The horrified face that stared back at her from the mirror was striped and rayed with startling streaks of black. The astonished eyes shone out from white circles framed in ebony sunbursts; the nose was like an islet washed by jetty waves; the mouth slowly widened under a fiercely upcurved line of inky hue.
In the study on the other side of the door, remorseful Bea was wearing several paths in their best rug, as she waited for some sign. Suddenly a new sound welled up and she bent her head to listen, in quick dread of another storm of weeping. But, no! This was different. It was not a sob, though it did seem rather gaspy. It bubbled and chuckled. It was laughter.
“Lila!” cried Bea, and made a dash toward the room. Lila flung open the door.
“Bea!” she answered, “I am going to give a tea for my Aunt Sarah. Do you think Sue Merriam will come if I invite her?”
CHAPTER II
ENTER ROBBIE BELLE
Now it happened one evening in the early fall, while Bea and Lila were learning to live together, that the Students’ Association held a meeting to appoint corridor wardens for the year.
In the throng that came pouring out of chapel afterward, Bea, who had an eel-like rapidity in gliding through crowds, found herself at the doors some yards in advance of Lila. Halting to wait in the vestibule, she overheard a junior instructing a new freshman officer in her duties.