Chapter XI: Pretty Polly Perkins

"AND the summer is over. Now back again to hard work," sighed Janet as she sat down wearily after having established her belongings in their accustomed places. "After all, Ted, I am glad to be back in Hopper Hall. I verily believe I should be homesick in a new place. I actually have an affection for these familiar rooms."

"Minus the fireplace?" asked Edna.

"Yes, I even forego the fireplace for the sake of the hominess of it all. Next year, though, we certainly must try another place, for we shall not care so much, knowing that we can go home at the end of it. We can get Juliet Fuller's rooms then, if we want them. With Cordelia and Lee here, and so many well-known faces about us, I should have felt like a renegade to have deserted."

"That is exactly the way I felt," returned Edna. "I would have gone wherever you did, of course, Janet; but I am really better satisfied here. I like to be acquainted with the hooks in my closet, and to know just which side of the second drawer of my bureau to jerk when I open it. We had a good summer, didn't we?"

Janet leaned her arms on the table and looked thoughtfully out of the window. "Great," she responded. "I don't suppose there will ever be just such another."

"I don't see why not," returned Edna. "We all promised to meet again in the same place next year, and we can do the same things over again."

"I have noticed," said Janet, "that there never is any second time. Things never are exactly the same twice. Something prevents; one cannot tell precisely what, but even with the same people and the same place, something creeps in to change it all. There never is any going back. One can't repeat experiences. There must be something different."

"Oh, most potent, grave, and reverend junior, I don't see why that is an inevitable rule."

"You will see some day," said Janet. "I prophesy that there will never be another summer in our experience, just like the one we have just left behind us."

Edna helped herself delicately from a box of candy which stood open on the table. "Goodness, Janet, you give me the blues. Do try to chirk up. If you begin this way, what will you be before the year is out? I'll go hunt up Mascot; a visit from him will be in order about now." She popped another chocolate into her mouth and left the room, soon returning with a sleek and glossy cat in her arms. "Here, take him," she said, depositing her burden in Janet's lap. "Did you ever see anything grow as he has done? He may be a catling, but he is no more a kitten."

"But isn't he a beauty? So lithe and satiny, and what beautiful amber eyes he has! Ah, Mascot, old fellow, I surely am glad to see you again, though you probably have no recollection of me. It would have been a shame to take him away from the class if we had gone into lodgings, wouldn't it, Ted?"

"It certainly would. I thought of that. The girls simply howled their protests last summer when I mentioned the possibility. What shall we do with him next year, when we leave, Janet?"

"Bequeath him to the incoming freshmen. He can descend down in that way as long as he is able to stand the strain of his office of comforter."

"Speaking of comforter," said Edna, "have you happened to meet a freshman named Mary Perkins? She is an acquaintance of a distant cousin of mine who asked me if I wouldn't give her a nod or a beck or a wreathed smile once in a while. She has a scholarship, this Miss Perkins, but is as poor as poverty, and is trying to work her way through college; that is, she wants to make her expenses over and above her scholarship."

"We must hunt her up," said Janet. "A girl who works her way through college deserves all the moral support she can get from upper classmen, for she will have to endure many snubs, and will have none too easy a time. Give me a chocolate, Ted, one of those nutty ones. Mascot is so comfortable, I don't want to disturb him."

"For Sybarites, commend me to cats," said Edna, passing the box of candy to Janet. "Who's there?" she asked, as a knock was heard.

"Fay, Fay Wingate."

"Come in, my fairy Fay. The idea of any one's ever calling you a grand old senior, you ridiculous mite," said Janet. "You haven't grown an inch."

"You didn't expect me to, did you? I didn't promise that I would."

"No, I know you didn't. Have some candy. It's Ted's, but no matter; my brother bought it for her, so it's all in the family. What's the news, Fay? Anything exciting going on? What have you been doing?"

"Guying the freshmen."

"Bad child; that was not right. They are our freshmen, I'll have you to know, and they shall not be abused. What special form did your guying take? Confess, right now."

"I wasn't hurting the babies."

"Only scaring them to death? I know your methods. Go on, and tell us."

"I only said they must all wear white silk frocks to the junior reception or they wouldn't be admitted."

"That was horrid of you. You know very well that not one in half a dozen will have a silk frock, for evening, much less a white silk. You'll make some of those poor dears rush into frightful extravagances."

"They'll find out it isn't so," said Fay, nonchalantly.

"Maybe, but not before the mischief is done. Go home this minute. You shall not have another chocolate. We've got to undo your wickedness. We know of one girl in that class who is trying to work her way through college, an innocent country maid; probably she is crying her eyes out now because she thinks she will have to stay at home from our magnificent function. Go to your room, wicked, malevolent creature, and meditate upon your sins."

Setting Mascot down, Janet rushed upon Fay, and with Edna's help, carried her, laughing and struggling, to her room, where they tossed her upon her bed.

"Such disrespect to a senior," said Fay, too weak with laughter to rise. "Think if any of those freshmen had seen me, what would they have thought?"

"I hope they did," returned Janet. "It would be good enough for you. You are too little to be a senior anyway. I've a mind to spank you." She stood over her victim looking so determined that Fay began to beg.

"Now, Janet, please. I'll be good, really. I won't do so any more, I promise."

"See that you don't, then," said Janet pouncing down and beginning to tickle her.

"Don't, Janet, don't," pleaded Fay, hysterically. "I'll promise anything. Indeed, I will be good."

And Janet desisted. "Come, Ted," she said; "she has promised not to do so any more."

"Till the next time," cried Fay, as she quickly sprang up and turned the key upon the two as they reached the corridor.

"I move we go and hunt up Miss Perkins," said Edna. "Really, Fay's nonsense may be a serious matter to the poor child. Will you go with me to find her?"

Janet agreed, and they went to the office together to inquire the abiding place of Miss Perkins.

"She is at No. 43 Main Street," the registrar told them.

"That's not a long walk," said Edna. "She has a room on the top floor, Cousin Maria told me; one of those sk-attics, as Lee calls them. I'll venture to say it is as bare as your hand."

They were not long in finding the house, and were directed to the small room.

In answer to their knock, some one said: "Come in."

"I am Edna Waite," said Teddy, as the girl she addressed looked up from her work, "and this is my friend, Miss Janet Ferguson."

The girl pushed her books to one side and came forward. She had wide innocent blue eyes which were red from crying. Her complexion was like a rose leaf, and her soft brown hair curled around her forehead and ears, and was gathered into a heavy coil at the back of her head in a style that was the least becoming to her. She was dressed plainly and in poor taste, her clothes being home-made and ill cut.

"Cousin Maria Purviance told me you were here," said Edna, "and I wanted to meet you."

"Oh, yes, you are Miss Maria's cousin. I am so glad to see you." The girl spoke timidly, and glanced around her little room for an unoccupied chair. There were but two in the room, and one stood behind the table which she had just left.

"I'll sit on the bed or on your trunk," said Janet easily. "They never do give one enough chairs, do they? Half the time some of us have to sit on the floor when we go visiting. It's nice and quiet up here, isn't it? And what a fine view you have. I love to face the western sky." She spoke cheerfully, leaning forward to look out of the one window.

"Yes," said Miss Perkins, taking her chair again after seeing her visitors seated, "it is quiet, almost too quiet sometimes," she added with a wistful little smile.

"Aren't there other students in the house?"

"Yes, but they are almost all upper classmen or specials."

"I wish you were in our dormitory," said Janet warmly; "we can't complain of loneliness there, can we, Ted? It is almost too lively."

"It certainly is," agreed Edna. "You would have thought so a while ago, Miss Perkins, if you could have seen us disciplining one of the seniors."

"Oh, did you dare?" said Miss Perkins innocently.

Edna laughed. "Of course we dared. She is a mite of a thing, and a dreadful tease; as full of mischief as possible. What do you suppose she confessed to us that she had been doing?"

"I'm sure I don't know," returned Miss Perkins, through whose mind ran all sorts of remarkable possibilities that might be allowed any one so tremendously important as a senior.

"She had been telling our poor dear freshmen that they couldn't come to our party unless they were provided with white silk frocks. Such an absurd notion. I hope they all knew better than to believe her."

"I didn't," returned Miss Perkins with an air of relief.

"Then I'm glad we can disabuse your mind of any such idea. The girls can wear anything they choose from a calico frock to a sequin robe," Edna told her.

"I shall not wear a sequin robe," said Miss Perkins with a dry little smile. "I am much more likely to wear a calico frock."

"Why not all wear calico frocks," suggested Janet. "Why don't we make a calico party of it, Ted? I think that would be a scheme. We could have a spelling bee, and an apple paring, and such old-time sports."

"Let's do it," cried Teddy. "We are on the committee, you see, Miss Perkins. Janet is chairman, and what she says is likely to go. Don't you think it would be fun? It certainly would make us all more free and easy."

"I certainly think it would be a lovely plan," agreed Miss Perkins, her face beaming.

"You'd look dear in lilac or pink," said Janet, in a friendly tone, with her head one side, viewing the girl critically. "Do you happen to have a gown of either of those colors?"

"I have a purple and white percale," said Miss Perkins doubtfully, "but it isn't new."

"It will do perfectly well," said Janet reassuringly, "with lilac ribbons and a lilac sunbonnet."

The girl's face fell. "I haven't the ribbons, and—"

"Oh, never mind, I have," said Teddy easily. "On such occasions, we always borrow from each other anything that comes handy. You must learn that the first thing. Why, I don't believe I possess a single article, from a hat-pin to an evening cloak, that some one hasn't wanted to borrow in the two years I have been here. We'll make the sunbonnet. Come over to our rooms on Saturday, can't you? I know some one who has a dear pattern for the cunningest trick of a bonnet; we'll cut it out and have a sewing-bee. We'll get the stuff for it, for we know where to go, and you don't."

"But I can't have you do that," protested Miss Perkins.

"Oh, yes, you can."

"Not unless you let me pay for it."

"No, you shall not; for I am going to make the bonnet for myself, and I will lend it to you for the party."

"I think you are perfectly lovely to me," said Miss Perkins, the tears coming to her eyes. "You know, perhaps—Miss Maria may have told you that I am trying to make my expenses, so you can imagine that every penny means something to me."

"Of course, it does," put in Janet sympathetically. "You don't know how we admire you for being so brave as to do this way. I'd never in the world have such courage. I think it is heroic, and I am a regular hero-worshiper."

Teddy gave her a look, and laughed meaningly, while Janet blushed scarlet.

"I mean—I—I do admire strength of character," she stammered. "I adore ambitious people, so I expect you will find me very curious and a great bore before I get through, but you must know it is because I am so tremendously interested. Would you mind telling us just what you are doing, or want to do,—to—to—make your way?"

"Anything," said Miss Perkins, "from sewing on skirt braids, to teaching German. I do know German," she went on; "it is the one language I am perfectly familiar with, for in our little village there is an old German who tinkers watches and clocks. He is really very well educated, and is quite an odd character. He has talked German with me, and has given me lessons, and lent me his German books ever since I was eight years old, so I think I could teach the language."

"Good!" cried Janet. "Perhaps you can get some coaching to do. Ted, who was it we heard of yesterday that was so dreadfully weak in her German, and was in despair? Some one of the new girls, I know. O, I remember, it was Lee Penrose's cousin, Page Carter. I'll see Lee about it this very day."

"Are you very busy? Are we keeping you?" Edna asked as she noticed Miss Perkins nervously turning over the papers on her table.

"Oh, no, no," was the reply. "I was just wondering how I could thank you. I was so lonely and dispirited when you two came in, and now I feel as if I could accomplish anything. I haven't words to thank you for coming."

"Never mind the words," said Janet, going over and laying her hand caressingly on the girl's lovely head. "We are under obligation to you. Anything as interesting as you are is a perfect boom to a jaded junior. We really must go, though, for we do not eat the bread of idleness, and are not exactly lilies of the field."

"You won't forget to come Saturday afternoon," Edna reminded her. "Come early, and we can have a cup of tea before you must leave; then you can meet some of our friends."

And they left the lonely girl, their warm spontaneous sympathy showing itself in the kiss each gave her at parting.

"Isn't she the dearest thing you ever saw?" said Janet when they had gained the street. "Pretty Polly Perkins; that is just the name for her. How I should love to take her and dress her up as I pleased. She'd make a sensation. Did you ever see such a complexion and such blue, blue violet eyes, and that mop of magnificent hair that she screws up tight in the most unbecoming way she can. I've got to get my hands on that girl and teach her to make something of her looks. She was so perfectly unaffected and frank, too, about her poverty. I am going to hunt up Lee at once, and ask her to persuade her cousin to have Polly coach her. I declare, Ted, after all it is good to get back. There are larger opportunities here than at home."

"We mustn't forget to call a meeting and propose the calico party."

"We must surely do that. It will be one on Fay Wingate, and if for no other reason, I'd like to put it through on that account."

"I've thought of another thing," said Teddy, after a moment's silence.

"What is that?"

"Why, don't you remember the day Becky Burdett took us to Miss Thurston's studio, and how she said she had such a time getting the proper models for her illustrations, and asked if we couldn't find some one among the students who would be willing to pose for her once in a while? That was last year, but I don't doubt the need still exists."

"The very thing," said Janet. "We will tell Becky about Pretty Polly Perkins. It will do the dear little violet-by-a-mossy-stone good in more ways than one, for Miss Thurston will know just how to costume her, and when the child sees how lovely she can be made to look, she will never screw back her hair in that way, and wear that hideous green and black waist. Oh, Ted, you certainly have thought of the very best thing."

"But where will she get the clothes to pose in? Miss Thurston wants modern girls in their proper dress."

"Sure enough; I hadn't thought of that."

"We'll simply have to carry a lot of our things, hats and waists and such, down there, and explain how it is to Miss Thurston."

"I think we'd better tell Becky. She will find a way. Becky has a very fertile invention, and she'll know how to manage it. I'm afraid if Polly thinks the things are ours, it will hurt her blessed little feelings. I think the clothes would better belong to some one else, and she can believe them to be Miss Thurston's studio properties."

"That will be the best plan," agreed Edna.

They were not long in seeking out Lee, who, fired by their enthusiasm, fetched her cousin, and the arrangements were completed then and there, Janet and Edna promising to notify Miss Perkins of the matter.

"It will be so much better than sewing on skirt braids," said Janet. "Imagine having to do that, Teddy, for the sake of an education. Hand me my biology. I shall sit up till midnight to-night, and astonish every one this semester by my studious habits. By the way, I saw Mr. Evans this afternoon. He is to be here permanently, he told me. There is another example of perseverance and devotion to duty. I certainly have a deep respect for that young man."

"Yes he is not the hero," returned Teddy.

Janet simply raised her eyes, and gave Teddy a reproachful look, and then fell to work.