“Oh-h! Ah-h!” Lucy sat up with a suddenness which narrowly missed landing her on the floor. “I thought you would never come home,” she mumbled, not yet fully awake. Blinking sleepily at the two laughing girls, she continued: “I had some news for you. I sat down to wait until you came. Ronny was out; so was Muriel. I’ve been here since eight o’clock. Were you out to dinner?”
“That means you were not here.” Jerry pointed an arraigning finger at Lucy. “Where have you been? Lately you have become a regular gad-about. It must be stopped, Luciferous.”
“Gad-about nothing,” disclaimed Lucy. “You, not I, belong to that deplorable class, Jeremiah Macy. I have been working. True, I dined outside the Hall, and in distinguished company. I am President Matthews’ secretary pro tem. I had dinner at his house tonight. I told you I had news for you.”
“Can you beat that?” Jerry sank into the nearest chair as though about to collapse. “You are mounting the college scale by leaps and bounds, aren’t you? Chummy with the registrar, a friend of Professor Wenderblatt’s, and now established in Doctor Matthews’ good graces. The unprecedented rise of Luciferous Warniferous; or, Secretaries who have become famous.”
“How did it happen? Where is Miss Sayres?” Marjorie exhibited lively curiosity at the news.
“Miss Sayres is at home with a cold. Nothing very serious, I imagine. Miss Humphrey recommended me to the doctor. He was away behind in his correspondence. Miss Sayres has been ill for two days. It was nearly six when I finished his letters. He still had an address to dictate. He asked me if I would stay until after dinner and take the dictation. I had a beautiful time. He and his wife are such friendly persons. He is a great biologist, too. His son was there. He is a New York lawyer and is home for a few days’ visit.” Lucy added this last without enthusiasm.
“Well, well, Luciferous!” patronized Jerry. “And were you afraid to talk to the young man?”
“Oh, stop teasing me! No, I was not. He talked to his mother most of the time, anyway. I must go and find Ronny. Was she with you girls?” Lucy rose, gathered her books from the table, and prepared to depart.
“She was with us, Lucy. You’d better stay and talk to us,” coaxed Marjorie. “It’s growing later and later and still I am not studying. I might as well wind up a pleasant but unprofitable evening with gossiping about Doctor Matthews. Come on back and resume your chair, Miss Warner.”
Lucy had now reached the door. “Wait until I go and see Ronny, and I will come back.” She exited, returning five minutes afterward with Ronny.