“Don’t suppose anything of the sort, mither. You’ve no grounds for thinkin’ the lass will tumble. She seems to be at home in the air.”
Professor Green, just beyond Mrs. McLean, frowned, and put his hands in his pockets. He wondered if Dr. McLean had forgotten that he had been sent for just three weeks before when Molly had fainted in the gymnasium, and the Professor breathed a sigh of relief when Liberty presently descended to the earth and the game began.
It was one of the bloodiest and roughest games in the history of football. The ambulance bell rang constantly. Every time a victim fell, the cheering section on the other side set up a wild yell. Doctors and nurses were scattered all about the edges of the field attending to the wounded and the stretchers were busy every minute. As fast as one man tumbled another jumped into his place, and at last when there came a touchdown the players seemed to have fallen on top of each other in a mad squirming mass.
People laughed that day who were rarely seen to smile. Even Miss Steel’s severe expression relaxed into a cold, steely smile.
Molly had gathered up her long cheesecloth robe and was sitting with Jessie on a bench at the side of the field.
“Isn’t it perfect, Jessie?” she was saying. “I don’t think I ever enjoyed anything so much in all my life. It will make a wonderful letter home.”
Jessie smiled absently. With a pair of field glasses, she was searching the faces of the spectators for two friends (men, of course), who had motored over to see the sport. At her belt was pinned the most enormous bunch of violets ever seen. In fact, they were two bunches worn as one, from her two admirers. Presently Judith joined them on the bench. Ever since the Thanksgiving spread she had endeavored to be very nice to Molly.
“Hello, Ju-ju!” called Jessie; “you are a sight.”
“I know it,” she said. “I feel that I am a disgrace to the sex. I only hope I’m not recognizable.”
“Your shiny black eye is the only familiar thing about you. The rest is entirely disguised.”