CHAPTER XII
TEA FOR TWO
Mimi was in front of the mirror in her green polka dot pajamas tryingto do a back flip like a Vandy cheer leader when Sue and Chloe walkedin. Betsy was still in bed.
"Pardon me," Sue grinned. "I was looking for Tumble Inn and graciousme, my eyes must be going back on me. I've walked right into Barnum andBailey's circus winter quarters."
She winked at Chloe who could always manage to keep a straight face andthey backed out.
"Here," Mimi called so loud that she awakened Betsy. "Don't dare leavewithout coming in and telling us where you've been."
"Oh--places." Chloe teased shrugging--"and you?"
"You know good and well where we've been but oh boy! We had a perfectlyprecious time. Look," Mimi gushed pointing out her souvenirs. She hadpinned the football up by the mirror near Jack's picture. The programwas being pressed dry under the treasure chest.
Before Sue had time to examine either or Chloe to admire the crushedmums in the window, Mimi was exclaiming, "Out with it. Where have youbeen?"
"I don't care," Betsy said sleepily. "Don't tell us."
"Aunt Marcia came to see me," Chloe said proudly. It was fine to have afamily.
"Where is she?" Mimi wanted to know. She'd like to see Aunt Marcia. Shewished she had the nerve to ask her some questions. Was she a large,slow moving woman? If you called her Aunt Freida suddenly as if bymistake would she flinch?
"Gone. We went out to dinner and a movie with her and spent the nightat the hotel with her. She left on the early train and sent us home ina taxi."
"That makes us even," Betsy said. "What are we going to do all day.This is only Friday and there's tomorrow, too."
"So few of us are here, I imagine we can do what we please. I know,"Mimi raised her voice, "let's ride horseback!"
"Oh, let's."
"We can rent horses out at the Riding Academy. The college girls go allthe time and I've just been dying to. Betsy, would you ask Mrs. Cole?"
"I will if no one else will but I asked her just the other day aboutNashville. How about you, Sue? Did you or Chloe ask for yourpermission?"
"Aunt Marcia asked for us," Chloe answered for Sue.
"Sure, I'll ask," Sue spoke up.
While Sue was gone the usual wail went up.
"I intended to wash my hose, write letters, review my geometry, get upmy book report----"
All three had a list.
"There's always tomorrow," Mimi quoted solemnly. "It's a perfect day toride--crisp and clear."
"We can go if we take Miss Bassett," Sue burst in with the news.
"Grand," Betsy cried, "but you know what that means. We will have topay for her horse. Gee! I'm nearly broke."
"Don't spoil your pretty face with frowns and wrinkles, lovely," Chloesaid quickly. "Aunt Marcia gave me $5.00, _five dollars_, can you hear?"
She ran to her purse and reassured herself it was there.
"We'll pay you back, Chloe."
"Don't worry. It's all in the family."
The girls were beginning to feel like a family, really. Their scheduleshad smoothed out, they were accustomed to each other's individuality,the ugly head of rivalry and jealousy which leered the first few dayshad withdrawn. They enjoyed each other and shared their food, spendingmoney, and now for the first time they were wearing each other'sclothes.
Mimi, of course, had a beautifully tailored habit. She had taken goodcare of her patent leather boots. The other girls had jodphurs, so byexchanging blouses and sweaters a few times they managed to fitthemselves out becomingly. Chloe had the worst time of all. Everythingshe had on but her jodphurs was borrowed. She had never been on a horsein her life. She wasn't too keen on the idea but tried not to show howshe felt, Mimi guessed.
"We'll take good care of you, Chloe. I can give you a few pointers thatwill help you. So can Miss Bassett. We'll all ride slowly and keeptogether. We'll have a grand time."
They did have a grand time; although, Chloe and Sue both limped thenext two or three days when no one was looking.
When they returned they stopped in the Post Office. That was one placeMimi never passed without peeking in. Although, she knew exactly whenthe mail was put up she always had a hopeful feeling. Today she was notdisappointed. There was a big fat letter from Mother Dear. Mimi droppedher hat and crop and ripped the letter open.
"Wait 'till Olivia sees this stamp," she said. "She'll go wild."
Mimi devoured every word of the letter. She trailed the other girls onup to Tumble Inn for the second reading which was usually aloud. Sue,particularly enjoyed news of Mimi's family.
Mimi straddled a chair backwards, unfolded the letter and prepared toread----
"Where is Sue? This is getting queer. Has she an invisible cloak? Everytime I've looked for her lately she has disappeared."
"She had a notice in her box to come to the studio. Miss Taylor wantedto see her."
"What are you saying about me, Chloe?" Sue asked poking her head aroundthe door.
"Eavesdroppers hear no good of themselves," Betsy quoted.
"Come down to the studio with me, Mimi--'sprise."
She need say no more--at the word "s'prise," Mimi was up and after her.
"You can usher with me at Albert Spaulding's recital!"
Mimi failed to catch Sue's enthusiasm.
"Crazy--you will get to wear your long wedding dress and high heeledslippers--now--say something."
"Swell! I begin to catch on. But how did you manage to get me in? I'mnot a music student."
"Simple enough. The college music students are going to receive andserve at the reception and the preps are to usher at the recital. Thereare so few of us this year that Miss Taylor thought we'd better get oneor two outsiders. The minute I caught on I asked her if I could askyou. Here we are and Miss Taylor can tell us exactly what she wants usto do."
The recital was the biggest event between Thanksgiving and Christmas.For Sue it was one of the high points of the year. Mimi tried to be asinterested as Sue expected her to be.
Dressing up in the long dress was fun. Thank goodness, Miss Jane hadchosen a rainbow wedding. Her dress was orchid and Sue's was blue. Onlyone or two girls mentioned that they were made alike. Every time Mimiwore the high heeled pumps she handled herself better. Eventually shehoped to walk gracefully in them, to float along as Miss Jane had. Mimieven went so far as to pay a college girl fifteen cents to set herhair. Even though she was wearing it longer than she had at camp, thewave wouldn't make it "stay put." It wasn't that kind of hair. Betsyand Chloe had fussed over them no end, patting and preening.
"Leave your hair alone, Mimi," Chloe despaired.
Mimi tried to. All the time she was greeting people and marchingsedately up and down the aisle, she carried her head a bit to one sideso the wildest lock of hair would not fall in her eyes. However, sheand Sue had not been through their duties and seated ten minutes beforeMimi unconsciously tucked the lock behind her ear. Sue did not notice.She was entranced with the music.
To her there were only two people there, herself and Albert Spauldingin that enchanted realm of music. His nimble fingers, supple wrist, thepowerful singing tones brought tears to her eyes. She followed withunderstanding. She was aware of nothing but a violin laughing, crying.
Mimi was moved by the music but she was much more aware of the artisthimself. She was pleased that he was tall, that his shoulders werebroad. She loved the way he stood with his feet wide apart. How grandto see an artist who was, withal, such a man. Mimi's mind kept hoppingto tennis racquets and other sporting goods which had made his familyfamous. Then she would come back to the music. Several times shechecked down the program to see how much longer it was.
She knew exactly how to act at the reception which followed. Only themusic students were presented to the artist and Mimi felt she shouldn'tbarge in on that. She had been very lucky to get to usher. She did,however, go down the receiving line an
d chatter with many of thecollege girls. She liked knowing them. She was fast growing into oneherself. Nor did she pass up the punch and wafers. Not Mimi. Sue foundher there.
"Lead me upstairs, please," Sue plead in such a queer voice that for amoment, Mimi was frightened. Was Sue ill? Had she stood on her highheels too long? Was she going to faint? She was holding out her hand toMimi.
"What on earth? Why, you're trembling!"
"Oh, Mimi!" Sue gasped, "I shook his wonderful, magic-making hand!"