The humor of the situation now struck Jane like a
blow on the funny bone, and she burst out laughing
in the very face of the thorny rose bush.
“After all it is too delicious!” she told
herself. “And even if she is my dad’s
scholarship girl there’s a heap of fun in the
ridiculous situation. I’ll find Judy and
tell her the whole thing. Too good to keep; too
funny to spoil,” and the blue serge skirt that
fanned the boxwood a moment later never swished a
swish. Jane did not give it tune to do so.
JANE AND JUDITH
Oh, do tell me, Janie. I was watching behind
the big elm the whole time. Couldn’t hear
a word of course, but I could have seen any attempt
at violence. That girl, I tell you, is no ordinary
‘critter.’ I fully expected she would
draw something from that broad satin belt. But
do tell? What was it all about?”
“Thank you for the chance, Judy, I was just
wondering when you would take breath. It is funny—so
funny I am laughing all over,” and the gray
eyes sent out sparks of mirth, as a senior might have
put it.
“Isn’t it!” howled Judith, pegging
a pillow at Jane’s head to keep the fun a-going
or the “pot a-boiling” as you will.
“I don’t know where to begin Judy.
At first I was sort of awe-stricken. Considering
the handicaps poor Shirley has loaded herself up with——”
“Including the name. Have you analyzed
that?”
“Yes, love, I have. Some maiden aunt with
a paper covered library must have inflicted her with
that. It doesn’t suit at all, although
she seems very proud of it.”
“And no chance of her growing into it either.
Like a chauffeur named Claude or Clarence. Her
last name now would be much snappier for her.
Duncan makes a topping Dunny,” suggested Judith.
“But the girl would never believe that,”
sighed Jane. “She asked me to call her
Shirley and I tried to; now, Judith, listen. Here
are a few difficult facts. Shirley Duncan is
bound to fight. She has been brought up in the
school of affectionate antagonism, and with her it
is a case of getting the best of everyone and everything.
I did not say getting the better, I mean best.”
“I savvy, as our old friend cow-boy Pedro would
say. Have you heard from home lately, Dinks?”
“Yes, Judith. All well and lonely.
But please concentrate. This matter is serious.
Shirley threatened me with friends—says
she has friends here who are not freshies. Can
you guess who they may be?”
“Never saw a girl speak to her a second time
unless she, Shirley, stepped on the other’s
toes or knocked her hat off. Then the conversation
was naturally brief and snappy. It happened to
Mabel.”
“I can’t imagine whom she means, but they
are somewhere ready to pounce on us, so let us beware.
Next point is: she seems to have money:
offered to pay for the broken mirror. In fact
she sort of lorded it over me.”
