Of all the audience, those most impressed by performance and performers were the Sans. While they enjoyed the revue, girl-fashion, as a spectacle, the knowledge of the enemy’s triumph was hard to swallow. Ronny’s dancing was a revelation to them, astonishing and bitter. As each number appeared, perfect in its way, the realization of the cleverness of the girls they had affected to despise came home as a sharp thrust.
Leslie Cairns was particularly disgruntled as she hurried Natalie from the gymnasium and into the cold clear December night.
“Don’t talk to me, Nat,” she warned. “I am so upset I feel like howling my head off. The way Beanie has come to the front is a positive crime. Did you see her marching around the gym tonight as though she owned it?”
“It was a good show,” Natalie ventured.
“Entirely too good,” grumbled Leslie. “I don’t like to talk of it. Did I mention that Bess wrote me a note. She wants to see me about something very important.” Leslie placed satirical stress on the last three words. “She may see me but she won’t be pleased. I’m in a very bad humor tonight. I shall be in a worse one tomorrow.”
CHAPTER XXI—“DISPOSING” OF BESS
Leslie’s ominous prediction regarding herself was not idle. She awoke the next morning signally out of sorts. Though she had declared to Natalie she did not care to discuss the revue, when she arrived at the Hall she had changed her mind. She had invited Natalie into her room for a “feed.” The two had gorged themselves on French crullers, assorted chocolates and strong tea. Nor did they retire until almost midnight.
Leslie greeted the light of day with a sour taste in her mouth and a desire to snap at her best friend, were that unlucky person to appear on her immediate horizon. She had thought herself fairly well prepared in psychology for the morning recitation. Instead she could not remember definitely enough of what she had studied the afternoon before to make a lucid recitation. This did not tend to render her more amiable. She prided herself particularly on her progress in the study of psychology and was inwardly furious at her failure.
Exiting from Science Hall that afternoon, the first person her eyes came to rest upon was Elizabeth Walbert. She stood at one side of the broad stone flight of steps eagerly watching the main entrance to the building.
“Oh, there you are!” she hailed. “I have been waiting quite a while for you.”