"Well, you have other qualifications that are quite as desirable."

"I'm out of the question, so stop talking about it. There goes Miss Hamilton now. I wonder why she always turns down that lane? It is a private one, you know, and I'm sure she has no permission to go to the house every day."

"I'm positive she doesn't even know the people," Beth said, staring after her cla.s.smate. "I am consumed with curiosity. What do you suppose she does want, anyway?"

"I have not the faintest idea, and I really do not suppose that it concerns us, anyway. What do you think?"

"Don't be snubby! Margaret Hamilton is queer in some ways, though none of you seem to have discovered it but myself."

"That simply shows what an imagination you have. I must go into the library now and scribble a note to Fred. I don't see when you get your home letters written, Beth. I must send one to Father and Mother twice a week, or they would think that I was sick and rush on here: and Fred, off at Harvard, demands one just as often. I told him that I would write as long as he did, but that when he commenced to shirk on his letters to me, I would stop. So far he has done remarkably well, and Mother likes me to write him often, not mere notes, you know, but long, chatty letters; she thinks that home-letters help to keep boys out of temptation."

"I presume they do," said Beth soberly, as if struck by a new thought. "Possibly it would not hurt me to write to Roy, he is off at a preparatory school."

"Have you a brother? I didn't know it."

"I have not been much more communicative than Margaret Hamilton, have I? But I hardly imagine that our reasons are the same for keeping so quiet: If there is time after our letters are finished, I'll give you a biographical sketch of our family. Roy is my half brother, I have no own brothers or sisters."

And then Beth commenced to talk of something else as if she repented her momentary confidence, and the girls went in to write their letters.

Beth finished first. "There, the surprise that will strike Roy when he reads that letter may bring on an apoplectic fit. 'Twill be the very first letter he ever had from me."

"Has he been away from home long?"

"This is his second year. I believe that you are aware of the fact that I live in Philadelphia. Father is a lawyer, and he isn't a poor one, either. He makes considerable money, but I have my own money that was my mother's."

"Have you any other brothers beside Roy?"

"As I said, I haven't any brothers or sisters really. Roy is ten, Hugh is eight, and Nell is three. I think Roy is far too young to send away to school, and I know that his mother is of the same opinion. But Father seemed to think that it was best."

"What do you call your stepmother, Beth?"

"I do not think I ever called her anything in speaking to her. Of course, I call her Mrs. Newby when I allude to her, but that is very seldom."

"Isn't she nice, Beth? I don't mean to be impertinent, but you know that I care for you a great deal, and I cannot help feeling concerned about everything regarding you."

"You couldn't be impertinent if you tried, Dolly, and I would answer your question if I could. I really don't know how she would appear to an outsider. You must go home with me sometime and judge for yourself.

She is a perfect lady, and that is about all that I feel qualified to say."

Beth had talked all that she cared to on the subject, and Dolly wisely let the matter drop. Beth had told her no more than any mere acquaintance of the family's could have repeated. She had let Dolly know something about her family, but nothing about her feelings. It was months before the subject ever came up again.

As Thanksgiving time approached, the Freshmen became very much excited over the approaching election. Several girls were mentioned in connection with the cla.s.s presidency, notably Margaret Hamilton and Dolly herself. Abby Dunbar and Grace Chisholm would also be candidates in all probability.

Beth was intensely interested over the affair, and Dolly suspected her of doing considerable electioneering. It became more and more evident, as the time drew nearer, that Miss Hamilton and Dolly Alden would poll the most votes. Dolly tried to keep cool and unconcerned. It was a great surprise to her that her name should even be mentioned in this connection.

"But you would like it--you know you would like it!" insisted Beth as they went over the question for the final time in Dolly's room. That was at noon on Monday, the election would be held that evening.

"Why, yes," said Dolly honestly, "I would like it if it comes to me naturally, but I will not beg any of the girls to vote for me. That would spoil it all. If the girls prefer Miss Hamilton, she ought to be elected. She would make a much better presiding officer than I."

"I don't think so, do you, Miss Sutherland?" and Beth turned to Dolly's room-mate who was the only other person present.

Dolly broke in impetuously. "Don't ask Mary embarra.s.sing questions.

She doesn't have to vote for me just because we chance to room together, and, of course, she knows that Miss Hamilton would make a better president than I. By the way, why don't you two drop formality and say 'Elizabeth' and 'Mary?' It is quite time you did so."

"I shall be very glad to do so, if I may be permitted," Beth said. Then as she caught a slight smile on Mary's face, she added, "Very well, that weighty matter is settled for the remainder of the college course.

You see, I did not dare to say 'Mary' so familiarly to one who is such a wonderful scholar in biology as you."

"That is the only thing I _do_ know, so please do not make fun of me."

"Gracious, I would never dare to make fun of you! We all hold our breath with awe when you recite. Really, Mary, don't look so hurt and annoyed.

We do admire you tremendously. That is such an unusual branch for a girl to fancy."

"You had better talk about the cla.s.s election, I think," said Mary decidedly.

"Why? do you think it will be close?"

"Miss Hamilton's friends are working hard. Lots of the girls had no special preferences, but I think all of those will vote for Miss Hamilton now."

Beth groaned. "I am an idiot to sit still here. I shall go right out in the highways and byways of this building, and see if I cannot accomplish something myself."

"You will stay here, Beth."

"I will not."

In the midst of the good-humored scrimmage that followed, the lunch-gong sounded, and the girls hurried to their rooms to freshen up a wee bit before going to the dining-room.

It was apparent early in the evening that Miss Hamilton's friends felt confident of victory. Their plans were well laid, and one of their number was promptly elected chairman.

The preliminary business was gotten out of the way very speedily.

Margaret Hamilton was nominated for the cla.s.s president by Florence Smith. Beth nominated Dolly, and then Abby Dunbar, Grace Chisholm and Bessie Worth were quickly nominated by their friends. The tellers distributed papers and pencils and the balloting commenced.

Dolly found herself actually trembling with excitement. What fun it would be if she could telegraph to Fred and sign her name, "Dorothy Alden, President, Cla.s.s '09."

"I wish I were one of those tellers," murmured Beth. "It is simply maddening to sit here and do nothing. Hush, there they come, Dolly. Oh, I do hope that you were elected."

CHAPTER IV

The faces of the tellers told nothing as they entered the room, carrying the little slip of paper that meant so much to these Freshmen. The chairman rapped loudly for order, and a pin could have been heard drop while the result was read:

Miss Hamilton . . . . 145 votes Miss Alden . . . . . 145 "

Miss Dunbar . . . . . 10 "

Miss Chisholm . . . . 9 "

Miss Worth . . . . . 6 "

"We'll have to take another ballot," Beth said in a low tone excitedly. "How close it is! Oh, Dolly, I do hope that you will get it."