Imogene did dislike Virginia, for no other reasons in the world than that the other girls liked her, and that their friendliness gave Virginia prominence at St. Helen’s. Virginia did not seek popularity or influence, therefore she had both; but Imogene for two years had sought for both, and moreover had used every means to attain them. This year she saw her popularity waning. Even Dorothy did not seem to care so much for her. Instead she liked Virginia—a bitter pill for Imogene to swallow. As for influence, Imogene Meredith did possess a strong influence over her associates, but its strength did not lie in its goodness. Moreover, Imogene remembered a certain talk with Miss Wallace on the occasion of Virginia’s trouble with Miss Green; and the memory of that talk still rankled bitterly. She would get even with Virginia, and show St. Helen’s that this Wyoming girl was not such a wonder after all. So as Virginia told her story and the others listened, Imogene smiled to herself and planned her revenge, Miss Van Rensaelar for the moment almost forgotten.
“Aren’t you going to play tennis, Dorothy?” Virginia asked as she finished.
Dorothy hesitated. “Can’t we play to-morrow, Virginia?” she asked, embarrassed. “I promised Imogene I’d walk to the village with her.”
“Of course. It doesn’t matter. Come on, Vivian. Priscilla and you and I’ll play; and if Lucile doesn’t want to make a fourth, we’ll get Bess Shepard from Overlook. She said this morning that she’d like to play.”
So while the others crossed the campus toward the gymnasium, Imogene and Dorothy started for Hillcrest, and upon arriving went to the “Forget-me-not,” while the sallow-faced youth before mentioned served them hot chocolate, and lingered unnecessarily in Imogene’s neighborhood. On the way home, peace having been restored between them, Imogene divulged her secret plan to Dorothy, or at least the half of it which she cared to divulge,—namely that upon their arrival home while every one was preparing for dinner, a pail of water be suspended over Miss Van Rensaelar’s door, so that upon her return she might be surprised into a more docile manner toward her housemates.
Dorothy giggled at the picture of the soaked Katrina, but obstacles presented themselves to her mind.
“It will be funny, but I think you’ll get the worst of it instead of Katrina.”
“How, I’d like to know?”
“Well, you’re sure to be found out, because you can’t fib about it, and there’s so few of us in The Hermitage that all of us will be asked. Then, besides, it’s funny, but I’m not so sure it’s a joke. I think it’s sort of mean.” Dorothy said the last somewhat hesitatingly, noting the expression coming over Imogene’s face.
“Don’t be such a wet-blanket, Dot! Besides, I don’t see how you’re so sure I’ll be found out. You certainly won’t tell, and Viv won’t dare to; and you know how St. Helen’s feels about telling tales anyway. Besides, it’s not my plan. You know who suggested it just this afternoon.” And into Imogene’s eyes crept a crafty expression, which told Dorothy more than her words.