| “At thy birth were gathered voices of the sea, Murmur of the breezes in the forest tree, Songs of birds and laughter—” |
At this point an open umbrella, which hid the pillow on the farther narrow bed, gave a convulsive shiver, and a fretful voice complained:
“Will you turn off that gas and stop your nonsense? Here it is midnight, if it’s an hour, and I haven’t slept a wink, with that light blazing. I know I shall fail in the written test to-morrow, Valentine’s day or not.”
Bea stared pensively at the Topsy-like corona above the flushed face. “I don’t believe she ever puts her hair up in curlers now, do you? She is superior to such vanities, and anyway, it is naturally curly, you know, and that probably makes a difference. I wonder if she even stoops to making verses. Do you suppose she sends valentines to other girls? Of course, she doesn’t care a snap whether she receives more than any, and is declared the most popular senior. H’m-m-m!” drifting into reverie afresh. “I dare say I could compose a poem on that idea. For instance:
| “I know a senior all sedate—” |
The umbrella bounced tempestuously across the floor, and was followed by a pillow driven hard and straight at a tousled head that ducked just in time.
“U-huh!” ferociously. “Well,
| “I know a freshman, sure as fate! Who shall no longer sit up late, Because her long-suffering roommate—” |
Here the gas flared suddenly into darkness, and slippered feet scurried away from the desk. The door opened and shut quickly; and Bea, her valentines clutched safely against her dressing gown, was speeding through the dark corridors toward the senior parlor. There a kettle, overflowing with bits of white, swung from a tripod before the shadowy folds of the parlor portières.
Ah! Bea, bending toward the caldron with arm extended, stiffened without moving. She had heard something. Yes, there it was again—a muffled footfall on the stairs near by. Hark! Down the black shaft from the cave above came stealing a second slender figure in a flowing robe of some pale woolly stuff. In her hands also was clasped a packet of envelopes.