To feel better. Sis was out all day, and in the afternoon
Jane called me up.
"How are you?" she said.
"Oh, I'm all right."
"Everything smooth?"
"Well, smooth enough."
"Oh, Bab," she said. "I'm just crazy about it. All the girls are."
"I knew they were crazy about something."
"You poor thing, no wonder you are bitter," she said. "Somebody's
coming. I'll have to ring off. But don't you give in, Bab. Not an
inch. Marry your Heart's Desire, no matter who butts in."
Well, you can see how it was. Even then I could have told father
and mother, and got out of it somehow. But all the girls knew about
it, and there was nothing to do but go on.
All that day every time I thought of the Party my heart missed a
beat. But as I would not lie and say that I was ill--I am naturaly
truthful, as far as possible--I was compelled to go, although my
heart was breaking.
I am not going to write much about the party, except a slight
discription, which properly belongs in every Theme.
All Parties for the school set are alike. The boys range from
knickerbockers to college men in their Freshmen year, and one is
likely to dance half the evening with youngsters that one saw last
in their perambulaters. It is rather startling to have about six
feet of black trouser legs and white shirt front come and ask one
to dance and then to get one's eyes raised as far as the top of
what looks like a particularly thin pair of tree trunks and see a
little boy's face.
As this Theme is to contain discription I shall discribe the ball
room of the club where the eventful party occurred.
The ball room is white, with red hangings, and looks like a
Charlotte Russe with maraschino cherries. Over the fireplace they
had put "Merry Christmas," in electric lights, and the chandaliers
were made into Christmas trees and hung with colored balls. One of
the balls fell off during the Cotillion, and went down the back of
one of the girl's dresses, and they were compelled to up-end her
and shake her out in the dressing room.
The favors were insignifacant, as usual. It is not considered good
taste to have elaberate things for the school crowd. But when I
think of the silver things Sis always brought home, and remember
that I took away about six Christmas Stockings, a toy Baloon, four
Whistles, a wooden Canary in a cage and a box of Talcum Powder, I
feel that things are not fair in this World.
Hannah went with me, and in the motor she said:
"Oh, Miss Barbara, do be careful. The Familey is that upset."
"Don't be a silly," I said. "And if the Familey is half as upset as
I am, it is throwing a fit at this minute."
We were early, of course. My mother beleives in being on time, and
besides, she and Sis wanted the motor later. And while Hannah was
on her knees taking off my carriage boots, I suddenly decided that
I could not go down. Hannah turned quite pale when I told her.
"What'll your mother say?" she said." And you with your new dress
and all! It's as much as my life is worth to take you back home
now, Miss Barbara."
Well, that was true enough. There would be a Riot if I went home,
and I knew it.
"I'll see the Stuard and get you a cup of tea," Hannah said. "Tea
sets me up like anything when I'm nervous. Now please be a good
girl, Miss Barbara, and don't run off, or do anything foolish."
She wanted me to promise, but I would not, although I could not
have run anywhere. My legs were entirely numb.
In a half hour at the utmost I knew all would be known, and very
likely I would be a homless wanderer on the earth. For I felt that
never, never could I return to my Dear Ones, when my terrable
actions became known.
Jane came in while I was sipping the tea and she stood off and eyed
me with sympathy.
"I don't wonder, Bab!" she said. "The idea of your Familey acting
so outragously.