CHAPTER XX
THE JUNIOR SPREAD
Blue Bonnet, after her week at Woodford, found it difficult to accustomherself to the strict discipline, the regular hours, the stated dutiesthat awaited her at school.
"I feel as if I'd been sailing in an airship and had just got back toearth," she said to Annabel Jackson who was diligently pursuing a Frenchlesson. "How _can_ you dig in that way, Annabel, after all the excitingtimes you had at home? I can't! I'd like to drop this old geometry intothe Red Sea."
"I've _got_ to dig," Annabel replied complacently. "It isn't such aneasy thing to graduate from Miss North's as some people think. I'veearned every inch of the little sheepskin I'll carry home next June, Ican tell you--if I'm lucky enough to get it."
Blue Bonnet stifled a yawn.
"Oh, you'll get it, Annabel. You're a shark at lessons. What are yougoing to do next year?"
Annabel looked out of the window dreamily.
"I don't know yet. Mother has given me the choice between a year'stravel and a college course. Father wants me to come home and renew myacquaintance with the family. I think--perhaps--I'll take his advice.This is the fourth year I've been away. A long time, isn't it?"
"Indeed it is! Will you go into society? Have a coming-out party and allthat?"
"I hardly think so. In the South we don't come out; we grow out! I can'tremember when I went to my first party; along with my dolls, I reckon."
"I suppose that's why you are always so at ease in company. You aren'tthe least bit self conscious."
Annabel closed her book and stealing over to Blue Bonnet put an armabout her lovingly.
"Flatterer!" she said.
"No such thing. I never flatter. I admire you awfully! You know I do."
"Thank you, Blue Bonnet. I believe you mean it. You're the most truthfulperson I know. Now! There's a compliment for you."
Arm in arm the girls left the study hall where they had lingered overtheir books after class had been dismissed. This friendship, which hadpromised so much in the beginning, grew steadily. Annabel loved thesincere, upright Western girl; and Blue Bonnet had found all the sweetfine qualities that abounded in Annabel's nature. There are moments,living as intimately as boarding-school girls live, when the mask thathides selfishness, hypocrisy and petty jealousy, slips away, revealingthe true nature. To Blue Bonnet's somewhat critical eye, Annabel hadmeasured up under all circumstances; and Annabel had found Blue Bonnetas fair and loyal, as honest and just, as was possible in this worldwhere human frailties so often tip the scale in the balance.
At the top of the stairs the girls paused.
"Are you busy for the next half hour, Blue Bonnet?" Annabel asked.
"No, not very. Why?"
"I thought maybe you'd run over some accompaniments for me. Miss Northhas insisted upon my singing Sunday night when she has that little teafor the illustrious Alfred Noyes, who is going to read some of his poemsto us."
"Of course. I'd love to."
Annabel had a splendid voice; one that might have given her fame had shechosen to cultivate it for a profession. It was a deep richmezzo-soprano, and under Mrs. White's training she had acquired goodenunciation, poise and taste.
Blue Bonnet opened the music and ran her fingers lightly over the keys.She had a soft, velvety touch that made her accompaniments a delight.She was in great demand among the girls who sang, and she speciallyloved to play for Annabel.
"Annabel has something--I don't know what--" she once said to Mrs.White; and Mrs. White had finished the sentence for her.
"Temperament, my dear; a gift of the gods! Annabel is naturallyemotional. It is her Southern heritage. When she sings she _feels_; thatis what you recognize and can't explain."
Blue Bonnet was strongly akin to Annabel in the qualities that made forsuccess in music and a strong affinity strengthened the friendship. Theywere alike--and yet vastly different. Annabel was emotional withoutbeing impulsive; her emotions were well concealed, veiled from thepublic eye, while Blue Bonnet's rose and fell like a tide; completelysubmerging her at times--often embarrassing her. Blue Bonnet was sunnyand optimistic; Annabel had a little pessimistic streak in her that wasoften mistaken for contrariness, and she lacked the spontaneity that wasBlue Bonnet's chief charm. Blue Bonnet could laugh and cry in a breath.When Annabel wept there was a deluge; it took days to get back to theold light-heartedness.
"Let's have a game of tennis," Blue Bonnet suggested when they hadfinished practising. "I've got to exercise. If I keep on gaining weightI'll be able to wear Wee's clothes without the slightest difficulty."
Annabel, who inclined to physical laziness, scorned exercise always.
"Oh, Blue Bonnet, you know I loathe it! Get Patty--she's so expert itmakes it worth while to play. I'm no match for you."
Blue Bonnet glanced at Annabel's tiny hands and feet, and laughed.
"You weren't made for athletics, Annabel. You're put upwrong--architecturally."
"Praise be!"
At the foot of the stairs the girls separated. Blue Bonnet was off forher game of tennis and Annabel for a walk in the Park.
"See you later," Blue Bonnet called. "If you love me awfully you mightmake me a cup of tea when I get in. I'll be ravenous! Take a look in myshirtwaist box. I think you'll find some crackers and ginger snaps inthe right-hand corner. Good-by!"
Annabel promised, and an hour later when Blue Bonnet returned, flushedand radiant after a stiff game with Patty, she found the kettle boilingand a general air of domesticity reigning in her friend's comfortablequarters. Annabel nodded from the depths of a chair and went on withinstructions to Ruth, who was changing pictures on the wall.
"Cleaning?" Blue Bonnet asked, throwing down her racket and dropping ina heap on the couch. "Whew! I gave Patty a run to-day. What's the matterwith the Princess Louise?"
"Ruth had her between that Madonna and the Princeton chap and it got onmy nerves," Annabel complained. "The frames screamed at each other,anyway. I can't stand gold and ebony and oak in a medley. A littlelower, Ruth. You know it must be on a level with your eyes. That'sbetter! She'll be happier there and so shall I. I'm terribly fussy. Ifeel about pictures as I do about books. They have a right to anenvironment. I couldn't any more stand Shakespeare up beside a bestseller than I could fly. How did your game come out?"
Blue Bonnet's eyes danced.
"I beat Patty all hollow--six love!"
"Six love! Really? Why, that's splendid! Keep on and you'll make arecord."
"I expect to."
Blue Bonnet drank her tea hastily and began making apologies.
"Sorry to have to run," she said, gathering up her belongings, "but I'vean important engagement."
"Junior spread committee, I suppose," Annabel ventured, but Blue Bonnetwas already out of the door and on her way to Wee Watts' room.
Wee was cross. Blue Bonnet scented trouble in the atmosphere instantly.
"We've waited this meeting for you twenty minutes, Blue Bonnet, and it'svery important. We've decided on a play and you have the leading part."
"I--a leading part? How ridiculous! I never acted in my life."
"Then it's time you began. You don't know what you've missed. You playOonah, an Irish girl who comes under the spell of the fairies. It's aperfectly sweet part--you'll love it! There are a lot of good parts, andwe're wild to begin rehearsals. Isn't it a shame that Angela is aSenior? There's a wonderful part that she could do--a young poet calledAillel, who makes a great sacrifice."
"Wouldn't Sue do?"
"Oh, not at all! It takes a very stunning, tall person--"
"Thanks awfully for the compliment!" came from Sue's quarter.
"Sue! You know I didn't mean anything. It takes a rather masculineperson. I think Helen Renwick, perhaps--"
"Much obliged, Wee. I adore that type, you know." This from Helen, whoprided herself on her femininity.
Wee threw down the book impatiently.
"You'd better choose another class president," she said. "
I'm ready toresign. If any of you think my job's fun, you're welcome to try it!"
Blue Bonnet strove to heal the breach.
"Nobody's angry, Wee--stop it! There couldn't any one take your place.You're doing the best you can for all of us--we know that. Sue andHelen were only joking."
"Sue hasn't anything to grumble about," Wee insisted. "She has aperfectly dear comedy part: a deaf old lady who's always hearing thingswrong. _I_ think it's great."
Sue from her corner grinned, and whispered something to Helen; but shewafted a kiss in Wee's direction and Wee brightened.
"Now we're all agreed, are we, that this play is what we want topresent?" the president said, rapping for order. "Shall we vote on it?"
A hearty affirmative settled the matter.
"Very well. The duty of making it the best ever given in the schoolrests with the cast. I am at your service at all times. We shall nowadjourn to meet to-morrow afternoon at five o'clock and continue thearrangements."
The next three weeks were the busiest that Blue Bonnet had known sinceher entrance to the school. Lessons grew in length and importance. Therewere endless themes to write in English; mathematics became more andmore enigmatical; music more difficult. In addition to this wererehearsals for the play.
"I feel as if I were being driven," Blue Bonnet said one day to SueHemphill, disconsolately. "Would you mind hearing me say my lines, Sue?I think I almost have them. I'll begin at my second entrance. I'm sureI know up to there perfectly. I don't know what ever made me take thispart. I'm sure to forget at a critical moment."
But whatever Blue Bonnet's doubts may have been, the rest of the casthad no fears for their star. For them she shone brilliantly, andpromised, so Wee declared,--and Wee's judgment was never questioned,--tobe the "hit" of the evening.
The days leading up to the performance were strenuous indeed. All theJuniors had been pressed into service. They scurried through halls;darted in and out of rooms laden with draperies, gowns and furniture,mum as sphinxes, spry as crickets.
The day of the Junior spread dawned at last. A wonderful day the firstweek in May. The gymnasium had been transformed into a bower of beauty.Pine-trees--huge banks of them--concealed the walls, giving an idea of aforest with marvelous effect. Wondrous fountains, constructed in a day,bubbled and sang; flowers bloomed in profusion; and the long table withits festive decorations, sparkling glass and silver, bespoke a welcometo all beholders.
But it was in the dressing-rooms, behind the scenes and in the wings,that the greatest excitement prevailed. The smell of powder and coldcream filled the air. Sue Hemphill, completely covered with a ginghamapron from head to foot, was in her element "making up."
"Don't wiggle so, Blue Bonnet," she commanded, as that young personsquirmed under the rigorous treatment she was receiving. "I'll have youlooking like a Chinaman in a minute if you don't hold still. I've got totake that eyebrow off--it slants too much. There--that's better! Isn'tit, Wee? Wait a minute."
She stood at a distance and contemplated Blue Bonnet thoughtfully.
"You have to study your subjects," she said finally, "to get goodresults. You're not red enough yet, Blue Bonnet. You can stand a lot ofcolor."
Blue Bonnet protested.
"It isn't necessary that I should look like a house afire, is it? I'mnot going to have another bit, Sue, and you needn't insist. Uncle Cliffwould have a fit if he could see me; and Aunt Lucinda! mercy, she'dthink I was disgraced forever. Ugh! I think I look a fright!"
She held the mirror up to her face and frowned into it impatiently.
Sue explained.
"But you've _got_ to do it, Blue Bonnet. Why, you'd look ghastly behindthe footlights without any color. Come now--please. Wet your lips andput them out--so! There, that's fine. Wee, turn up the lights on thestage and take a look at Blue Bonnet. Go to the back of the room. Seeif you think she's made up too much."
"Perfectly lovely!" Wee called a moment later. "You're justb-e-a-utiful! Your best friends will never know you." Which verydoubtful compliment went unnoticed in the general rush and excitement.
"Now, do be careful," Sue cautioned as Blue Bonnet gave her seat toHelen Renwick, who stood patiently waiting, cold creamed to the properconsistency. "And don't, under _any_ circumstances, use yourhandkerchief. You'll look like a painted sunset at close range if youdo. Grease paint's terribly smeary. Please be careful, won't you?"
Blue Bonnet passed out into the wings where Wee was giving instructionsright and left.
"Oh, Wee," she said, "I'm scared to death! I believe I'm threatened withstage fright. Do you know how it comes on? Feel my hands."
She laid an icy lump in Wee's warm palm tremblingly.
"Absurd!" Wee said. "Did you think you caught it--like measles orchicken-pox?"
"I think it's caught _me_, Wee. I feel so sort of choky--and queer."
"You'll get over it. Don't worry. You look too sweet for words. Take apeek at the stage. It's a dream."
It was a pretty setting. Along the light green walls were whitecurtained windows in whose boxes grew bright, red roses, and swingingfrom the dimly lighted ceiling was the green and yellow shamrockpresented by a former class. The stage represented a simple room in anIrish peasant's cottage, with its brick fireplace and high cupboards.Blue Bonnet was exclaiming over its loveliness when a voice at thecentre entrance interrupted her.
"Wee!" it called excitedly. "You're wanted in Clare Peters'dressing-room instantly. They've sent her the wrong wig. It should begrey, and its blond and curly--imagine!--Clare's frantic."
Wee and Blue Bonnet both hastened to the dressing-room. Clare Peters, asomewhat spoiled, flighty girl, accustomed to having her way in mostthings, stood before the mirror in tears.
"I can't do a thing with it," she said. "I told that stupid man at thecostumer's that it had to be grey--I--"
"Go for Sue Hemphill," Wee commanded, and Blue Bonnet fled in haste.
With extraordinary skill Sue fitted the offending wig to Clare's head;gave the curls a twist; treated them to a liberal dose of talcum powderand left Clare happy and satisfied.
"My, but she's a wonder!" commented the leader of the fairies, who hadwatched the operation in amazement. "Sue certainly is a whiz!"
In another moment the cast had been called together for finalinstructions. When all were gathered Wee laid down the law. The fairieswere not to talk in the wings. All were to keep an eye on the prompter,and Blue Bonnet was especially informed that if the wind apparatus goton a rampage, as it did at the dress rehearsal, and drowned what she wassaying at her first entrance, she was to raise her voice and competewith the elements, if need be.
Then there was a rush for the closed doors of the gymnasium, behindwhich the Juniors sang their song of welcome to the waiting Seniors; andthe Seniors responded in fitting style.
As the doors were opened, and the Seniors beheld for the first time thefruits of the Juniors' long endeavors there were exclamations ofsurprise and delight; and after respects had been paid to the receivingline which included, besides the Junior officers, Miss North andProfessor Howe, seats were hastily drawn to the front of the room forthe best possible view of the stage; the curtain rolled up, and the playwas on!
Perhaps no one in the cast felt the fear that possessed Blue Bonnet asshe watched the curtain go up and realized that in a few moments shemust face the audience beyond. Her heart beat like a trip hammer; herteeth chattered as if with chill, and Wee Watts, alarmed for herstar,--the real shining light of the play,--rubbed the cold hands in anagony of apprehension and spoke comforting words.
"SHE WAS OONAH, THE BEWITCHING LITTLE IRISH MAIDEN."]
"Blue Bonnet--you mustn't go to pieces like this--it's dreadful! Try tocalm yourself and think of your lines. You'll be all right in aminute--just as soon as you're on the stage. I know you're going to dowell. This awful nervousness is a part of the game--it's the artistictemperament."
And so it proved. Blue Bonnet had scarcely spoken her first line beforefear fled to the win
ds. Her own personality fell from her like a mantle.She was Oonah, the bewitching little Irish maiden, on her way fromDublin to make her home with her grandmother in the country. In her handshe held the "twig of thorn," which, having been plucked on the firstday of spring, had thrown her under the spell of the fairies. Around hershoulders she wore the peasant's cape with its quaint, becoming hood,and as she threw it off there was a smothered exclamation from theaudience, for the vision was one of startling loveliness. Her hair wascaught loosely and hung in many ringlets; her eyes were large andluminous with the excitement of the moment, and her prettybrogue--slaved over for weeks--captivated all listeners.
Blue Bonnet, quite unaware of her triumph, was overwhelmed at the end ofthe performance to hear her name called uproariously from the audienceand fled to the far end of the wings, from which she was rescuedunceremoniously by two insistent fairies, who brought her to thefootlights to acknowledge the tribute of friends and admirers.
But it was after the play, when the teachers had left the room, and thechairs had been drawn around the table that the real fun of the eveningbegan. It was then that the presidents of the two classes made speechesthat were masterpieces of diplomatic art, and the Seniors contributedtheir share of entertainment with rare stunts. The eccentricities ofteachers were taken off in a way that convulsed the entire gathering;the Junior class song was sung for the first time, and midnight crept onwithout any one dreaming of its approach until faithful John, thejanitor, announced it from the door exactly on the stroke of twelve.
With sighs and regrets that anything so altogether heavenly as a"spread" should have an end, the girls moved out of the old gymnasiumsorrowfully, realizing that one of their happiest evenings had passedinto history.