"Well, after all, you will admit I am the head of the school," Mrs.

Baird reminded her, smiling good-naturedly to soften the rebuke.

"Certainly, to be sure," Miss Hale stammered, rather lamely. "I think I'll be saying good-night."

When she had gone, Mrs. Baird sank into a big chair before the hearth.

"It was breaking rules, of course," she mused, smiling into the fire, "but I can't help loving them for wanting to coast instead of listening to anatomy lectures. It shows they've healthy minds anyway, bless them."

CHAPTER IX

THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS

The first day of the Xmas holidays had at last arrived and fifty-six tired girls were busily packing trunks and bags. Nerves that had been overstrained for the past couple of weeks had relaxed, and everywhere there was the noise and excitement of leaving.

In Freshman corridor trunks were being jumped on and made to close, and all the girls were exchanging addresses and exacting promises of letters and visits.

"Oh, Lois," sighed Polly, taking her chum's arm and leading her to the end of the corridor farthest away from the rest of the girls, "I do wish you didn't live in Albany. Of course I'll be glad to see Uncle Roddy, but I can't help feeling that vacation is going to be awful lonely."

"I know," replied Lois. "I wish we could be together; anyhow we can write. Bet will be in New York and you will see her."

"Yes, but Bet's not you," Polly answered. "But let's cheer up. Why, here's Betty now; speak of angels-looking for us?" she called.

"Oh, there you are; you're both wanted-Polly in the reception-room and Lo in Mrs. Baird's office."

"Do you know what for?"

"No." But Betty's expression made both girls apprehensive.

"Wonder what's up," queried Lois as they ran down the broad staircase to the main hall.

When Polly reached the reception hall she found Uncle Roddy with a big fur coat over his arm, a cap in his hand, waiting for her.

"h.e.l.lo, Tiddle-dy-winks; thought I'd plan a surprise for you, so I came up in the motor to take you home. It's a glorious day. If there are any girls you care to bring along, why-"

But Uncle Roddy's explanation of his unexpected arrival was cut short by Polly's violent hug and kiss.

"Uncle Roddy, what a darling you are!" she exclaimed. "I'll get ready this minute and see who I can get to go with us." And she flew back to the corridor.

As she stood in her room throwing the remaining leftovers into her trunk, Lois came in and threw herself on the bed, in tears.

"Polly, Bobbie has typhoid and I can't go home," she sobbed. "Father wired Mrs. Baird. Poor darling Bob!" Her voice was m.u.f.fled in the pillow.

Polly's joy in Uncle Roddy's surprise was forgotten as she tried to comfort her friend.

After Lois had left the office, Mrs. Baird returned to the reception-room where she had left Uncle Roddy.

"Did Marianna find you all right, Mr. Pendleton?" she asked. "Such a distressing thing has just happened! Dr. Farwell wired me that his son has typhoid and Lois will have to remain here for the vacation. I am sorry, for the child needed a change."

Then it was that Uncle Roddy had an inspiration. The thought of amusing Polly during the vacation had worried him. Several ladies of his acquaintance had promised to take her about, but that had not rea.s.sured him. Now if there were two of them, they would amuse each other, and under the able care of Mrs. Bent, his worthy housekeeper, all would be well.

It was a matter of a few minutes to lay the plan before Mrs. Baird and, with her help, to reach Dr. Farwell by long distance telephone. Over the wire the two men renewed their acquaintance of college days and the doctor was only too delighted to give his consent.

In less than an hour the two girls were wrapped up in countless fur robes in the back seat of Uncle Roddy's comfortable car, while that relieved gentleman was at the wheel, and the chauffeur, always along in case of tire trouble, occupied the seat beside him.

As it was twelve o'clock when they started, Uncle Roddy suggested luncheon at the hotel in the village. That was lark number one. The food was terrible, but Uncle Roddy was so funny the way he imitated the waiter and teased the big green parrot, that as long as the food was filling, it didn't matter about the taste.

On the road they had two tires blow out, and as the second happened just on the outskirts of Irvington-on-the-Hudson, home of Rip Van Winkle, Uncle Roddy suggested dinner at the Sleepy Hollow Inn. They had the most delicious m.u.f.fins, and pork chops with apple sauce, and very black coffee. That was lark number two.

But best of all was the getting home at ten o'clock. Uncle Roddy lived on Riverside Drive in a big apartment, with Mr. and Mrs. Bent, his housekeeper and butler.

Polly had stayed with him for three months before going to school and knew the lay of the land. She led the way to the big guest room that she had occupied, but instead of the gray walls and sedate old mahogany furniture that she remembered, imagine her surprise at finding soft cream walls with a border of nodding yellow daffodils and the most adorable ivory-colored furniture.

Lois broke the amazed silence by demanding:

"Polly, what a beautiful room; why did you never tell me about it?"

But Polly was speechless with delight as she stood looking, first at the big double bed with the carved roses at the head and foot and next at the dressing-table with its dainty silver brushes and combs and Dresden china candlesticks. A slender-legged table with a bowl of yellow tea-roses on it stood beside the bed, and the walls were hung with colored prints of Greuze's "Girl with the Broken Pitcher" and "The Milk Maid," Reynolds' darling portrait of "Penelope" and "The Boy with the Rabbit."

Polly, in the days of Aunt Hannah and her four-posted beds and crazy quilts, had dreamed of a room such as this. Finally she managed to answer Lois' question.

"I didn't know about it myself, till this very minute," she gasped. "Oh, Uncle Roddy, it's beautiful! I never saw anything half so lovely!"

"I wanted you to feel at home, dear child, and now I think you had both better get to sleep." And after renewed thanks and good-night kisses, he left them.

A second later Mrs. Bent tiptoed in with a broad smile that took in the whole world.

"You're hungry, I'm sure, my dears. I'll have some hot chocolate ready for you when you get into bed; just ring when you want it."

Polly and Lois hugged each other for joy and after taking a disgracefully long time to undress, they finally fell asleep over their chocolate and cakes.

The two weeks of Christmas vacation was an unending good time; every minute was full. The mornings were spent chiefly in bed, for Mrs. Bent brought them their breakfast and sat to chat.

Sometimes they lunched down-town with Uncle Roddy and sometimes they motored through Central Park, or, with Mrs. Bent for chaperone, wandered through the stores, and as the old Scotch woman could refuse them nothing, they did pretty much as they chose.

Uncle Roddy came home at four o'clock and always with bonbons and theater tickets.

It would be useless to try and recount all their doings, so you will have to be contented with the descriptions of the good times that pleased them most.

One was Lois' box party for "Peter Pan." Dr. Farwell had written that the seats were in her name at the box office for Sat.u.r.day matinee, and the question arose whom to ask.

"There's Betty, of course," said Lois. "We'll phone her this morning; and Angela and Connie live in New Jersey and we ought to be able to get them."