She longed to talk it over with Trixy, but the difference in their grades meant almost complete separation of the chums during the school hours, and even Pat must have been critically busy, for not a glimpse of her red head broke the sombre shadow of Gloria’s horizon all the long day.
Nor did Jack herself appear on the scene. After lunch and before the second afternoon period, Gloria deliberately sought out Pat. She was discovered in a head-on collision with a large, green covered book, whose make up indicated helps for the helpless, “trots” for the weary, and suggestions for those struggling in the tangled ways of English Lit.
“Hello, yourself!” mumbled Pat, anticipating a greeting. “Yes, I’m nearly dead, how do you feel yourself?”
Gloria laughed outright. “Poor old Pat!” she soothed. “What’s the worst thing in life just now?”
“That old goggle-eyed dame that’s supposed to teach us Lit., but really blasts our young dreams with her crazy ideas of original work.” Scorn fairly sizzed through the ill chosen words. “The idea of giving us such a theme as ‘Modern Cynicism! Its effect on Youth.’ Now, if you ask me what is the effect of cynicism on youth, I would just answer ‘Mary Mears.’ She’s the result of that effect.”
“Oh, Pat, cheer up!” quoth Gloria. “Have you seen Jack?”
“Seen Jack?” incredulously.
“Yes. She’s back, isn’t she?”
“She isn’t, is she?”
Gloria laughed. “I heard she was——”