“You don’t look half as solemn as you think you feel,” was Jerry’s opinion delivered with a faint chuckle4.
“How discouraging.” Marjorie stopped before the long plate glass wall mirror for a last critical inspection5. She thought she made a really unobtrusive appearance in her plain dark blue faille gown and small blue faille hat.
“You might better wear your new jade6 afternoon frock with the black fur bands,” Jerry grumbled7 critically. “The world is yours in that rig.”
“You’re a fond goose, Jeremiah. It has to be a case of ‘I won’t speak of myself’ today. I wish to eliminate Marjorie Dean from the situation as thoroughly8 as I can. I wish Prexy’s interest to be all for 79Leslie. The color of my new dress might interfere9 with his thought processes. This is strictly10 a matter of psychology11, you know,” she declared gaily12.
“All right, Bean. You win. You look almost as beautiful as ever, if not more so. True beauty cannot be hidden.” Jerry rose in a declamatory attitude, one arm raised stiffly. “It peereth forth13 from even the humblest of blue faille—”
“Stop it this instant.” Marjorie forgot sedateness14 and rushed upon Jerry, open-armed. Jerry threw up both arms and accidentally knocked Marjorie’s hat off. “Now see what you’ve done.” Laughing, Marjorie straightened a dent15 in her little blue hat and went over to the mirror to readjust it. “You’ve completely chased away my seriousness, Jeremiah Macy.”
“A good thing. Don’t worry about the way you ought to approach Prexy. Whatever you say to him will be the best thing that could possibly be said for Leslie.” This time it was Jerry who turned momentarily serious.
“I hope so.” Marjorie gave a quick, longing16 sigh. “Now I must be on my way. Lucy said Prexy would surely be at the house after four today. It’s a quarter to four now. I’ll meet you at Wayland Hall at five o’clock. Coming down stairs with me?”
“No. I’ve a letter to write. I must start it this minute. It’s to Hal. Any messages,” she called slyly. Marjorie was at the door.
80“Not any.” Marjorie laughed and blushed charmingly. “Good-bye, Jeremiah. See you later.” She tripped down the broad staircase and into the library where Miss Susanna Hamilton sat at the long mahogany table busily occupied with sorting the loose yellow leaves of an old book.
“So you are off on the momentous18 errand, are you, child?” she greeted, her eyes still on her dilettante19 task. She laid down the leaf in her hand and turned her keen dark eyes smilingly upon Marjorie. “What a plain little dress! But I like it. It’s suitable to the errand on which you are going. Marvelous Manager with no frills or furbelows.”
“If I succeed with Prexy this afternoon I shall feel that I can lay claim to that ridiculous title for just once.” Marjorie came over to Miss Hamilton. She bent20 and kissed the old lady’s pink cheek. “Please don’t be lonely without us at dinner tonight, Goldendede,” she said. “Remember we’ll all be here tomorrow night for a regular Travelers’ reunion.”
“Run along, my dear. I’ll be glad to be rid of both you and Jerry this evening,” chuckled21 Miss Susanna. “Think what an opportunity I shall have to collate22 this book, uninterrupted.”
“Good-bye.” Marjorie started for the door in pretended offense23. Half way across the library she paused, looking back and laughing.
“Wait a minute, Marjorie. Try not to feel downcast if President Matthews should be brusque with 81you in regard to Leslie,” was the older woman’s advice. “He is broader-minded than most presidents of colleges that I have known. And I have known a good many of them. They are all alike in their deep disapproval24 of particularly lawless students. Leslie’s case seems very doubtful to me. I don’t mean to be discouraging. I know how strongly prejudiced such men are against flagrant student offenders25.”
“I understand.” Marjorie gave a little comprehending nod. She came back and kissed Miss Susanna again, saying: “Wish me good fortune, Goldendede. I’m going on a quick hike to a trying engagement.”
“Good luck attend you, Lieutenant26 Dean.” Miss Susanna watched the trim little figure across the room and through the open door.
Marjorie left the Arms and sped lightly down the wide stone walk to the gates. She was soon swinging along with her free buoyant stride through picturesque27 Hamilton Estates and toward the campus. For a little the tender beauty of the early September day caused her to forget her errand in fervent28 Nature worship. Overhead the sun’s golden gleams filtered down from skies of palest blue between snatches of drifting, snowy clouds. The sweeping29 lawns and gardens of the Estates were bright with scarlet30 sage17, dahlias and early autumn flowers. Along the sides of the pike and in the fields grew goldenrod, daisies and purple asters in 82Nature’s own profusion31. Here and there the foliage32 of a tree had been touched by magic fingers and turned from green to red and gold.
Marjorie greeted the emerald-hued campus with a fond smile and a soft: “You’re as splendid as ever, old friend.” She entered the east gates and followed the drive for a little way, then left it to travel straight across the broad green sweep toward President Matthews’ house which was situated33 at the extreme west side of the campus.
It was now almost a week since the initial band of Travelers had gathered at the Hall and Marjorie had then announced her determination to go to President Matthews in behalf of Leslie Cairns. She had been obliged to delay her call upon the President for the very good reason that he had not returned to Hamilton campus from the sea shore until Tuesday of that week. It was now Thursday. The next day, Friday, would see the return of Katherine Langly and Lillian Wenderblatt to the campus. There was to be a jolly celebration at the Arms on Friday evening in honor of them. In view of happiness so near at hand Marjorie was desirous of immediately putting Leslie’s case before the President and having the self-appointed interview with “Prexy” off her mind.
As she crossed the broad green, endeared by long familiarity to her feet, her gaze wandered from one to another of the campus houses. Her eyes brightened to see three girls seated on the steps of Craig 83Hall. At Acasia House a slim girl shape stood on the top step of the front veranda34, waving an arm at an expressman coming up the walk with a heavy-looking trunk. In front of Silverton Hall three girls were emerging from a taxicab. Marjorie stopped to stare at them. No; they were not Phyllis Moore, Barbara Severn and Robin35 Page. She was not sure of their identity. She experienced a glad sense of happiness at the thought that the campus dwellers36 were gathering37 home again. The end of another week and Hamilton Campus would have again become its old delightful38 center of activity.
As she turned in at the gateway39 of the ornamental40 hedge which surrounded the president’s home, Marjorie’s buoyant interest in the campus receded41 and was replaced by the graver import of her errand. She hoped she would find the president alone. Perhaps Lucy would be there. Lucy had been working for him for the past two days.
“I shan’t mind if Lucy is there,” Marjorie was thinking as she neared the steps. Her heart was beating uncomfortably fast. She had a strong inclination42 to turn and run away. She did not dread43 the coming interview. What she did dread was the probable event of defeat.
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1
sedately
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| adv.镇静地，安详地 | |
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spacious
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| adj.广阔的，宽敞的 | |
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luxurious
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| adj.精美而昂贵的；豪华的 | |
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chuckle
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| vi.／n.轻声笑，咯咯笑 | |
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inspection
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| n.检查，审查，检阅 | |
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jade
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| n.玉石；碧玉；翡翠 | |
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grumbled
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| 抱怨( grumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 发牢骚； 咕哝； 发哼声 | |
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8
thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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interfere
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| v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰 | |
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10
strictly
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| adv.严厉地，严格地；严密地 | |
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psychology
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| n.心理，心理学，心理状态 | |
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gaily
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| adv.欢乐地，高兴地 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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sedateness
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| n.安详，镇静 | |
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dent
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| n.凹痕，凹坑；初步进展 | |
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longing
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| n.（for）渴望 | |
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sage
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| n.圣人，哲人；adj.贤明的，明智的 | |
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18
momentous
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| adj.重要的，重大的 | |
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dilettante
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| n.半瓶醋，业余爱好者 | |
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20
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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chuckled
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| 轻声地笑( chuckle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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22
collate
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| vt.(仔细)核对，对照；(书籍装订前)整理 | |
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offense
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| n.犯规，违法行为；冒犯，得罪 | |
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disapproval
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| n.反对，不赞成 | |
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offenders
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| n.冒犯者( offender的名词复数 )；犯规者；罪犯；妨害…的人（或事物） | |
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26
lieutenant
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| n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员 | |
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27
picturesque
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| adj.美丽如画的，（语言）生动的，绘声绘色的 | |
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fervent
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| adj.热的，热烈的，热情的 | |
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sweeping
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| adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的 | |
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scarlet
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| n.深红色，绯红色，红衣；adj.绯红色的 | |
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profusion
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| n.挥霍；丰富 | |
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foliage
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| n.叶子，树叶，簇叶 | |
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situated
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| adj.坐落在...的，处于某种境地的 | |
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veranda
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| n.走廊；阳台 | |
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robin
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| n.知更鸟，红襟鸟 | |
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dwellers
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| n.居民，居住者( dweller的名词复数 ) | |
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37
gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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delightful
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| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
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gateway
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| n.大门口，出入口，途径，方法 | |
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40
ornamental
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| adj.装饰的；作装饰用的；n.装饰品；观赏植物 | |
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41
receded
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| v.逐渐远离( recede的过去式和过去分词 )；向后倾斜；自原处后退或避开别人的注视；尤指问题 | |
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42
inclination
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| n.倾斜；点头；弯腰；斜坡；倾度；倾向；爱好 | |
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43
dread
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| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
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