The next morning saw the seniors assemble at the amphitheatre which had been prepared for the Class Day exercises. Berta was already on the platform, assisting the committee in the arrangement of seats for the class. Among later comers who were hurrying across the campus Bea caught up with Robbie Belle.
“I am hastening across the sward,” she announced in cheerfully inane greeting, “what is a sward anyhow, and why isn’t it pronounced the same as sword?”
“It’s grass,” said Robbie Belle. Bea felt a speaking silence fall and glanced up to catch the direction of her gaze. Between them and the expanse of mingled chairs and girls around the platform against the wall of the nearest dormitory, a stranger was moving rapidly toward them, her eager eyes on Robbie.
“Little Robbie Belle! I knew you last night from your picture.” She held both hands, smiling.
Bea considered the two pairs of shoulders on a level. “Little!” she sniffed to herself, “it must be a very old alum.”
Robbie turned to introduce her. “This is my friend, Beatrice Leigh, Miss More. Bea, this is my sister’s best friend. I remembered you too, last night, Miss More. I remembered—I—I wondered——” Robbie’s tongue stumbled in embarrassment at the verge of candor.
Miss More’s mouth hardened slightly, though her eyes still smiled. “You wondered how I happen to be here for the reunion of a class from which I was expelled. Is that it? Perhaps you are unaware that I have been reinstated. The faculty has at last reconsidered their unjust decision. They acknowledge that it was based upon a misunderstanding. I have made up the work at home. To-morrow I shall receive two degrees, the Bachelor’s with your class, the Master’s with the post-graduates. I am sure you congratulate me.”
“Oh!” gasped Robbie Belle, “oh, yes!”
Bea succeeded in depressing somewhat the round-eyed stare with which she had listened to this extraordinary speech. “I think it is perfectly lovely, Miss More,” she said. “Your class must be delighted. It is a triumph—a splendid triumph. Oh,—ah!” She turned at the sound of a faint call behind her: “Jessica!”