Leila presently returned to her own room, not in the least deceived by the scheming freshman, but half sorry she had asked her to take part in the coming Shakespearean play. “The deed is done,” she dryly informed Vera as she entered their room. “Let us hope it has not been ill done. I am less than ever taken with Miss Norris. She has little more college spirit than a basket of potatoes.”
“How very uncharitable you are,” Vera giggled at Leila’s disgusted comparison.
“Am I not?” The Irish girl’s half-frowning features brightened into a faint grin. She thereupon gave Vera a brief account of her interview with Stephanie, ending with: “I am the willing slave of democracy, but it is a hard master.”
With Leila’s exit from Stephanie’s room, her roommate, Laura Taylor, who had been present during Leila’s call, broke the constraint which had hung heavily upon the two since the night of the frolic.
“You are in luck, Steve,” she observed with quiet significance. “You can afford to forget about the beauty contest flivver. Something much better has come your way. Go to it. You can act. You ought to make a wonderful King Hal.”
“Yes; I can act.” Stephanie walked over to her mirror, chin raised to a complacent angle. “I hope the costumes for the part are good. If I don’t like them, I shall send to a New York costumer’s for others that may suit me better.”
“Yes?” Behind Stephanie’s back Laura’s plump shoulders shrugged bored disapproval.
“It’s exactly as I told you it would be.” Stephanie suddenly swung around from the mirror, speaking with triumphant energy. “Those snippy P. G.’s, Miss Harper and Miss Cairns, simply had to recognize my worth. It looks to me as though Miss Harper might be on my side, and not on Miss Ogden’s. Perhaps Miss Cairns has had enough of her, too. Both have no doubt heard about our fuss at the beauty contest.”
“Listen to me, Steve,” Laura burst forth impatiently, “for goodness’ sake stop kidding yourself along. You happen to be the type Miss Harper happened to need for King Henry. That’s the reason, and the only reason why she has offered you the part.”
“It is not,” Stephanie flared back hotly. “You are—”