“Is that so? I recall seeing something about Brooke Hamilton having founded the college in the bulletin I sent for. I didn’t bother myself about reading it. That sort of thing bores me dreadfully.”
“Then you are likely to be bored frequently as a freshman at Hamilton.” Leslie spoke with faint satire. “You will hear a great deal about Brooke Hamilton on the campus, and see the result of his steadfast work and genius at every turn.”
“I shall let it go in one ear and out the other,” Miss Ogden waved a dismissing hand. “I’m not interested in the historical side of Hamilton College. It’s the social side that appeals to me. I’ve heard there were more millionaires’ daughters enrolled at Hamilton than at any other college for girls in the United States. Is that true?” The bright black eyes of the freshman fastened themselves eagerly upon Leslie.
“Really, I couldn’t say. I have never stopped to think about any such thing,” Leslie answered rather brusquely.
“But you must know most of the students at Hamilton,” came insistently from the other girl.
“I know the majority of the students at Wayland Hall, but, with the exception of a few friends, such as Miss Harper and Miss Mason, I know little of their personal affairs, or financial circumstances. The social side of Hamilton is delightful, at the same time, it is decidedly democratic. Cleverness, and initiative, count for more at Hamilton than does money.”
“That sounds awfully, well—dreadfully prissy, and pokey. ‘True worth will win,’ and ‘Every day we are growing better, and better,’ and all that sort of twaddle. One hears it generally about most colleges, though.” Miss Ogden’s shoulder-shrug was eloquent of her contempt of such a state of affairs as Leslie had briefly outlined to her. “I can tell in a few days whether, or not, I’m going to like Hamilton. If it doesn’t appeal to me I shall pick another college.”
Sight of the campus momentarily turned the self-centered strange attention from her own particular aims and ambitions. “It’s a bully campus,” she exclaimed with some warmth. “It has a lot of class.” As the roadster sped on toward the entrance gates she continued to voice approval of the majestic stretch of green, stately Hamilton Hall, and its accompanying handsome campus houses.
Neither Leila’s nor Vera’s car showed on the drive leading up to Wayland Hall. Leslie guessed that they had driven to the garage, since they had preceded her on the return from the station. It therefore became her duty to escort Miss Ogden to the Hall, and there introduce her to Miss Remson. Her responsibility as one of the welcoming committee of the afternoon would then cease, she was thankfully reflecting, as she accompanied the diminutive freshman up the steps.
“Well, Leslie,” greeted the brisk little manager as Leslie entered Miss Remson’s office with her afternoon “catch,” “you are back from the station in good season. I delayed serving dinner on account of the arriving freshmen.” She rose from her desk chair and stepped forward, smiling at the new arrival in her kindly fashion.