Despite the fact that Room 15 was to pass into the possession of a mysterious senior who might appear at any time to claim it, Miss Remson had urged the Travelers to make it their initiation headquarters. This time there had been no hanging of heavy curtains over the doors of the room. The preponderance of the students to reside at Wayland Hall had not yet arrived on the campus. There was therefore small possibility of anyone being disturbed by the merry-making in Fifteen.
In honor of the occasion the Wayland Hall Travelers had converted one of the couch beds into a throne such as had been erected on a previous occasion when Miss Susanna Hamilton had first visited Marjorie in her room at the Hall and been introduced to Miss Remson.
The middle place upon the throne had been reserved for Leslie. She had been impressively informed that, when she should have courageously passed through the terrible ordeal ahead of her, she would then be eligible to the middle place on the throne. Miss Susanna Hamilton and Miss Remson occupied the seats on the right and left of the glorified dais, looking like a pair of small bright-eyed birds in full plumage.
Marjorie had fondly ordered the party to be a dress affair. In consequence Miss Remson was resplendent in a ravishing gray satin gown which Leila had brought from Europe as a present to her old friend. Miss Susanna had on the wisteria satin gown which she had worn at Castle Dean on the previous Christmas day. The Travelers had decked themselves in their prettiest afternoon frocks. They resembled a flock of bright-hued butterflies which had suddenly made pause in Marjorie’s and Jerry’s old-time haunt before resuming their flight.
When the gay revelers trooped down to dinner, which was to be served to them at a special long table, the attention of the few students in the dining-room immediately became riveted upon the merry little company. Besides themselves there were eight other girls in the dining-room. Of these eight only two pairs of eyes were directed in good-natured amusement at the vivacious table full of girls. The other six pairs held a variety of expressions running from curiosity to dark envy.
“Catch Miss Remson allowing us to have any such noisy party,” Julia Peyton muttered jealously to Clara Carter as the two girls left the dining room. A rippling burst of laughter from the guest table further fanned the displeasure that flamed in Julia’s breast against the merry diners. She was particularly incensed at seeing Leslie Cairns among them.
“Miss Dean and Miss Macy must have come back to the Hall again. That’s the reason for the pow-wow they’ve been having in 15,” Clara Carter surmised as they started up the stairs. “That little old woman in lavender must be Miss Remson’s sister. One is about as homely as the other. It’s queer, though, about that Miss Cairns being with them.”
“Very queer; altogether too queer,” was Julia’s bitter retort. “She has no right to be here at the Hall. If she comes here again I shall make an objection to Miss Remson. She’s an expelled student. Besides the way she sneaked into the gym under cover of a mask at the Romp was simply outrageous. I can’t understand how Miss Remson can overlook such things.”
“I heard that she lived at Wayland Hall until she was expelled and that her father was a multi-millionaire. Probably Miss Remson has a healthy respect for her father’s money. Maybe she is visiting Miss Remson. If she is, you can’t say a word.” Clara pointed out sagely.
A baffled expression crossed Julia’s frowning features. “It won’t take me long to find out what she is doing here,” she sullenly boasted. “She is entirely to blame for my falling-out with Doris. It was over her Doris and I disagreed. I hope Doris will someday understand that I only tried to be her friend in warning her against Miss Cairns.”