Study hours had been over for a little while. Shirley piled up her books, undressed and was in bed when Madge came back. That night she dreamed that her father and mother came back from their trip across the waters, met Sidney Thorne and thought that she was their daughter. Sidney went off with them happily and none of them paid any attention to Shirley’s cries, while Shirley looked down at herself and saw that she was all wrapped up like an Egyptian mummy!
CHAPTER X.
WHEN DOUBLES MEET.
General rejoicing showed in the smiling faces of the girls around the tables Saturday morning at breakfast when it was announced that the Westlake would leave the dock at nine o’clock for parts unknown. Applause followed the statement from the dean, who went on to say that it would carry the senior girls and some of the teachers, and that lunch would be provided.
“You will wear suitable hats and wraps, for we shall stop at one of the towns to do such shopping as by this time you may have wished that you had done before coming. As it is not a picnic, there is no need of picnic garb. Lunch will be enjoyed on the Westlake. Make your wants known to one of the teachers. You will be chaperoned in small groups while shopping.”
“Oh, good hunting!” cried Madge, though softly, as soon as Miss Irving had finished. “I was unusually stupid about some of the little things that I might have known I wanted. Will you want to shop, Shirley?”
“I’ll want to,” smiled Shirley, “but I spent too much on different things while I was on my trip. Little Shirley will have to count the pennies, alas. But I might buy a hankie, to remember the first trip in the Westlake, and indulge in a sundae if they let us. Do you know where we shall stop?”
“Haven’t an idea. It all depends on where we go.”
“You don’t mean it,” laughed Shirley. “Of course it will not be Chicago?”
“No, I think not. We’ll probably start north, but as the lake is lovely this morning we’ll go out quite a distance and have a fine ride.”
Shirley hesitated to put on the coat in which she had traveled. It was still pretty, but needed cleaning very much, and pressing had only seemed to bring out a few dingy streaks all the more. She brushed up and wiped off the hat, and fastened down its few ornaments more tightly in order that darker and less faded portions should not show. “Can I have cleaning done from here, Madge?” she asked.