“Aren’t they the dearest, sweetest girls you ever saw!” exclaimed Bea as the two freshmen turned from the curving concrete walk into the road that led to the orchard.
“I saw only one who was truly beautiful,” commented her companion. “I expected to find them prettier.”
“Oh, but they are so interesting,” protested Bea in quick loyalty. “Nearly everybody appears prettier after you get acquainted. I’ve noticed that myself. It is better to dawn than to dazzle, don’t you think? Sue Merriam, for instance, improves and grows nicer and nicer after you know her. You will learn to love her dearly.”
“Never!”
At the tone Bea gave an involuntary whistle; then checked herself at sight of Lila’s quivering lips. “Oh, well, don’t bother. Let’s go on to the orchard. Look! There comes Roberta Abbott with about a bushel of russets. She is a funny girl too. To judge from her appearance, you would say she was sad and dignified. She has the most tragic dark eyes and mouth. But just wait till you hear her talk. Didn’t you meet her last night at Sue’s?”
“Yes.” Lila turned away to hide the flicker of jealousy, for she had learned long since how transparently every emotion showed in her features. “I think we ought not to waste any time now. And anyway I’d rather get acquainted with you all alone this afternoon.”
Bea stared. “You’re the funniest girl!” She walked on after waving a sociable hand at Roberta. “It is interesting to have friends that are different, don’t you think?”
“To have one friend who is different,” corrected Lila.
“All right,” laughed Bea. “Oh, see what a gorgeous glorious place this is, with the trees and scarlet woodbine and the lake sparkling away over there, and girls, girls, girls! But I don’t believe that there is a single other one exactly like you.”
During the next week this thought recurred to her more than once. By means of some diplomatic maneuvering, the two friends managed to have their single rooms exchanged for a double. After moving in, Lila seized a moment of solitude to plan a beautiful cozy corner for Bea. She dragged her own desk into a dusky recess and set Bea’s at an artistic angle at the left side of the sunniest window. Just as she was hanging her favorite picture above it, Bea came rushing in with her arms full of new books.