“Shirley the philosopher!” grinned Sidney. Life might be worth something after a while. And the clothes that she was to have for the Prom and the days after it were lovely!
Ah, that senior Prom! Beautiful lights were about the campus. Within chandeliers sparkled or soft lights came from pretty shades over the side lights. Girls in their prettiest frocks, fluffy or silken evening dresses, duly inspected by the dean, though silently so, as the girls reported to her, were met by masculine figures in correct attire. No orchestras in Ravinia Park ever discoursed such music as that senior Prom orchestra, engaged for the occasion, furnished to these happy boys and girls.
Dick Lytton arrived, full of news for Shirley and a glad sight for eyes that rather longed for home occasionally, she told him. She was very proud of her university lad and introduced him to all of her friends, though Hope was first and Shirley was glad to see how pleased Dick was with the girl for whom he had been invited, in one sense, though Shirley would have had Dick if no one else came to the Prom.
Sidney was true to her word that Shirley should meet her group of friends, though Mac Holland was always in evidence wherever Shirley was. He, too, knew Sidney well, of course, but Randall Roberts was the favored lad with her, Shirley could see. The acquaintance between the girls and boys from Chicago and its suburbs made a pleasant circle; yet Shirley did not forget to see that Dick’s acquaintance was still wider.
The girls were permitted to have calls on Saturday, also, and at Sunday dinner, which made an exciting week end for many of them, whose friends stayed in the nearest suburb and spent as much time at the school as was allowed. Shirley had an opportunity for a satisfactory visit with Dick, who had intended to leave for home on Saturday, but stayed for Sunday dinner and a visit instead.
“Can any mere professor in a university expect me to leave this bower of beauty for anything so stupid as Monday’s lessons?” asked Dick, when Hope inquired if he could stay. With Sidney’s cordial manner Dick was pleased, but he could scarcely get over the close resemblance, and after having met her he looked closely at Shirley every time he came, for fear that he might make a mistake. “Shirley,” said he, when they were alone on the campus Sunday afternoon just before he left the grounds,—“Shirley, I can’t help wondering about this resemblance between you and Sidney Thorne. Have you told your mother about it yet?”
“Yes, Dick, but I have not heard from her in relation to it. I’d like to tell you something that I know, but I can’t.”
“Well, I’ll not be surprised to learn that Sidney is your twin. But I suppose it can happen and has happened that people who are not related are duplicates, so to speak. By the way, Hope Holland promised to write to me in reply to the letter which I must, of course, write to my young lady of the Prom.”
“All right,” laughed Shirley, “but don’t forget who was at the bottom of your coming. I might enjoy hearing about our school myself.”
“Wait till I tell you of a prospective student next year. Don’t tell me that I can’t work for my own middle west university! To be sure there might be another attraction, but I impressed upon him the superior advantages of a smaller school!”