Sunday afternoon she slipped away quietly to say goodbye to her favorite places. She lingered under the big maple1 tree where she had studied on sunny days. She inspected the partially2 completed swimming pool as carefully as a contractor4. Not next year, but some year, she would take swimming instructions here and she wanted it just so. She hoped Miss Bassett would be teaching advanced swimming when she returned. She must take another last look at the gym.
To her delight the door was unlocked and she could enter. No doubt some faculty5 member had been showing it to visitors. The big empty gymnasium was not lonely to Mimi. She loved it. Here she had known sorrow; but here, too, she had been happiest. Suppose she added all the hours of free time she had spent here practicing goals? Suppose she had fastened a pedometer on her ankle to record the miles she had dribbled6 down the floor?
Am I queer that I miss places as much or more than people, she wondered? She remembered how it hurt to say goodbye to the friendly trees at camp, the Lodge7, the river, the hills. When she thought back about camp, it was these things she longed for.
She’d be the same way about Sheridan. In the long summer days ahead she would miss the window ledge8 in the gym where she had perched to rest, the atmosphere of Tumble Inn; and now since it had been the scene of such violent emotions, Dr. Barnes’ office was endeared to her.
Because of the fire the Baccalaureate service had been changed from morning to evening. True some of the Prep graduates were not as well dressed as they had planned to be, but, taken as a whole, the rows and rows of girls in white made an inspiring picture.
The Commencement program proper, at which sheepskins were awarded to the college girls taking degrees, and highly embossed parchment diplomas were given to the graduating Preps, was Monday morning at eleven o’clock. Since this was the last year of its long existence, the Preparatory students were given the special privilege of carrying the daisy chain. Instead of the seniors filing in a single line carrying the great rope of plaited flowers to pass down to the undergraduates as had been the custom, the order was reversed. The seventy-five girls of the Prep department carried the daisy chain and passed it to the college freshmen9. This year the significance was that the fine old traditions on which Sheridan Seminary had been founded must not die. They must be the foundation of Sheridan’s continued growth now that she was to be a fully3 accredited10 college.
True to her word, Olivia the “near-child-prodigy” took first honors with the highest average ever made by a Prep.
Sue played in the orchestra.
Betsy and Mimi sat side by side.
Imagine Mimi’s astonishment12 when Dr. Barnes, contrary to his time-honored policy of never singling out girls for special attention, publicly commended her for her cool-headed bravery the night of the fire. She was pleased but Betsy was ecstatic!
Things were whirling around Mimi, but not touching13 her deeply. She was absorbed in a mystery solved and a home-coming.
“Free night” before departure, when all restrictions14 were off, was fun; but Mimi was impatient. Had she been going south instead of north she could have left Monday evening.
She was all packed. Many things she had treasured were left in ruins. She could hardly wait the coming of daylight which heralded15 the arrival of the station wagon16, the rickety old bus which would rattle17 up and take a load of eager girls jiggety jig18 to the north-bound train.
She must get home to help Cissy get the house aired and ready for Mother Dear and Junior and summer visitors. She had already asked both Chloe and Betsy and they had accepted “if.” Mimi, who was never stumped19 by “ifs” knew that they would come and that there was a happy summer ahead.
This took the bitter out of the goodbyes.
Only once when Mimi turned away from the fluttering hands and chorus of farewells and glanced toward the ashes of Prep Hall, were there tears in her eyes. She wiped them away with her bandaged hand.
After all, Sheridan was her Sheridan now and she was coming back some day.
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1
maple
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| n.槭树，枫树，槭木 | |
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2
partially
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| adv.部分地，从某些方面讲 | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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contractor
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| n.订约人，承包人，收缩肌 | |
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faculty
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| n.才能；学院，系；(学院或系的)全体教学人员 | |
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6
dribbled
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| v.流口水( dribble的过去式和过去分词 )；（使液体）滴下或作细流；运球，带球 | |
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7
lodge
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| v.临时住宿，寄宿，寄存，容纳；n.传达室，小旅馆 | |
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8
ledge
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| n.壁架，架状突出物；岩架，岩礁 | |
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freshmen
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| n.（中学或大学的）一年级学生( freshman的名词复数 ) | |
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10
accredited
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| adj.可接受的；可信任的；公认的；质量合格的v.相信( accredit的过去式和过去分词 )；委托；委任；把…归结于 | |
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11
erect
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| n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的 | |
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12
astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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13
touching
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| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
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14
restrictions
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| 约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则） | |
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15
heralded
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| v.预示( herald的过去式和过去分词 )；宣布（好或重要） | |
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16
wagon
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| n.四轮马车，手推车，面包车；无盖运货列车 | |
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17
rattle
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| v.飞奔，碰响；激怒；n.碰撞声；拨浪鼓 | |
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18
jig
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| n.快步舞（曲）；v.上下晃动；用夹具辅助加工；蹦蹦跳跳 | |
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19
stumped
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| 僵直地行走，跺步行走( stump的过去式和过去分词 )； 把（某人）难住； 使为难； （选举前）在某一地区作政治性巡回演说 | |
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