The day before the ceremony Miss Susanna had sent a note to Jerry by Jonas requesting her to be at the Arms by two o’clock on the Saturday afternoon of the eventful day. Jerry had not the least idea of why she should suddenly have come into demand by the erratic old lady of the Arms. To hear Miss Susanna, or rather to hear from her, was to obey. Jerry marched off to the Arms dressed in a most “spiffy” fall suit of a new shade of blue that became her vastly.
At the dormitory where the confusion of demolishment had reigned so long, all was now in order, the order of progressive building. The ground above the vast cellar where the stone foundation would rise had been leveled, all debris had been cleared away and the great cornerstone placed ready for its descent into place.
Close to it a considerable number of workmen were gathered. Now in neat dark clothing instead of overalls. They had been invited by Miss Susanna to attend the ceremony and were to be given a luncheon at Hamilton Arms afterward. This was to be Jonas’ treat. Standing with them, his dark face wreathed in smiles as he talked to Peter Graham was Signor Baretti. Next to the Travelers there was no one more enthusiastic over the dormitory than Baretti.
“Look at Mr. Graham,” were Ronny’s low-spoken words as she and Robin and Marjorie paused three abreast near the cornerstone. “He’s perfectly happy. His face is so bright its positively dazzling.”
“He has the conscientiousness of work well done,” Robin returned in the same soft tone.
“That’s precisely it, Robin,” nodded Marjorie. “I’ve been watching him and trying to analyze his expression.”
“Miss Susanna will be late for the cornerstone act if she doesn’t appear in just four more minutes,” remarked Muriel practically.
“My, what a reverent spirit of mind you are in,” satirized Ronny. “‘Cornerstone act!’ I’m shocked.”
“I hope you recover. Why here comes a car! That’s not Miss Susanna’s turn-out. No horses in sight, either.” Muriel forgot to bicker with Ronny in her excitement over the rapidly approaching car.
As it came nearer the group of girls recognized a familiar figure on the front seat. It was Jerry, and she was driving. Beside her sat Jonas, his laughing features showing what he thought of the surprise.