Hushed voices around that part of college where the
infirmary was situated bespoke an active sympathy,
and the weight of oppression that comes with dread
had suddenly changed the whole atmosphere into a cloud
of gloom.
Dear, thoughtless, headstrong Shirley!
THE MIRACLE
The days of watching and anxiety that followed the
accident left no time for the lesser interests among
Shirley’s group at Wellington. For that
awful uncertain period there was grave danger of brain
concussion, and in the fear of that it must be said
every girl in Lenox, besides many outside the freshmen’s
quarters, showed their loyalty to the untamed country
girl. No messages could be sent, no flowers even
allowed to attest to their kindness, as in the critical
time absolute solitude was imperative. Then, like
a flash of that robust country vitality, the patient
rallied and all danger was pronounced past.
One particular, however, caused Jane keen annoyance.
All messages to Shirley’s folks had been passed
out through Dolorez Vincez, who claimed to be a personal
friend of the family. Not even a mother would
have been allowed to see the patient, and as Shirley
begged that this plan of Dolorez’ agency be
carried out, no objection was made to it by the very
much alarmed dean, Miss Rutledge.
Another puzzling detail was the fact that Sarah Howland
begged Jane not to interfere with these arrangements,
as any such interference would undoubtedly shock the
stricken girl, she argued. Sally and Jane had
just left Lenox and were discussing these details.
“And I’m so glad now,” breathed
Sally in her entreaty to Jane, “that you listened
to me and did not report that matter to Miss Rutledge.”
“So am I,” said Jane in bewilderment.
“I am glad of anything I may have done to make
her path smoother here. I can’t see why
Dolorez should step in at this critical moment, though,
but I do know she took Shirley’s folks around
when they were here, and as you say, Sally, to suddenly
change the whole line of communication with her family
might not only shock Shirley, but also terrify her
folks. What a relief that she is now out of danger!”
“I felt like running away at first,” confessed
Sally, “it was so terrifying. But I realized
I might be the very one most wanted here--if anything
serious should happen.”
Jane cast a quick inquiring glance at the younger
girl following that statement, but was not rewarded
by a further gleam of confidence.
“I’m afraid I have neglected her,”
said Jane, “and I mean to make amends.
The juniors usually help backward freshmen, but Shirley
seemed to resent my attempts even at friendship.”
“Miss Allen,” said Sarah in a compelling
voice, “you may not know it but—that
girl is gifted at mathematics. She can solve the
most difficult problems and is always ahead at geometry
and trig. Other studies seem to confuse her,
and she just laughs at the languages, but she’s
a perfect gem at math.”
