Betty Lee, Sophomore Part 2

"First you say one thing and then you say another," Kathryn accused her.

"It's as bad as saying it the way Mr. Simc.o.x answers our questions: 'Well, _yes_; and _no!_'"

Kathryn had so nearly presented their teacher's voice and intonation that Carolyn and Betty answered with giggles. But Kathryn went on to say, with real seriousness underlying her fun, "What we should say about Betty is that she is. .h.i.tching her wagon to a star and it makes everybody else want to hitch up, too."

"'Inspiration,' then," said Carolyn. "What'll I hitch up with? I couldn't play a violin."

"_As_piration," chuckled Betty. "Pick out your brightest dream, 'Caro,'

and put on the harness!"

"She calls me 'Caro.' What kind of syrup do you like best, Betty?"

"'Scuse me, Carolyn. I felt affectionate and had to make up a nickname."

"You are excused. Really, we might have made some little names of our own to call each other by. Wouldn't it be fun?"

Betty looked mischievously at Kathryn. "We were talking of nicknames this afternoon, Kathryn and I."

"Betty!"

Carolyn looked from one to another. "You have some secret. That is mean, to leave out your old and tried friend Carolyn."

"Oh, it wasn't anything, Carolyn, only I'm joking Kathryn about a nickname she doesn't like."

"I'm not so sure now but I _do_ like it," Kathryn replied, taking up Betty's half explanation. "Tell Carolyn if you want to."

"Not all of it?"

"Yes, what Peggy is supposed to have said."

Upon this permission from Kathryn, Betty explained that a speech of Peggy's had been repeated by Mathilde to Kathryn and how the gypsy reference had been interpreted. "Do you think that Peggy Pollard would be likely to say anything unkind about Kathryn?" Betty asked in concluding.

"I can't imagine it. Kathryn, notice how Peggy acts when you see her and if I were you I'd feel around with some reference to something of the sort. I'll wager you'll find Peggy as ignorant as can be of even what you mean. You'll find out that Peggy Pollard is all right. And by the way, I hear that they are having little sororities in spite of the rules. If it is all right, and the authorities allow it, why not?

There's one in our cla.s.s started! The question is who started it, and why, and how, and if so, can we make it, and do we want to make it----"

Carolyn was obliged to stop for breath.

"Hum," said Kathryn. "Yes, I've heard about it, but I didn't tell Betty.

I heard Betty's father say that he was glad there weren't any sororities in high school!"

"Poor Mr. Lee!" exclaimed Carolyn. "Betty, do you know what you're going in for this year--swimming, I suppose?"

"Oh, yes. But no, I haven't thought about it. I took everything with such seriousness last year; but if I want to, I'll sign up for a number of things this year. They don't meet often, and you can always stop if you can't keep on, and I'd love to be on some team, if there'd be no trouble about it."

"There's always trouble about making a team. There are too many that want to be on it."

"But you can try out, and if you stand better than somebody else, you get it and she doesn't. That _oughtn't_ to make trouble."

"Why don't you try out for the hockey team in the fall and the basketball in the winter?"

"Perhaps I will. Wait till the time comes. Oh, there's your car, Carolyn. What a shame!"

"Yes, and I haven't made a date with you at all."

"There's always the telephone," Betty reminded her. "It was lovely of you to stop, Carolyn. See you soon. Come back as soon as you can. 'Bye!"

CHAPTER III: THE GREAT SURPRISE

Betty Lee had not forgotten that, in the nature of a reward, she was to have a surprise at the end of the summer; but nothing had been said about it by her father and Betty felt a delicacy about reminding him of it. Now only two weeks remained before the opening of school. Betty was eager to begin, strange as it may seem; but boys and girls, even those not particularly keen about their studies, do look forward to the companions.h.i.+p, the gay plans, the activities that school brings them.

One week more would bring the twins, d.i.c.k and Doris, little Amy Lou and, best of all, Mother! Perhaps the surprise would not occur until the family was together again. Poor Daddy! How hard he had been working--not even a chance to drive up to the farm over a week-end; for it was a long drive, and it was not thought best to try it while Grandmother was so miserable and nervous. Accordingly, everybody tried to make the best of the separation, d.i.c.k had written, "we can hoop (whoop) and holler outdoors, but believe me we're quiet in the house. Even Amy Lou has stopped whining."

Then, on Sunday morning, when Betty and her father were driving home from church, he asked her, "Are your clothes in proper shape for a trip to New York with me tomorrow?"

Mr. Lee looked a little guilty, for it had been a letter from his wife that had reminded him of the comparative importance of clothes, and he had not thought about it.

"Why--Father! Do you mean it?" cried Betty, who sat beside her father and looked at his smiling face, turned straight ahead to watch traffic, for many machines were whirling along at the close of the various church services.

"Oh, I know! Is that the surprise?"

Mr. Lee nodded a.s.sent. "I meant to tell you before, but we had so much doing yesterday that I forgot it--well, to tell the truth, I was not sure that I could get away at all. There was some talk of sending another man. But Murchison thought that I'd had more experience with this sort of a job; and moreover, he wants me to meet his sister and a niece who has been at school in Switzerland."

"Oh!" softly cried Betty again. "Murchison" was the big man in the business, the man who had offered her father the opportunity in the company. Although Betty had visited the office occasionally, she had never seen the "big bug," as d.i.c.k called him.

There was silence for a little. Cars pa.s.sed and Mr. Lee stopped once to pick up a man he knew and take him on to his residence. "Missed you coming out," said Mr. Lee, and the two men talked while Betty tried to digest the great news. Betty had never been to New York. She had never spent a night on the train. It would be _glorious_! Of _course_ she had clothes ready. Oh, that was what Mother meant when she told Betty always to have her suit and accompanying garments ready. At the time, Betty had thought that her mother feared a call of everybody to the farm, if Grandma continued to "go down." Dear me, she had had such a good time, as things had turned out, with the girls staying with her, or other company, that she didn't need any other reward. Still, Betty knew that she had worked hard at times. Even with the woman who came occasionally to clean, things would get "so messy," though Betty was learning now not to make work for herself by carelessness. She was glad that she had planned a nice Sunday dinner for the two of them at home today. And Father had said, "Do not invite anybody for this week, Betty." This was what he had in mind, and would not tell her for fear of some disappointment. That was it, she knew, more than his "forgetting."

"Oh, Father, I'm so excited," she exclaimed, as they left the car in front of the house, ready for a drive, if they should feel like it. "I'm all mixed up and you'll have to watch me or I'll burn up the dinner or something!"

"I thought that you'd like the plan, Betty; but I was a little afraid that something would happen to upset it. It was understood long ago that I was to go to New York in the fall. This meeting the countess is a new proposition, however. Do you think we are equal to it?"

"'The Countess!'"

"Yes; at least I think it is a countess. I will have her name in full, however, before we go to the s.h.i.+p after her."

Mr. Lee's eyes were twinkling, and Betty, after one look at him began to laugh. "You're breaking it to me by degrees, aren't you? Well, I guess I can stand it. I'm awfully hungry right now, aren't you? Seems to me the sermon was longer than usual. Wait till I put on the potatoes and then please tell me everything!"

"I will, child, and I'll not tease you a bit. I'll help you with the dinner. Didn't you say you had a 'T-bone' steak for the two of us? Just watch me broil that steak!"

"Oh, goody! We'll have a lot of fun. I'm going to heat some canned asparagus tips for our other veg'table, and throw together a fruit salad, on head lettuce, and I bought a grand pie at the exchange yesterday. Will that be enough?"

"Indeed it will, and I have the dearest little cook in three counties. I presume you'll have bread and b.u.t.ter, however; and suppose we have an iced drink instead of coffee."

"Oh, yes, by all means. You fix the ice, Daddy, and I'll squeeze about two oranges and two lemons, I think--right away, so it'll be cold!"

A happy girl worked with a capable father, who took off his coat, tied an ap.r.o.n around his waist and had as much fun as Betty, especially when the time came to cook the steak. Appet.i.te did not lack when dinner was ready and before there was any thought of dish was.h.i.+ng, Mr. Lee sent Betty to hunt up her over-night bag and looked up his own grip. "Put in a dress that you can wear to dinner in a hotel, Betty," said he, "and don't forget the fixings."