“I am not sure that her character is enough settled yet for me to say. Of course, I do not care for her as I do for you girls here, but I feel immensely sorry for her. Her pride is hurt continually. She will either develop into something strong and good, or else grow unlovable and unloving. Let us help her this wee bit, girls. Her pride is being wounded all of the time now, and a little recognition by her classmates may come at just the right time.”
“Oh, if you want us to do missionary work, Con, and put it on high moral grounds–”
“Be still. I just ask you to do a nice little thing for a girl who feels that she has no friends. And you will do it, too.”
“Will I?” and Beth looked mutinous. Constance smiled serenely. She was sure of Beth’s help when the time should come.
The girls all felt that the one who was made president, during this, their junior year, should be both capable and popular. Either Constance or Dolly could have been elected, had they so chosen, but Constance utterly refused to consider the matter, and Beth would not hear to Dolly’s being nominated. It ended with the election of Hope Brereton, and the “diggers” were not represented at all in the offices, with the exception of Beth, who was made chairman of the executive committee since she was the retiring president. Margery Ainsworth, to her own intense surprise and gratification, was put on the entertainment committee.
It did not take long for the girls to settle into their former grooves again. The old friendships were cemented, and some new ones were formed. Mary retreated again into her shell, and Dolly felt more than once like shaking her. In other ways Mary had improved materially. She could not afford handsome dresses, but those that she had, were becoming in color and soft in texture. Her hair was arranged to show its real beauty, and while she was far from being a pretty girl, she had a fine, intelligent face, and the promise of future beauty. She was looking forward to the time when she could teach, and earn money to lighten the burdens on that western farm.
Just before Thanksgiving time, the sophomores gave a little entertainment to the juniors. Mary came into Dolly’s room one day with a wry face. “I fear that I shall not be able to attend that entertainment which the sophomores are giving us.”
“I would like to know why?”
“We shall have to wear some sort of evening dress, I suppose, and the only thing that I have is my white.”
“That would be just the thing,” said Constance, who chanced to be present.