A sort of pairing off followed the discussion of Hazel’s ways. That she had a wonderful voice all were willing to concede, but just what Jean meant by her comparison with Gloria was not clear, at least not satisfactorily clear to Gloria, or her special friends, including Pat.
The school cliques, inevitable, were again being set in motion. Clubs or Sororities were forbidden, as they had been the cause of more than one bitter quarrel among the girls in past years, when the faculty had tolerated the Bluejays, or the Social Sixes or even the Gabfesters, but a girl like Jean is sure to lead in a subtle way. Her pronounced opinions are always easier to accept than to combat, and just now she was “making up” something quite “clicquey.”
“The deceitful thing,” murmured Pat, when girl after girl slipped away from the pine needle carpet to follow Jean’s unspoken suggestion. “And she ate more of our pop-corn than any other three eaters added up.”
“Was she a great friend of Hazel’s?” asked Gloria. Her dark eyes were glinting under rather fluttering lids, and a “set expression,” as good old Jane would have described it, seemed to have suddenly burned out Gloria’s happiness fuse.
“Jean is always pals with the airified ones,” said Pat, answering Gloria’s question. “The way she eats them up makes me—suspicious.”
Trixy broke into a genuine laugh. Pat could say the wisest things in the queerest way.
“But I notice she didn’t gobble you up,” went on Pat to Trixy. “How come?”
“Do you suppose I am in the way?” Gloria had not yet found a smile and was plainly pouting.
“Silly baby!” chided Trixy. “If you really have saved me from anything like that——” sweeping a hand toward the departing contingent, “then indeed, I am more than grateful.”
“Oh, I have it,” exploded Pat. “Let’s get up an opposition!”