“No. The matter cannot drop here, and for the present I am unfortunately tied to the house.”
“I would not go if I were you, Raymond,” Abby interposed. “It will give her a chance to snub us.”
“I don’t understand you, Abby; I thought that you and Miss Hamilton were warm friends. You haven’t gushed about her as much this term as formerly, but I did not know that you had quarreled.”
“We are not as good friends as we were. I am dreadfully disappointed in her. She is not the girl I had supposed her.”
“It is rather odd that you didn’t tell us something about this in your letters. Miss Hamilton seems to be good enough for Miss Van Gerder, even if she is not for you. I intend to see her, Abby, and that is all there is to the matter.”
It was with no comfortable feelings that Abby saw him depart for New York on the next Tuesday. Thursday brought her a short note from him.
I don’t wonder in the least that you objected to my coming here. Miss Van Gerder has given me the history of the past term. I do not feel proud of the part my sister played. Father and I will have hard work undoing the mischief you have wrought. R. D.
That was all that Abby heard directly, but she knew that her father and Ray had vainly tried to get Margaret’s promise to spend the Easter recess with them. No allusion was made to the matter when the girls were back at school once more. Abby heard Constance’s friends talking of the gay time they had had, and she more than half envied them. Dolly seemed brimming over with fun and spirits. She had had a thoroughly enjoyable time at home and afterward in New York. Dick Martin had run down for several days, and Fred had called on New Year’s. Constance was an ideal hostess. Mary had spent the time at Dolly’s home, and had joined Dolly on her return to college. Mrs. Alden had vainly tried to accomplish some good by ridiculing Mary’s feeling toward Constance Van Gerder. She owned to Dolly that she had effected nothing. “I think that one or two caustic remarks Fred made did more good than all my lengthy talks.”
But, to all appearances, Fred had not accomplished much, either, for Mary refused to go walking with the girls when Constance was to be of the party, and she would not visit in their rooms save at times when she knew that Constance had a recitation. She was not going to be patronized, she declared, and Dolly vowed in disgust that she would never mention the subject again.
Nothing of any special interest happened through the next two terms. The four girls were growing to be extremely popular. Beth made a capital president, and the little quartette composed of herself, Dolly, Margaret and Constance were coming to be generally known as the “diggers.” There were students more bright than they, perhaps, in some particular branches, but there were no harder workers, and none who were more reliable.