“Oh, I don’t know.” Blanche Shirly crested1 her auburn head with an air of supreme2 confidence in her own ability to work miracles. “Once I’ve won Ruth Garnier over to the point where she feels that it’s her duty to invite me to the reunion, the others will have to give in, too. I’ve thought of a way to do it. Of course, my scheme may not work. Still, I’m going to try it.”
“What are you going to do?” queried4 Jeanette eagerly.
“Wait and see. If it works, I’ll tell you all about it. If it doesn’t, I won’t.”
“It’s hateful in you not to tell me,” pouted6 Jeanette. “I hope I can keep a secret.”
“I hope so,” came the aggravating7 retort. Blanche prudently8 refrained from adding that she did not propose to become a subject for Jeanette’s ridicule9 should her plan miss fire. To confide3 in her beforehand, and then fail, would mean the supplying of Jeanette with a fund of caustic10 darts11 to be used against herself in future quarrels. Though sworn allies and roommates, Blanche and Jeanette led the proverbial cat and dog life. It was on this very account that Blanche now forebore revealing her true reason for secrecy12. Kept in ignorance of it, Jeanette would merely pout5. Informed of it, an exchange of angry words would follow. For the present, at least, Blanche was not anxious to roil13 her touchy14 chum.
With intent to placate15, she patted her sulking roommate’s plump shoulder. “Don’t be cross, Jean,” she cooed. “I know you can keep a secret. Just think of all the confidential16 things I’ve told you. It’s only because I hate to brag17 and then, perhaps, be disappointed, that I’d rather not say anything just yet. If my scheme works, you’ll be the first and only one to hear about it.”
“Whatever you’re going to do, you’ll have to hurry. This is the last week of school,” reminded Jeanette, her frowning face gradually clearing.
“Leave that to me,” shrugged18 the plotter. “Now come on. We’ll both be late for chapel19. Then Miss Belaire will have a spasm20. I promised her not to be late again and I’ve broken my word twice since then. It will be a joyful21 day for me when I see the last of Hillside—pokey old place.”
Filled, for once, with the laudable determination to be on time, the two girls made a hurried exit from the house and set off across the campus toward the chapel on the run. During the services, however, Blanche’s mind strayed far afield. She was deep in the consideration of how and when she could manage to see Ruth Garnier alone. To go boldly to Ruth’s room after classes were over for the day was out of the question. She would be almost sure to encounter Emmeline Cerrito there, who was decidedly not included in her program of action. With Emmy on the scene, she would stand small chance of gaining her point.
By the time the brief morning service was over, however, Blanche had arrived at a definite decision. Without appearing to do so, she managed to draw near to Ruth, keeping a little behind her as the lines of students filed out of the chapel. Once outside, Fortune favored her. She saw Ruth pause for an instant at the foot of the stone walk to exchange a few words with Betty Wyndham and Emmy, then nod farewell and swing briskly across the campus.
Noting that in one hand Ruth held several letters, Blanche instantly guessed that she was heading for the mail-box at the extreme north end of the campus. It was too good an opportunity to be lost. Promptly22 seizing it, Blanche followed her at a leisurely23 walk, glancing frequently over her shoulder to see if she had been observed. So far as she could notice, no one was paying the slightest attention to her. The major portion of the girls had already turned their faces toward the main building, there to report for the first recitations of the morning. Luckily for her, Jeanette was among them. Blanche had not confided24 to her roommate her intention to trail Ruth, but had managed to slip stealthily away the instant the morning exercises were over. She was congratulating herself on the success of her plan.
Halfway25 back from the mailbox, pursuer and pursued met.
“Good morning, Blanche,” greeted Ruth pleasantly. “On your way to the mail box? I’ve just been there. Night before last I wrote three letters, then forgot to post them. Last night the Council Fire made me forget them again. They’re on their way at last, thank goodness.” Ruth sighed her relief.
“It’s you I was looking for; not the mailbox,” Blanche made abrupt26 beginning. “I—that is—I’ve a great favor to ask of you, Ruth. I can’t tell you about it now. It would take too long. It’s something very important. I wonder if you would mind coming to my room this afternoon, when recitations are over. No one will be there but just you and I. And—that is—please don’t say to the girls that I’ve asked you.”
A bright flush rose to Ruth’s smooth cheeks as Blanche added this somewhat lame27 and wholly unnecessary caution. “Certainly I won’t mention it to the girls.” There was a hint of offense28 in the reply. “Have you any reason to think I would?”
“Oh, no. Please don’t misunderstand me. I didn’t mean—I meant—” stammered29 Blanche. “Of course, I know you wouldn’t. Will you come?” The question held a note of suppressed eagerness.
“Let me see. What have I to do after classes?” Ruth knitted reflective brows. “Yes, I’ll be there.”
“You’re a dear.” Blanche beamed patronizing thanks. Conversing30 as they walked, the two had now reached the main building of the Academy which contained the recitation rooms as well as the students’ dormitory. “I’ll leave you here,” she continued as they entered. “I’m going to my room. I have no first hour recitation, you know.”
“Good-bye.” Mechanically, Ruth uttered the words. Her mind had suddenly reverted31 to Emmy’s warning of the previous evening. “Blanche has an axe32 to grind,” rang in her ears. Almost gloomily she stood watching the auburn-haired solicitor33 of mysterious favors, as she mounted the broad staircase and disappeared down the hallway.
“What can she possibly want me to do for her?” soliloquized Ruth, half aloud. Intent on trying to guess the nature of the “great favor” which Blanche had emphasized as being “very important,” Ruth meandered34 aimlessly down the long corridor, and covered herself with confusion by opening the wrong door and calmly strolling into the French classroom where the recitation had begun. Apologizing, she hastily withdrew her obtrusive35 presence, giggling36 softly to herself as she closed the door. Having once trespassed37, she paid strict heed38 to her wandering feet and made port in Physics II without further mishap39.
In honor bound not to mention Blanche’s strange request to anyone, it was a matter of satisfaction to her when her last afternoon recitation was over. She was anxious to hold the interview with Blanche and dismiss it from her mind. During the day it had troubled her not a little. The more she thought of it, the less she could make of it. The very contemplation of it filled her with a vague discomfort40, which she could not shake off.
“Come in,” drawled a languid voice when, at a few minutes past four, she knocked on Blanche’s door.
Obeying the call, Ruth entered, closing the door behind her. “I’m strictly41 on time,” she remarked with a gaiety she was far from feeling.
“So I see. Do sit in that comfy chair, Ruth.” Blanche was the acme42 of cordiality. Drawing a chair opposite to Ruth’s she sat down, staring pensively43 at her visitor. “I hardly know how to begin,” she sighed, with an artful assumption of diffidence warranted to deceive her straightforward44 caller. “It’s just like this. I’ve met with a dreadful disappointment. I expected to go to Cape45 May for the summer, but Mamma has been feeling so wretched of late, she has written me that her physician has ordered her to a sanatorium. Papa is going West on a long business trip, and it’s out of the question for me to go with him. I simply can’t stand the idea of spending my whole vacation at that horrible sanatorium. Besides, Mamma doesn’t wish me to be with her there. She says I make her so nervous, and that I’ll have to stay at home with our housekeeper46 and a stupid companion she intends to engage to look after me. I’d make Jean take me home with her, but she is going to Canada to visit her aunt, so she can’t entertain me.”
Blanche paused, her pale-blue eyes searching Ruth’s open features, as though to discover the precise amount of sympathy her dolorous47 tale had aroused. Her vis-a-vis appeared interested, and she thought the frank brown eyes expressed concern.
“I am sorry to hear of your mother’s illness,” Ruth said gravely. She was still cogitating48 as to what relation this news bore to the “great favor.” She was also reflecting that Mrs. Shirly’s attitude toward her daughter was rather unfeeling. She experienced a sudden excess of pity toward the undesired Blanche.
“I knew you would be,” returned Blanche with a deep positiveness intended to be flattering. “You are so—so—sympathetic. I really feel free to confide in you. I wouldn’t think of asking a favor of any of the other girls. Somehow, you are so different.”
A tiny pucker49 of impatience50 appeared between Ruth’s brows. Was Blanche really sincere, or was she bent51 on making positive refusal of her request a difficult matter? “Please tell me what you wish me to do for you, Blanche,” she returned almost brusquely. This beating about the bush was annoying, to say the least.
“I don’t like to ask you—you’ll think me presuming, I’m afraid, but—well, I heard that you and a number of the Hillside Camp Fire Girls were going to get together during August, and I wondered if you would mind letting me join you. I know I belong to the Drexal group, but as long as it is to be a Camp Fire affair I thought you wouldn’t object to my making one of the crowd. I am really crazy about this Camp Fire movement. I can’t see why I didn’t take it up last year. But now I’m going to do my best to make up for lost time. It would help me so much to be with the Hillside group and live outdoors and—and—commune with Nature.” Blanche’s ideas on Nature communion were decidedly hazy52. She rather liked the sound of the phrase, however.
Ruth struggled to preserve an outward show of serenity53, as she listened to this amazing request. For the instant she was totally bereft54 of reply. Having taken the sacred pledge of the Torch Bearer, it became her duty to respond to Blanche’s appeal for help. Still, she could not see her way clear to do so. Blanche had undoubtedly55 been misinformed. In some inexplicable56 fashion she had been led to believe that the reunion which the Equitable57 Eight were to hold at Ruth’s home during the month of August, was to be a Camp Fire affair. Personally, Ruth felt that, rather than refuse Blanche’s plea, she would be willing to invite her to the reunion. There were others besides herself to be considered, however. She was positive that her chums would raise strenuous58 objections to any such arrangement on her part. Although she disliked to shatter Blanche’s forlorn hope, all that remained to be done was frankly59 to inform her of her mistake.
“Blanche,” she began, with brave gentleness, “I would like you to feel always that I am ready to help you in any way I can. I hope you won’t be hurt by what I am going to say, but—somehow—you’ve received a wrong impression about this Camp Fire affair. It isn’t the Hillside group that are to be together during August. It is only the eight girls who were at Betty’s cottage last summer. I mean that is the only thing planned that I know of. I haven’t heard that the Hillside Camp Fire has made any such summer plan. If they had, surely I would have been told of it before now.
“The Equitable Eight, as we call ourselves, are to be at my home during August. So far as I am concerned, I’d be willing to invite you, too.” Ruth could not honestly say that she would be glad to do so. “As we are a sort of informal organization, I couldn’t do it unless the others were willing that you should join us. You see, it is—”
“Oh, dear, that settles it! I’m so sorry! I didn’t understand.” With a doleful wail60, Blanche’s auburn head went down on her arms. “Those—girls—wouldn’t—have me!” she sobbed61 out brokenly. “Emmeline Cerrito—hates—me. She—hardly—notices—me. How—could I—have—made—such a mistake? It’s humiliating.” The last word trailed off into a disconsolate62 gulp63.
“Don’t cry, Blanche.” Springing to her feet Ruth laid a sympathetic hand on the elaborately-coiffed head, bowed so forlornly forward. Tender-hearted to a degree, she was touched by the other girl’s noisy distress64. Regardless of the fact that she was in no sense to blame for Blanche’s mistake, nevertheless she was resolved to do her best to salve the weeper’s wounded pride. “Don’t take it so to heart,” she comforted. “I think it was fine in you to wish to join a Camp Fire party. You only misunderstood. That’s all. Now brace65 up and listen to me. I am going to have a talk with the girls to-night. We are to have a meeting in Betty’s and Jane’s room. I shall tell them that I wish you to be my guest during August. I hope you won’t mind if I explain things. It wouldn’t be quite fair to them not to. If they don’t see things as I do, then will you accept an invitation to spend July with me? That would help some, wouldn’t it?”
“Oh, I couldn’t do that,” mumbled66 Blanche, half raising her head. “I’ll have to be with Mamma until she goes to the sanatorium. She isn’t going there until the last of July, after Papa leaves for the West.” Blanche straightened up with a jerk as she delivered this dampening information. She had not anticipated Ruth’s proposed method of thus solving her difficulty, and it did not coincide with her views.
Her sudden ascent67 from the depths of woe68 caused a swift, unbidden suspicion to flit across Ruth’s brain. What if Emmy were right in her conviction? Immediately she discarded the thought as unworthy. Still, she could not help wishing that Blanche had brought pride to her aid and declined to allow her to lay the matter before her chums. On the other hand, she could not forget that Blanche’s own mother was, to all appearances, uninterested in her daughter’s welfare.
“Of course, Ruth, if you’d rather not—” Blanche broke off with an ominous69 quaver in her voice. Reaching for her handkerchief she brought it into pathetic play.
“I’ll speak to the girls this evening,” promised Ruth without enthusiasm, “provided you will let me explain everything.” She was firm on this one point, and intended to make sure of it before tackling a task which she did not in the least relish70.
“Tell them whatever you please,” agreed Blanche with a readiness that was not wholly pleasing to Ruth. Her eyes meeting the latter’s searching gaze, she hastily amended71: “I mean, I wish you to tell them everything.”
“Very well, I will. Now I must go. If I don’t do my studying before dinner, it won’t be done at all.” Ruth was halfway to the door as she spoke72. She had no desire to prolong her call. Already she was nervously73 imagining the dire74 effect of the verbal bombshell she was preparing to drop in the camp of the Equitable Eight.
“When will you let me know about it?” was Blanche’s eager question, as Ruth opened the door.
“As soon as I can,” Ruth replied briefly75 and was gone.
Left to herself, Blanche strolled to her dressing76 table, complacently77 viewing herself in the oval mirror. “I ought to go on the stage,” she confided to her smiling reflection. “I can act all around that snippy Betty Wyndham. Ruth Garnier is a simpleton. She believed everything I said. She’ll have a lovely time making those girls believe it, though. Still, I’m not afraid she can’t do it. Miss Shirly, you may consider yourself as already invited to that wonderful reunion!”
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1
crested
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| adj.有顶饰的，有纹章的，有冠毛的v.到达山顶（或浪峰）( crest的过去式和过去分词 )；到达洪峰，达到顶点 | |
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supreme
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| adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的 | |
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3
confide
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| v.向某人吐露秘密 | |
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queried
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| v.质疑，对…表示疑问( query的过去式和过去分词 )；询问 | |
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5
pout
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| v.撅嘴；绷脸；n.撅嘴；生气，不高兴 | |
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pouted
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| v.撅（嘴）( pout的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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7
aggravating
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| adj.恼人的，讨厌的 | |
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prudently
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| adv. 谨慎地，慎重地 | |
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ridicule
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| v.讥讽，挖苦；n.嘲弄 | |
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caustic
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| adj.刻薄的，腐蚀性的 | |
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11
darts
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| n.掷飞镖游戏；飞镖( dart的名词复数 )；急驰，飞奔v.投掷，投射( dart的第三人称单数 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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12
secrecy
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| n.秘密，保密，隐蔽 | |
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roil
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| v.搅浑，激怒 | |
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touchy
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| adj.易怒的；棘手的 | |
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15
placate
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| v.抚慰，平息(愤怒) | |
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16
confidential
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| adj.秘（机）密的，表示信任的，担任机密工作的 | |
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brag
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| v./n.吹牛，自夸；adj.第一流的 | |
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shrugged
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| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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chapel
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| n.小教堂，殡仪馆 | |
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spasm
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| n.痉挛，抽搐；一阵发作 | |
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joyful
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| adj.欢乐的，令人欢欣的 | |
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promptly
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| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
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leisurely
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| adj.悠闲的；从容的，慢慢的 | |
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24
confided
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| v.吐露（秘密，心事等）( confide的过去式和过去分词 )；（向某人）吐露（隐私、秘密等） | |
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halfway
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| adj.中途的，不彻底的，部分的；adv.半路地，在中途，在半途 | |
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abrupt
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| adj.突然的，意外的；唐突的，鲁莽的 | |
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27
lame
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| adj.跛的，(辩解、论据等)无说服力的 | |
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offense
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| n.犯规，违法行为；冒犯，得罪 | |
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29
stammered
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| v.结巴地说出( stammer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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30
conversing
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| v.交谈，谈话( converse的现在分词 ) | |
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31
reverted
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| 恢复( revert的过去式和过去分词 )； 重提； 回到…上； 归还 | |
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32
axe
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| n.斧子；v.用斧头砍，削减 | |
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solicitor
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| n.初级律师，事务律师 | |
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34
meandered
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| （指溪流、河流等）蜿蜒而流( meander的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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obtrusive
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| adj.显眼的；冒失的 | |
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giggling
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| v.咯咯地笑( giggle的现在分词 ) | |
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37
trespassed
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| （trespass的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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heed
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| v.注意，留意；n.注意，留心 | |
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mishap
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| n.不幸的事，不幸；灾祸 | |
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40
discomfort
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| n.不舒服，不安，难过，困难，不方便 | |
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strictly
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| adv.严厉地，严格地；严密地 | |
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42
acme
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| n.顶点，极点 | |
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pensively
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| adv.沉思地，焦虑地 | |
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straightforward
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| adj.正直的，坦率的；易懂的，简单的 | |
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45
cape
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| n.海角，岬；披肩，短披风 | |
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46
housekeeper
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| n.管理家务的主妇，女管家 | |
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47
dolorous
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| adj.悲伤的；忧愁的 | |
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48
cogitating
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| v.认真思考，深思熟虑( cogitate的现在分词 ) | |
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49
pucker
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| v.撅起，使起皱；n.（衣服上的）皱纹，褶子 | |
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50
impatience
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| n.不耐烦，急躁 | |
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51
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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52
hazy
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| adj.有薄雾的，朦胧的；不肯定的，模糊的 | |
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53
serenity
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| n.宁静，沉着，晴朗 | |
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54
bereft
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| adj.被剥夺的 | |
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55
undoubtedly
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| adv.确实地，无疑地 | |
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56
inexplicable
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| adj.无法解释的，难理解的 | |
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57
equitable
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| adj.公平的；公正的 | |
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58
strenuous
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| adj.奋发的，使劲的；紧张的；热烈的，狂热的 | |
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59
frankly
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| adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说 | |
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60
wail
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| vt./vi.大声哀号，恸哭；呼啸，尖啸 | |
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61
sobbed
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| 哭泣，啜泣( sob的过去式和过去分词 )； 哭诉，呜咽地说 | |
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62
disconsolate
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| adj.忧郁的，不快的 | |
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63
gulp
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| vt.吞咽，大口地吸（气）；vi.哽住；n.吞咽 | |
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64
distress
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| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
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65
brace
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| n. 支柱,曲柄,大括号; v. 绷紧,顶住,(为困难或坏事)做准备 | |
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66
mumbled
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| 含糊地说某事，叽咕，咕哝( mumble的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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67
ascent
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| n.(声望或地位)提高；上升，升高；登高 | |
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68
woe
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| n.悲哀，苦痛，不幸，困难；int.用来表达悲伤或惊慌 | |
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69
ominous
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| adj.不祥的，不吉的，预兆的，预示的 | |
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70
relish
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| n.滋味，享受，爱好，调味品；vt.加调味料，享受，品味；vi.有滋味 | |
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71
Amended
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| adj. 修正的 动词amend的过去式和过去分词 | |
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72
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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73
nervously
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| adv.神情激动地，不安地 | |
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74
dire
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| adj.可怕的，悲惨的，阴惨的，极端的 | |
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75
briefly
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| adv.简单地，简短地 | |
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76
dressing
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| n.(食物)调料；包扎伤口的用品，敷料 | |
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77
complacently
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| adv. 满足地, 自满地, 沾沾自喜地 | |
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