Ignoring the girl’s half arrogant attitude, Miss Remson’s fund of old-fashioned courtesy did not desert her. “I am glad to welcome you to Wayland Hall, Miss Norris,” she said, bowing an acknowledgment of the girl’s introduction to the chaperon, Mrs. Weatherly. “You will find your rooms ready; satisfactory, also I trust. Dinner has not yet been served. I had expected you by train. Dinner was therefore held back on account of your expected arrival. Miss Harper, Miss Mason and Miss Cairns, Hamilton post-graduates, drove down to the station to welcome you. They reported to me the fact of your non-arrival by train.”
Miss Remson proceeded in her brisk manner to introduce Miss Norris and Mrs. Weatherly to the three P. G’s. without giving the haughty freshman the opportunity of immediate answer to her own pleasant, but dignified reply.
“Pleased to meet you,” Miss Norris’s smiling, careless nod to each of the three P. G’s. in turn was indicative of the precise amount of pleasure she derived from the meeting. Nor did she offer a hand to them. “So kind in you to go to the station. Thank you for thinking of us.”
“You are welcome,” Leila became spokesman, her tone formal, rather than friendly. She was not fond of being patronized. Miss Norris’s glance wavered a trifle as she met the steady light of the Irish girl’s blue eyes.
“Yes; it was certainly very sweet in you,” she hastily amended, then turned to Miss Remson with: “We should like to see our rooms before we have dinner.” She made no attempt to introduce the stout girl beside her to the three P. G’s.
The bevy of freshmen behind her were paying small attention to their leader’s conversation with Miss Remson. They were evidently satisfied with their leader’s method of management. A low-toned buzz of conversation was going on among them, punctuated by frequent gusts of laughter.
“Come on, girls.” Miss Norris waved a beckoning arm to the buzzing group at the foot of the veranda steps. With a condescending smile and nod to the three P. G’s. she and her two companions followed Miss Remson into the house. Mrs. Weatherly also bowed to them, pleasantly, and with a curious expression almost of appeal on her plump features. The blonde girl showed not the slightest interest in them as she moved stolidly along beside Miss Norris.
“Isn’t there a lift in the house?” was the last the trio left on the veranda heard of Miss Norris, as her voice floated back to them from the reception hall. “At Edgely Manor each campus house has—”
“Edgely Manor! Humph,” Leslie’s subdued ejaculation held a degree of light contempt. “So that’s what it’s all about. We may as well check out on this particular crowd of freshies, and be helpful to them by giving them a good letting-alone.”
“Tell us about Edgely Manor, wise Leslie,” begged Vera amusedly.