Shirley could scarcely keep her mind upon the Scripture lesson that morning, beautiful and helpful as she had always found the passage selected by the dean. But Shirley would scarcely have been human if she had not been disturbed. ‘Open-mouthed,’ was she? And this was the biggest place that she had ever seen! But she could fancy her large-minded father laughing at it all. What would it matter to him? Just nothing at all. Nevertheless Shirley seethed a little. Sidney was a proud, empty-headed little minx! No, she wasn’t either; she was smart, and Shirley could have liked her so much!
That last week before Hallowe’en everybody regretted having any lessons to learn. Little groups that were getting up “stunts” had important conferences, marked by laughter and secrecy, for mystery made the Hallowe’en surprises all the more entertaining. Although Miss Gibson had charge and girls were supposed to ask her about the propriety of what they proposed to do, this was not one of the English teacher’s frequent duties, presenting a play or a program. She appointed a committee, however, to help her and for its chairman chose Shirley, to that young lady’s surprise. She had intended to wear a costume for the occasion, and the little black mask which she had worn in similar affairs at home reposed in her box. She reported at the first meeting of the committee without much idea of what would be required of her.
Miss Gibson very well knew that in her enthusiasm that first year she had made some mistakes with the girls and had antagonized some of them unnecessarily by her manner of pushing perfectly reasonable requirements in a dictatorial way. In Shirley she knew that she had a girl who was thoroughly enjoying the course under her teaching and one who was not affected by any criticism that she might hear. Naturally a teacher chooses her most loyal supporters to help her.
The meeting was at the close of recitation hours. Not one of the influential Double Three was present! Caroline Scott and Betty Terhune were the other seniors. One from each of the other classes filled out the large committee of six. But they were supposed to assist in decorating the immense reception room which would be used for the celebration and in locating and suggesting the setting for the different features.
“Miss Harcourt,” said Miss Gibson at the beginning of the meeting, “you are the chairman of the senior committee. You, Caroline and Betty are to help with the senior stunt and also to have such oversight as may be necessary over those of the other classes. It may scarcely do to remind you that you are to keep any secrets entrusted to you, in case of surprises. The general decorations are put into the hands of all of you, and Shirley Harcourt may preside when I can not be present at your meetings. I am too busy to plan the details, but they are all to be submitted to me. That is clear, I believe. Now I will hear such ideas as you may already have.”
Nobody seemed to have any. Miss Gibson looked from one to another of the committee and smiled. Then Shirley rather timidly asked if there were any decorations that were kept from year to year. “There are certain things that one always has for Hallowe’en, Miss Gibson, and it would save time.”
Miss Gibson did not know, but Caroline told Shirley that the celebration last year was in the chapel and consisted of the one-act play and some pantomimes given on the platform, with curtains and home-made scenery. “Then we went to the parlors in our costumes and had our social time.”
“You will have to talk it over first, girls,” said Miss Gibson. “Have a meeting by yourselves and think up everything that you know, about what to do on Hallowe’en. I think that the dean does not want the chapel used this year.”
With this, Miss Gibson left the committee to its own devices and joined another teacher, who was waiting for her just outside the door of her classroom.
“Well, what do you think of that!” Betty Terhune exclaimed. “The girls last year said that Miss Gibson always wanted to do everything herself and now look at her!”