CHAPTER XXV
HOME AGAIN JIGGETY JIG
Sunday was a full day, but Mimi was glad when it was over. She shookhands and made curtsies off and on all day. Meeting other girls'parents and sisters and brothers was fun but it was tiring. Then, too,it made her too impatient to see her own.
Sunday afternoon she slipped away quietly to say goodbye to herfavorite places. She lingered under the big maple tree where she hadstudied on sunny days. She inspected the partially completed swimmingpool as carefully as a contractor. Not next year, but some year, shewould take swimming instructions here and she wanted it just so. Shehoped Miss Bassett would be teaching advanced swimming when shereturned. She must take another last look at the gym.
To her delight the door was unlocked and she could enter. No doubt somefaculty member had been showing it to visitors. The big empty gymnasiumwas not lonely to Mimi. She loved it. Here she had known sorrow; buthere, too, she had been happiest. Suppose she added all the hours offree time she had spent here practicing goals? Suppose she had fasteneda pedometer on her ankle to record the miles she had dribbled down thefloor?
Am I queer that I miss places as much or more than people, shewondered? She remembered how it hurt to say goodbye to the friendlytrees at camp, the Lodge, the river, the hills. When she thought backabout camp, it was these things she longed for.
She'd be the same way about Sheridan. In the long summer days ahead shewould miss the window ledge in the gym where she had perched to rest,the atmosphere of Tumble Inn; and now since it had been the scene ofsuch violent emotions, Dr. Barnes' office was endeared to her.
Because of the fire the Baccalaureate service had been changed frommorning to evening. True some of the Prep graduates were not as welldressed as they had planned to be, but, taken as a whole, the rows androws of girls in white made an inspiring picture.
The Commencement program proper, at which sheepskins were awarded tothe college girls taking degrees, and highly embossed parchmentdiplomas were given to the graduating Preps, was Monday morning ateleven o'clock. Since this was the last year of its long existence, thePreparatory students were given the special privilege of carrying thedaisy chain. Instead of the seniors filing in a single line carryingthe great rope of plaited flowers to pass down to the undergraduates ashad been the custom, the order was reversed. The seventy-five girls ofthe Prep department carried the daisy chain and passed it to thecollege freshmen. This year the significance was that the fine oldtraditions on which Sheridan Seminary had been founded must not die.They must be the foundation of Sheridan's continued growth now that shewas to be a fully accredited college.
Mimi felt very solemn marching along balancing the flower rope on hererect shoulder.
True to her word, Olivia the "near-child-prodigy" took first honorswith the highest average ever made by a Prep.
Sue played in the orchestra.
Betsy and Mimi sat side by side.
Imagine Mimi's astonishment when Dr. Barnes, contrary to histime-honored policy of never singling out girls for special attention,publicly commended her for her cool-headed bravery the night of thefire. She was pleased but Betsy was ecstatic!
Things were whirling around Mimi, but not touching her deeply. She wasabsorbed in a mystery solved and a home-coming.
"Free night" before departure, when all restrictions were off, was fun;but Mimi was impatient. Had she been going south instead of north shecould 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 heralded the arrivalof the station wagon, the rickety old bus which would rattle up andtake a load of eager girls jiggety jig to the north-bound train.
She _must_ get home to help Cissy get the house aired and ready forMother Dear and Junior and _summer visitors_. She had already askedboth Chloe and Betsy and they had accepted "if." Mimi, who was neverstumped by "ifs" knew that they would come and that there was a happysummer ahead.
This took the bitter out of the goodbyes.
Only once when Mimi turned away from the fluttering hands and chorus offarewells and glanced toward the ashes of Prep Hall, were there tearsin her eyes. She wiped them away with her bandaged hand.
After all, Sheridan was her Sheridan now and she was coming back someday.
THE END
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