“I noticed that. Poor infant terrible!” Ronny smiled.
“I sent Martha and Ethel Laird to make her acquaintance,” Leila said. “Even though she would have none of me, I remembered my fine old Irish manners.”
“You’re a credit to old Ireland, Hamilton, or any other spot you happen to set your distinguished Irish foot upon,” Marjorie laughingly assured.
“I am that,” Leila blandly agreed. “I prefer myself any day to Miss Walbert.”
Gussie Forbes had too late arrived at the same opinion. The dance over, Florence Hart had found her curled up in an arm chair fast asleep. She had not removed her party gown and a suspicious pinkness about her eyelids suggested tears. Awakened, she was not tearful at all. She launched forth in a bitter tirade against her discourteous escort.
“You wait, Floss,” she said, her eyes flashing. “I won’t forget this evening, in a hurry! Some day before the year’s over, Miss Smarty Walbert will understand that I haven’t forgotten it. First time I meet her I shall tell her what I think of her. That won’t be the end of it. Later, I’ll pay her up for this evening! See if I don’t!”
CHAPTER XI—A PATCHED-UP FRIENDSHIP
“A guilty conscience need no accuser.” Elizabeth Walbert was well aware that she had been guilty of great discourtesy to Augusta Forbes. She had no intention of admitting it, though. Meeting Augusta in the lavatory the following morning, she fixed her large blue eyes on the freshman in simulated reproach.
“Where did you go to last night?” she coolly inquired. “Just before the hop ended I hunted all over for you.”
Augusta turned a stony face toward her. “Did you, indeed? You amaze me,” she said with biting sarcasm. “So you took that much trouble? Sorry! Since you did not concern yourself about me earlier in the evening, it doesn’t matter whether or not you know where I went.”