a wave of trouble roll across her peaceful breast, she told Madge and Caroline.
With them and Betty Terhune, after classes were over, Shirley went out upon the campus again to wander there and in the wood and more open grove. The girls were rather enjoying the distinction of having the new girl in tow and being the center of so much interest among the girls. Shirley quite forgot that her arrival was a sensation in exploring the delights of the place. Once Caroline called her Sidney and Betty started to do so later on, but changed. “Sid—” to Shirley.
“Duck on the rock” was fun down in the midst of the sand and pebbles. Then the girls had her peep through a little window into the boat-house to see the school launch. “We call it the yacht,” said Madge, “and I guess it is a kind of one. It was given to the school, and the big boat house, too, was given by one of our alumnae. See,—there is room for the smaller boats inside, too. They all go inside to stay when real winter comes.”
Shirley looked in. There was the pretty launch with its brass railings and its mahogany finish. Shirley read the name, “Westlake,” and exclaimed over the future delights which its very existence promised. “I don’t see how I can wait for Saturday!” she cried, when Betty told her that the seniors were to go out in it Saturday.
Perhaps it was largely from curiosity, but that evening, both before and after dinner, a great many of the younger girls and most of the seniors managed in some way to meet Shirley. “Introduce me to your room-mate, Madge,” one of the girls would say. Or Betty and Cad, as Caroline was almost universally called, would come up with a bevy of girls to be introduced. Shirley appreciated Madge’s convoy, and knew that Madge wanted to keep her from the embarrassment of being alone. It was not really necessary, for Shirley was quite able to take care of herself; but the circumstances were unusual, to say the least.
There was music in the parlors, with much lively conversation after the girls had tired of being outside. They dressed for dinner, as it was directed and their light, cool frocks were more suitable for the house when the lake breezes blew strongly. Shirley had had an opportunity to press her pretty orchid dress of soft silk, which looked suitable and was becoming. She felt more at home in it than she had been able yet to feel in the uniform, neat as it was, and comfortable.
Shirley’s wardrobe, however, was limited. It had seemed better to do the big things, like the trips and the year at school, even if economy were necessary in the doing. From the catalogue Mrs. Harcourt and Miss Dudley had found the list of garments permitted, or required. These Shirley possessed. It was good fun to be away at school, Shirley was thinking tonight. Suppose she did look like some one else. That would be a nine days’ wonder. But she noticed that Sidney Thorne did not come up to meet her. When Shirley entered the parlors with Madge, Sidney immediately found it necessary to go to her room and begin work on her lessons or some committee report. “Poor girl,” Shirley thought, as she noticed Sidney’s hurried departure, “she has had a shock!”
It was not long before Shirley herself thought that she must waste no more time with the girls. She, too must master her lessons. Madge went upstairs with her, but said that she would not study until regular hours began. Leaving Shirley to her usual concentration, Madge hurried around to Cad’s room to “indulge in a little harmless gossip,” she told her hostess. “I’m glad that Stella isn’t in. Lucky that she practices half the time.”
“Yes, and the rest of the time she is with her musical chum. It is a wonder that she does not want to room with her.”
“How did you like my room-mate?” Madge asked Betty.