CHAPTER V: A REAL SOPHOMORE AT LAST
"Hello, Betty Lee! Where in the world have you been?"
Betty was just coming from the office where she had been "signing up"for her sophomore year's work and obtaining her schedule of studies, herhome room assignment and various points of information. She was verymuch interested in seeing to what teachers she would recite, but lookedup smiling at the boy who addressed her. Classes were passing for thefifth period, the one before lunch, she supposed.
It was Tuesday, but Betty had not been able to get to school till afterthe taxi ride home with her father, the exciting reunion of the family,the good breakfast and many little delays. Dick and Doris had gone toschool on time; but Betty tarried with her mother and could scarcelystop talking long enough to scrub up and dress suitably for school.
"Why, Chauncey Allen, howdy! I haven't seen you all summer! Where'sKathryn?"
"Wondering why you didn't show up at school yesterday, I imagine. Weheard nothing else last night at dinner."
"Mother could have told if she'd telephoned. We were just detained atNew York because the _Statendam_ didn't get in on time--just got homethis morning about breakfast time."
"Have a good time?"
"Grand!"
"How was the countess?" Chauncey was grinning widely now.
"All right," smiled Betty. But Chauncey, seeing several girls headed inBetty's direction, threw up his hands as if to say, "Help, see who'scoming," and with a comical glance at Betty, hurried off to join anotherboy.
"Oh, _here_ you are!" exclaimed Peggy Pollard, kissing Betty warmly,while Betty held out her hands to Selma Rardon and Dotty Bradshaw.
"I didn't think I'd be missed," said Betty, "for you all would be sobusy on opening day; but we can't talk now, can we?"
"No; come on. Are you signed up for Miss Heath's class?"
"Yes. I was so scared for fear I'd get put in another section."
"Good; we'll all be together, then."
Scampering down the halls in order to be on time to class in the limitedtime between classes, the girls arrived breathless, Betty to exchangenods and smiles with girls and boys who were slipping into class roomseats, and to catch a pleasant, welcoming smile from Miss Heath, whopresently, in attending to the roll, gave Betty a chance to present hercard.
How different it was from the year before! Now she knew what to do andshe began the year with a group of dear friends among the girls, to saynothing of the jolly boys.
There was no lunch in the lunch room on these first days, but the usualearly dismissal occurred. However, a group of Betty's friends sat for alittle while in a grassy spot on the grounds, to discuss importantaffairs, as well as to see Betty and each other.
"I hated to leave camp," said Selma, "but isn't it good to be back? Say,Betty, try out for the hockey team. We need a lot of good materialbesides just the regular team."
"Maybe," said Betty.
"Tell us what you saw in New York, Betty," suggested Dotty Bradshaw,cute little Dotty, as "big as a minute" and so serious about somethings.
"It would take too long," replied Betty.
"Oh, just mention a few things."
"Like Fifth Avenue and Broadway, for instance? Well, the parks and theTombs with the 'Bridge of Sighs' across from the Criminal Court----"
Betty adopted a hollow tone here, but went on more cheerfully--"andTammany Hall, another wicked place, I suppose, and the skyscrapers andthe Hudson River and of course the statue of 'Liberty Enlightening theWorld.' We took a little trip up the Hudson and crossed on the ferries,and rode out Riverside Drive, and went into the big stores, and I spentall my money, of course; and we had delicious things to eat at differentplaces, and museums and art galleries and the Battery. Father gave me agood time. It was said to be a reward of virtue for keeping house forhim. But I've had a fine time all summer."
"How many art museums did you eat, Betty?" asked Peggy.
Betty looked blank for a moment, then laughed. "I did mention themuseums and art galleries along with things to eat, didn't I? But don'tbegin on English now, Peggy. I'll get enough of that pretty soon."
"So will we all," returned Peggy Pollard, pretending to groan.
"_Shall_, Peggy," corrected Carolyn, and Peggy reached over to tweak thecurve on an ear that showed among curling locks. Carolyn had acquired anew style of hair dressing during the summer, and Betty privatelydetermined to copy it. It was becoming to Carolyn and she _thought_ itwould be to her. She would try it anyway, and see.
"Did your father meet the countess, Betty?" Carolyn inquired; but justthen two girls sauntered up. They were Mathilde Finn and Kathryn Allen.Kathryn was making funny signs to Betty behind Mathilde's back, butPeggy welcomed them both. "'Lo, Finny," said she, "have a seat on the'over-stuffed' furniture. It's been so dry that we're perfectly safe onthe grass now. How's everything signing up and starting in?"
"Perfectly terrible," returned Mathilde cheerfully, as she plumped downbeside Betty. Kathryn managed to squeeze in beside Betty and whispered,"You see how friendly Peggy and Mathilde are?"
"M-hm," replied Betty, linking arms with Kathryn. "You'll slide downthis slope the first thing you know."
"Who said something about a countess?" asked Selma.
"I did," answered Carolyn. "I asked Betty if her father met thecountess."
Mathilde gave Betty a glance full of interest. "Introduce me, Peggy,"she whispered.
"Oh, yes. Betty, I want you to meet a new sophomore, Mathilde Finn.Mathilde, this is Betty Lee."
Betty smiled and acknowledged the introduction with a little nod, asMathilde and Peggy were some little distance away. "I hope you willenjoy being a sophomore," she said.
"I have been one at another school," Mathilde remarked rather airily."But there is such a difference in courses, you know."
Kathryn nudged Betty, who kept countenance and acknowledged that therewas, a great difference. Betty recalled Carolyn's question, but thoughtthat she would not answer it unless some one insisted.
Curiosity, however, had been aroused. "Well," said Selma, "how about the'countess,' Betty?"
"Oh," said Betty. "Mr. Murchison asked Father to meet his sister,Countess Coletti, and her daughter. They came over on the _Statendam_.That was why I couldn't get home till today. First the ship was toarrive on--Thursday, I think. Then the New York _Times_ said Friday andthe next day it was Saturday. It really came in on Sunday; so, ofcourse, we had to wait till we could meet them."
"Did you meet them, too?" asked Selma, a little impressed with Betty'sopportunity.
"Yes, I went with Father to the boat. He thought it would be better,since Miss Coletti was coming, too."
"What is the girl called, Betty?" asked Peggy.
"Lucia."
"I didn't mean that. Hasn't she any title, too?"
"I don't know what they call her over in Italy, or at the school inSwitzerland that she has been attending. But her mother say that she isto be Lucia Coletti, or Miss Coletti at school. She wants to come toLyon High; but I don't suppose they will hurry about it."
"Are they really going to send her to a _public_ school?" asked Mathildein a shocked tone.
"That shows what you really think of the public school, Mathilde Finn,"said Dotty, not unpleasantly, but with firmness.
"Suppose I _do_," returned Mathilde, a question in her tone, as well asa bit of resentment.
"Well," said Dotty, "all I have to say is that there are _some_ whowould call that _snobbish_!"
"All right, if you think that, Dotty Bradshaw, think away!"
This was getting a little too warm for comfort and Betty spoke again. "Ithink we must all be nice to Lucia, for she will not know what to do,she says, and besides, she will be terribly homesick. When I first sawher she was both seasick, or just getting over it, and homesick, too.But her mother says that Lucia is going to have a taste of Americandemocracy."
"She will probably get all she wants of it here," sarcastically saidMathilde. "But Betty Lee is right--we
must all be friendly."
Kathryn nudged Betty again. "_She_ will, all right," Kathryn whispered,"the little snob!"
Betty gave a sideway smile at Kathryn and whispered, "Tut-tut!" ButKathryn's eyes were twinkling and her expression not as unpleasant asher words.
"My mother was at school with Miss Murchison, I think," Mathildecontinued. "She will probably call upon the countess."
"And you ought to go with her, Mathilde," wickedly added Kathryn.
At this Betty jumped up. It would be better not to say anything moreabout her trip with the countess and her daughter and maids. Betty hadlearned since coming to the city that telling all you know, with perfectfrankness, was not always wise. There were some understanding people,but also many others who were critical, or at least not at allappreciative. It was sometimes best not to satisfy curiosity or placeyourself open to misunderstanding or criticism. It was a courteous Bettywho said to Mathilde that she hoped she would enjoy being a sophomore"with the rest of us," and to the rest she said she had too much to doat home to stay any longer.
"I'm suffering from an aching void, girls," declared Dotty. "It's pastlunch time for me!"
"Come on home with me, Betty," begged Kathryn.
"No, both you come with me," said Carolyn. "I have an arrangement withCook for a special lunch of something I adore."
"Thank you, girls; I must get back to Mother, besides having a lot ofthings to see to. Just think, I haven't seen my mother all summer,except just a little while this morning. I have to hear all about how mygrandmother is, and Dick and Doris have actually _grown_ this summer. Ican _see_ it, to say nothing of Amy Lou, who is peachier than ever."
"You do love your family, don't you, Betty Lee?" said Carolyn.
"I should think so!"
"Well, come along, Kathryn. Take pity on me and let's have a good oldvisit together. Peggy, can't you come, too?"
Peggy accepted, and Kathryn gave Betty a meaning look as they separated,taking different cars. "Maybe I'll call you up tonight, Betty," shesaid.
"Do it, Gypsy," replied Betty.