“Why, Leslie, this is a surprise!” echoed Alida. “I haven’t seen you since the day—” Alida stopped, her color rising. “I mean since—” again she stammered.
“Oh, say it and be done with it.” Leslie exhibited her old impatience. She was already shaking hands with Lola, who had climbed out of the electric and now stood beside the roadster. “Since I got it in the neck for hazing. That’s what the trouble was all about. If Matthews hadn’t been both feet down on hazing the whole thing would have blown over.”
“We couldn’t imagine what had become of you,” Lola said hastily. She was anxious to keep off the subject of the Sans’ downfall. She had exhibited so little sympathy for Leslie during her last week on the campus that she feared Leslie might, given the opportunity, upbraid her for her lack of loyalty. “Why didn’t you write me, Leslie? I never heard a word from you all summer.”
“Oh, I was busy. I don’t like to write letters.” The reply was coolly evasive.
“Are you staying in town?” Alida was now out of the car and ranged next to Lola beside the roadster.
“West Hamilton. I have an aunt there, you know.”
“Is that so?” Lola opened her eyes. “I never knew that.”
Conversation languished for an instant. Lola and Alida were both curious concerning Leslie, but tried not to show it.
“There’s a rather nice little confectioner’s store about two blocks further down the street. Suppose we go there,” proposed Leslie. “We are blocking the road, as it is. Some of these Hamilton fossils would kick if we happened to take up an inch more of room than their ideas call for.”
“I know the place you mean. Delighted!” Lola turned toward her car, Alida following. Again at the wheel, she called out, “Park your car on the lower side of the street opposite the shop. The parking’s better there. Go ahead. We’ll be right behind you.”