As she stood listening in stupefaction to the announcement she could see in all the chapel nothing but her father’s face. He was smiling at her with a light in his dark eyes that repaid her a thousand times over for the effort she had made toward restitution. She was ready to break down and weep unrestrainedly. Nevertheless she did not. She controlled herself with an effort and received the honor as a true daughter of Peter Cairns might be counted upon to do. What amazed her, even more than the citation, was the tumultuous applause which broke out as she resumed her seat.
After the chapel the students held an impromptu reception outside the chapel in which she and Phil and Barbara were the center of an admiring and congratulatory crowd. Leslie had already clasped hands with her father and had heard his hearty: “Good work, Cairns II.” It was the only commendation she craved.
“You are to be at Wayland Hall this afternoon at four o’clock,” Muriel informed her as she shook hands vigorously with Leslie. “I am going to conduct a citation there for the benefit of Jeremiah Macy. She is in line for honors, too. She doesn’t know it yet. It is up to Marjorie to drag her to the scene on time.”
That Marjorie succeeded in dragging Jerry to Muriel’s room was apparent that afternoon. At precisely four o’clock she marched her into the midst of a giggling throng of girls who were awaiting her arrival in exuberant spirits.
“What is the matter with you girls?” she demanded as she glanced comically from one to another of the laughing company. “What sort of joke do you think you are going to play on me?”
“It isn’t a joke, Jeremiah, that we have in store for you,” Ronny assured in a soothing tone. “You are in line for a citation; a very great honor, you know.”
“No. I don’t know. I can guess just about how great an honor it will be,” Jerry retorted suspiciously.
“You are going to know this instant, Jeremiah. Vera is ready and waiting to laud and praise you. Now, Vera.” Ronny made an impressive signal to Vera.
Vera came forward, bearing in her hands a medium-sized square book, thin as to pages and bound in soft dark blue leather. On the outside of the cover was printed in gold lettering the pertinent title: “Jingles to Bean. By Jeremiah Macy.”
Vera thereupon began a speech which was drowned by laughter most of the time during the utterance. She concluded the presentation speech by opening the book and proudly disclosing to Jerry a kodak photograph of Jerry in the act of reciting a jingle. She was even shown with her mouth open and one hand out in a flamboyant gesture.