Sue laughed, as she gathered up a pile of books from the old Roman seat at the turn of the path, and led the way out of the garden.
“Perhaps this time it’s Crullers who has hurt Bonnie Jean’s feelings. Crullers stumbles over other people’s feelings the same as she does over stools or steps or anything. Where’s Polly? Why didn’t she wait for us?”
“The Admiral drove by, and called her to ride home with him,” Ruth explained. “Oh, girls, isn’t it getting pretty and summery? Look—the vines on the old stone wall are leafing out.”
“Polly said four sharp. No time for landscape gazing.”
“Ted, you never see what’s happening right under your nose.”
“Can’t when you carry a perpetual spy-glass on coming events,” laughed Ted, with a gay toss of her head.
“Since Ted went into psychics last fall, she hasn’t touched real ground to speak of.”
“And a good thing too,” protested Ted, shaking her head at them. “If Polly and I did not keep a level outlook on the business side of things, where would the club be? As secretary I’ve had my spy-glass leveled all winter at the coming summer. Polly and I figured and studied over the whole plan while you girls were noticing old vines on stone walls, and ‘sech like,’ as Aunty Welcome says. Now, wait till you hear what she has to say.”
Down the beautiful old street they started. It was the end of April, and never did Queen’s Ferry show to such advantage as when springtime scattered blossoms everywhere. The horse-chestnut trees were showing feathery plumes of gold and white. Over gray garden walls catalpas lifted masses of bloom, and fruit trees stood in orchards like brides in their snowy loveliness. The air was heavy with fragrance of white lilac and cherry blossoms.
It was Friday. Only Calvert Hall girls knew just what that stood for in the calendar of events. It was the one day when discipline relaxed, when books and lessons went into desks, when Miss Calvert herself partook of the general relaxation, put aside her gown of stiff gray silk, and, garbed in white lawn, with a black lace shawl draped about her slender shoulders, went out into the garden with a book of poetry.