“Good afternoon,” she saluted with an air of calm assurance. Her bright, bird-like eyes continued to rove from one to another of the three post-graduates. “You are upper-class students, aren’t you? Awfully sweet in you to come to meet me.”
“Thank you.” Leila became spokesman, her face a courteous mask. “We are——”
“Seniors,” interposed the little girl eagerly with a quick nod of her green-capped head.
“No.” Leila’s “No” was enigmatic. “We are post-graduates. We are from Way——”
“Oh, that’s better still.” The black-eyed girl dropped her luggage to the station platform and shot forth a small deeply-tanned hand. “Shake,” she said. “Glad to meet you, I’m sure.”
“Thank you.” Leila tried to put friendliness into the handshake. Her canny Irish nature had already arrayed itself against the tiny freshman, and her too-assured manner. On the other hand, she could not help feeling amused by the newcomer to Hamilton College. “I am Miss Harper, of 19—. This is Miss Mason, also of 19—, and Miss Cairns of 19——”
“Why, you and Miss Mason have been graduates from college for three whole years, haven’t you?” exclaimed the girl, her black eyes rounding in a kind of condescending surprise. “Oh, I know. You are both of the faculty. Some honor for me, to be met at the train by faculty.” This, as she nodded acknowledgment of Leila’s introduction, shaking hands in turn with Vera and Leslie. “Pardon me, I didn’t catch your name,” she said as her hand dropped away from Leslie’s light clasp.
“I am Miss Cairns,” Leslie returned imperturbably, “but we are not——”
“My name is Jewel Marie Ogden, and I’m entering the freshman class at Hamilton College from Warburton Prep. It’s a toppo prep school not far from New York City,” interrupted the girl. “You must have heard of it.”
“I know Warburton.” Leslie’s tone was pleasantly enigmatic.