 Chapter 1 of Molly Brown's Junior Days. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by D.R. Baker Robinson. Molly Brown's Junior Days by Nell Speed. Daughters of Wellington. Number five in the quadrangle at Wellington College was in a condition of upheaval. Surprising things were happening there. The simultaneous arrival of six trunks, five express boxes, and a piano had thrown the three orderly and not over-large rooms into a state of the wildest confusion. In the midst of this mountain of luggage and scattered boxes stood a small, lonely figure dressed in brown, gazing disconsolently about. I feel as if I had been cast up by an earthquake with a lot of other miscellaneous things," she remarked hopelessly. It was Nam's olden, back at college by an early train, and devoutly wishing she had waited for the 410 when the others were expected. This is too much to face alone," she continued. If it had been at Queens, it never would have happened. Mrs. Markham wouldn't have allowed six trunks and a piano and five boxes to be piled into one room. And mine at the very bottom, too. If it wasn't a selfish act, I think I'd leave everything and go call on Mrs. McLean. But no, that wouldn't do on the first day. Nance blushed. But Andy's there today. She blushed again at this bold, outspoken thought. I shall get the janitor to come up here and distribute these things," she added presently. With New England determination, not even to peep at a picture of pleasure behind a granite wall of duty. The doors of No. 5 opened on a broad, high-ceiling corridor, the side walls of which were wainscotted halfway up with dark-polished wood. On either side of this corridor ranged the apartments and single rooms of the quadrangle, one row facing the campus, the other the courtyard. An occasional upholstered bench or high-backed chair stood between the frequent doors and gave a home-like touch to the long gallery. They had been the gift of a rich ex-graduate. Nance, closing the door of No. 5, paused and looked proudly down the polished vista of the hallway, which curved at the far end and continued its way on the other side of the quadrangle. The sound of voices and laughter floated to her through the half-open doors of the other rooms. With a smile of contentment she sat down in one of the high-backed chairs. Tear, old Wellington, she said softly. Other girls love their homes, but I love you. Thus she apostrophes the classics shades of the university while her gaze lighted absently in a large laundry bag stuffed full standing just outside one of the doors. It was different from the usual Wellington laundry bag, being of a peculiar shape and of material covered with Japanese fans. It's a Toyos. Of course she must have been here since Monday. I heard she had spent the summer down in the village. She hastened along the green path of carpet running down the middle of the corridor and paused at the room of the Japanese laundry bag. A Toyosan, she called, why don't you come out and meet your friends? The Japanese girl was seated on the floor gazing at a photograph. She rose quickly and flew to the door thrusting the picture behind her. Oh, I am so deeply happy to see you again, Miss Oldham, she exclaimed. She has learned the use of adverbs, thought Nance, kissing a Toyos round, dark cheek. You see, I have been studying long time. I now speak the language with correctness. Do you not think so? Said a Toyo, apparently reading Nance's thoughts. Perfectly answered Nance. But tell me the news. Is Queens not to be rebuilt? No, no. Queens is to remain flat on the ground. She will not be erected into another building. And have you had a happy summer? Was it quite lonesome for you, poor child? No, no, protested a Toyo, still hiding the photograph behind her. Those who remained at Wellington were most kind to little Japanese girl. And who remained a Toyo? Professor Green was here long time. I studied the English language under him. He is a great man. It is an honorable pleasure to learn from one so great. He is indeed. And who else? Any of the rest of the faculty? No, no. They had all departing gone. Nance smiled. There was still a relic of last year's English. Mrs. McLean and her family remained at Wellington through the entire summer, went on a Toyo fluently. And were they nice to you, a Toyo? Very exceedingly. Was Andy well? Quite, quite, replied the Japanese girl, backing off from Nance and slipping the photograph into a book. Not for many a day did Nance find out that it was a portrait of that youth himself, taken at the age of eight in scotch kilts and a little black velvet hat with two streamers down the back. Suddenly a Toyo became very valuable. She changed the subject and talked in rapid smooth English. Could she not see the new rooms of her friends? She understood everybody was coming down on the 410 train. It would be very crowded. She had found a new laundress whom she could highly recommend. Nance looked at her curiously as they strolled back to the other rooms. Something was changed about the little Japanese girl. She seemed older and much less timid. It was Miss Sen who found the man to move the trunks and who helped Nance unpack her things and lay them in half the chest of drawers. And it was a Toyo also who, with the skill of an artisan, removed all the nails from the express box tops so that they might be unpacked immediately by their owners. At lunchtime she led Nance into the great dining hall of the quadrangle where more than a hundred girls ate their meals three times a day. There was no attention she did not show to Nance and all because her conscience was heavy within her on account of the one dishonorable act of her life. How could she know that among the scores of photographs taken of young Andy from his babyhood to his present age, Mrs. McLean would never miss one small faded picture out of the pile thrust into a cabinet drawer. At last it came time to meet the 410 and Nance looking spick and span in fresh white duck and white shoes and stockings was rather surprised to find a Toyo also attired in a pretty white dress her face shaded with a leghorn hat trimmed with pink roses. Why Miss Sen, she exclaimed, how did you learn so soon to dress yourself in this charming American style? At a garden party at Mrs. McLean's I learned of very many things said a Toyo and by the purchasing agent I have obtained dresses of summer of duckling, linen and muslin also this hat and two others very pretty. Nance laughed. You mean duck, linen and muslin child, she said. When the 410 trained to Wellington pulled into the station it seemed as if every student in the university must be crowded inside. They leaned from the windows and packed the doorways flowing onto the platforms. The air vibrated with high feminine shrieks of joy only the poor little freshies were silent and all this jubilation of reunions. Suddenly Nance spying Molly Brown and Judy Keen rushed to meet them, a Toyo following at her heels like a toy spaniel after a larger dog. There was a long triangular embrace. Well, here we are and juniors Judy's first comment. Nance, you're looking fine as silk. No sign of travel on that snowy gown. They're oughtn't to be said Nance. I just put it on half an hour ago. And look at our little chap cried Molly hugging a Toyo. Look at little Miss Sin all dressed up in a beautiful linen. Little Miss Sin has been learning a thing or two said Nance. She's been to parties. She's been studying English under a famous professor. She's been buying duckling, linen and muscling dresses through a purchasing agent with very good taste and she's got a photograph she looks at in private and hides away when anyone comes into the room. Oh, you needn't think I didn't see you. A Toyo blush scarlet and hung her head. Oh thou crafty one, Judy was saying when four of the old Queen's girls pounced on them with suitcases and satchels. Why, here are the Gemini, Judy continued embracing the Williams sisters. Burn to a mahogany brown, too. Where did you get that tan? You look like a pair of, um, Filipinos. Don't be making invidious remarks, Judy, put in Catherine. Learn to see the beautiful in all things, even complexions. In the meantime, Margaret Wakefield looking five years older than her real age because of her matured figure and self-possessed air was shaking hands all around, making an appropriate remark with each greeting like the politician she was and Jesse Lynch was crying in heartbroken tones. I left a box of candy and a bunch of violets and two new magazines on the train. Where's my little freshman, Molly demanded, of the other girls above the Din and Racket? There she is, Judy pointed out, but there is no hurry. Every bus is jammed full. The lonely freshman was standing pressed against the wall of the waiting room, looking hopelessly on while the usual mob besieged Mr. Murphy, baggage master. Why, the poor little thing, cried Molly, rushing to take the girl under her wing. It's astonishing how one good deed starts another, thought Nance, looking about her for other stranded freshies, and both the Williamses were doing the same thing. There were several such lonely souls wandering about like lost spirits. They had been jostled and pushed this way and that in the crowd, and one little girl was on the point of shedding tears. I can always tell a new girl by the wild light in her eye, observed Edith Williams, making for an unhappy-looking young person who had given up in despair and was sitting on her suitcase. At last they were all bundled into one of the larger buses from the livery stable. The older girls were thrilled with expectant joy while they watched eagerly for the first glimpse of the twin grey towers. The new girls, most of them, gazed sadly the other way as if home lay behind them. It isn't a case of abandoned hope all ye who enter here, observed Judy to a dejected freshman who, in five minutes, had lost all interest in her college career. Look at us blooming creatures and you'll see what it can do. There's no end to the fun of it and no end to the things you'll learn besides mere book knowledge. I suppose so, said the girl, struggling to keep back her tears. But it's a little lonesome at first. Poor little souls, thought Molly, who had overheard with much pride Judy's eulogy of college. How can we explain it to them? They'll just have to find it out themselves as we did before them. The truth is, our new juniors felt quite motherly and old. A hushed silence fell over the Queen's girls when the bus drove by the grass-grown plot where once had stood their college home. If a dear friend had been buried there, we couldn't have felt more solemn, Molly wrote her sister that night. But the prestige felt in the lighting finally at the great arched entrance to the quadrangle drove away all sad thoughts. And when they hastened down the long, polished corridor to their rooms, they could not quench the pride which rose in their breasts. It was the real thing at last. Queens and O'Reilly's had been great fun, but this was college. They were the true daughters of Wellington now, and that night when the gates clicked together at ten, they would sleep for the first time behind her gray stone walls. At that moment the voices of a hundred odd other daughters hummed through the halls, but it was all a part of the college atmosphere, as Judy said. Their bedrooms were not quite as large as the old Queen's rooms, but, oh, the sitting room. They viewed it with pride. Each of the three had contributed something toward additional furniture. The piano was Judy's, the divan, Nancy's, and the cushions yet to be unpacked, Molly's. There was another contribution not made by any of the three. It was the beautiful Botticelli photograph left for Molly by Mary Stewart who had gone to Europe for the winter. How glad I am the walls are pale yellow and the woodwork white exclaimed Judy joyfully. How glad I am there's plenty of room on these shelves for everybody's books, said Nancy. And how glad I am to be a junior and back at Old Wellington, finished Molly squeezing a hand of each friend. End of chapter one. Recording by D.R. Baker Robinson. Chapter two of Molly Brown's Junior Days by Nell Speed. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Minerva Higgins. There's only one thing worse than a faculty call-down, and that's a beta-5 freeze-out, remarked Judy Keene one Saturday afternoon a few weeks after the opening day of college. Why do you bring up disagreeable subjects, Judy? Have you been getting a call-down? Not your old anti-Judy, replied the other. I'm far too wise for that after two years' experience, but I saw someone else get one of the most flattening, extinguishing, crushing call-downs ever received by an inmate of this asylum for young ladies. And they do tell me it was followed soon after by another one. Do tell! exclaimed an interested chorus. It was at Fresh Miss Higgins enjoyment of the curiosity she was exciting. You know she's always trying to attract the attention of the masses, we being the masses, interrupted Edith, and stand in the limelight. She's bright I hear, very bright, but she knows it. I recognized her type almost immediately, said Catherine. She's one of those brightest girls in the high school pride of the town kind. Exactly, answered Judy. She has been regarded as a prodigy for so long that she doesn't understand the relative difference between a freshman and a senior. I honestly believe she thought everybody in Wellington knew all about her, and she wears as many gold medals on her chest as a field-martial on dress-parade. We saw the gold medals on Sunday, in her pose, Molly. I think it's rather pathetic myself. She is more to be pity than scorn, because, of course, she doesn't know any better. She'll have to live and learn, then, said Judy. Get to the point of your story, Judy. Who extinguished her? Ejaculated Margaret Wakefield, impatient of such slipshod methods of narration. How can I tell a tale when I'm interrupted by 40 people at once, exclaimed Judy? Besides, I haven't the gift of language like you, old suffragette. Margaret laughed. She was entirely good-natured over the jibes of her friends in universal suffrage. Well, the Betify crowd of seniors went on Judy. We're walking across the campus in a row. I don't suppose Miss Higgins had any way to know this soon in the game that they represented the triple extract of concentrated exclusiveness at Wellington. Anyhow, she knows it now. She came rushing up behind them and gave Rosamond a light, friendly slap on the back. If you could have seen Rosamond's face. But Miss Higgins was entirely dense. She began something about, hello girls, have you heard the news about Prexy? But she never got any further. Rosamond gave her the most freezing look I ever saw from a human eye. What did she say? That was it. She never said anything. Nobody said anything. Eloise Blair carries tortoise shell lornettes. She doesn't need them, broken nance. She only does it to make herself more haughty. Anyway, Eloise raised the lornettes. Poor Miss Higgins, cried Molly. There was perfect silence for about a minute. Then they all walked on, leaving little Higgins standing alone in the middle of the campus. And where were you? asked Margaret. Oh, I was with the seniors, answered Judy, flushing slightly. They went over to Beta Phi to see Rosamond about something. It was impossible for Judy's friends not to make an amiable unspoken guess as to why she had visited the Beta Phi circle. It had been evident for some time that she was working to get into the Shakespeareans, the most exclusive dramatic club in college. There was an awkward silence as this thought flashed through their minds. Molly felt embarrassed for her chum. After all, she was no worse than Margaret Wakefield, who had managed to get herself elected three years in succession as president of her class. What was the other extinguisher Miss Higgins had, Judy? asked Molly. Oh, yes, that was even worse. It came from your particular friend, Professor Green. She interrupted him in the middle of a lecture with one of those unnecessary questions new girls asked to show how much they know. And then she said something about methods at Milltown High School. Really? And what did he say? He looked very much bored and replied that they were not interested in Milltown High School and he would be obliged if she would pay attention to the lecture. It was a public rebuke, nothing more nor less. The mean thing, exclaimed Molly. Now Molly, interposed Margaret, you know very well that girls of that type ought to be taken down. They are never tolerated at college. A conceited boy at college is always thoroughly hazed until there's not a drop of conceit left and it does him good. And since we can't haze, we simply have to extinguish a fresh-freshy. Miss Higgins may develop into a very nice girl in a year or two, but at present she's the various little upstart. Do be careful, said Molly cautiously. I've invited her this afternoon to drink tea. Molly, brown! They cried, pummeling her with sofa cushions and beating her with her own slippers. Really, Molly, you must restrain your inviting habits, said Judy. I'm sorry, apologized poor Molly. Why did you do it, Prey? You know perfectly well no one here wants her. I know it, but I was sorry for her. She seemed so brash and lonesome at the same time. I thought it might help her some fine, intelligent, well-bred girls like you. Here, here, don't try to get out of it that way. She appears to be very learned, continued Molly, turning her blue eyes innocently from one to the other. I thought it would be nice to pit her against Margaret and Edith. She discusses deep subjects and uses big words I can only dimly guess the meaning of. There was a tap at the door. Now, be nice, please. Come in! She is in a tone of authority and Minerva Higgins appeared in their midst. She had done honor to the occasion by putting on a tap at a silk of indigo blue and by pinning on some of her most conspicuous gold medals acquired at intervals during her early education. Judy shook her head over the indigo blue. Only certain minds could wear it, she thought. Molly rose, but before she could frame a cordial greeting the new guest was saying, How do you do, Molly? It's awfully nice of you to ask me. You don't mind my calling you by your first name, do you? My name is Minerva, but the girls at Milltown High School call me Minnie. I hope you'll do the same. I shall be glad to, answered Molly, rather taken back by the sudden intimacy. After she had performed all necessary introductions, wicked Catherine Williams remarked, Minnie is a very charming name, but I insist on calling you Minerva after the goddess of wisdom. She never wore gold medals, but then it wasn't the fashion among the early Greeks. Minerva's face was the picture of complacency. In Greece she would have been a theme, she observed. There was a loud clearing of throats and Judy, as usual, was seized with a violent fit of coughing. Sit down here, Miss Higgins. I mean many, said Molly hastily. The tea will be ready in a minute. You have been to college before, Minerva? asked Edith Williams solemnly. Minerva looked somewhat surprised. Oh no, not college. I am just out of high school. Miltown High School is a very wonderful educational institution, you know. Perhaps you have heard of it. A diploma from there will admit a girl into any of the best colleges in the country. I could have gone to a private school. My father is a professor of Greek at the Academy in Miltown, but I preferred to take advantage of the high standards of the high school which are even higher than those of the Academy. I suppose your father's taste in Greek caused him to name you Minerva, observed Judy. But Minerva isn't Greek, Julia, admonished Catherine. Again, Molly interceded. It was cruel to make fun of the poor girl, although there was no denying that Minerva had a high opinion of herself. Have a sandwich, she said soothingly. There was a long interval of silence while Minerva crunched her sandwich. Your life at Miltown High School must have been one grand triumphal progress judging from your medals, Miss Higgins, said Edith Williams, finally. Minerva glanced proudly down at the awards of merit. There are a good many of them, she observed, with a smile that was almost more than they could stand. And there are more of them still. I've won one or two medals this year ever since I started to school, but I don't like to wear them all at once. That's very modest of you. Are you going to specialize on any subjects, Miss Higgins? asked Margaret Wakefield, really meaning to be kind and lead the girl away from topics which made her appear ridiculous. Biology, I think, but I am interested in comparative philology, too, and after I skimmed through a little Greek and Latin, I intend to take up Greek and Hebrew. Was it possible that Minerva was making game of them? They regarded her suspiciously, but she seemed sublimely unconscious. Why not study also the ancient tongue of the basque? asked Edith quite gravely. That would be interesting, replied Minerva. But I want to get through this little college course first. Molly batted her heavenly eyes and suddenly burst out laughing. Excuse me, she said. I didn't mean to be rude, but the course at Wellington doesn't seem so small to us. We have to study all the time and then just barely pull through. I've almost flunked twice in mathematics. I wish I could call it a little course. Ah, well, we are not all Minervas, observed Margaret. Some of us are just ordinary school girls learning the rudiments of education. We have not had the advantages of Milltown High School and if any of us have won gold medals, we never show them. This measured rebuff, however, had no more effect on Minerva's impervious vanity than a cup of water dashed against a granite boulder. She was already up wondering about the room, boldly examining the girl's belongings, ostentatiously reading the titles of books aloud. Plays by Milier. Oh yes, I read them in the original two years ago. They are easy. Green's short history of the English people. Very interesting book. The broad highway. I never read fiction, only biography and history. Edith Williams, stretched at her ease on the divan, gave an inaudible groan and turned her face to the wall. Molly glanced helplessly about her. The primavera, that's by Botticelli, went on the girl infatuated by her own intelligence. Good artist, but I don't care for the old masters or anything, they are always out of drawing. Catherine rolled her eyes up into her head until only the whites could be seen, which gave her the horrible aspect of a corpse. There was a long and eloquent silence. Presently, Minerva took her departure and Molly, hospitable to the last gasp, saw her to the door and invited her to come again. With the door safely locked and Minerva out of earshot, there was a general collapse. Everybody laughed, but the room was filled with painful sounds, moans, and groans. Judy pretended to faint on top of Edith and Molly sat in a remote corner of the room. Somehow they felt beaten, vanquished. I am sore all over with repressed emotions, cried Judy. I couldn't stand another seance like that. Does she know as much as she claims? asked Nancy. Of course not, exclaimed Margaret irritably. If she really knew, she wouldn't claim anything. It's only ignorant people who boast of knowledge. I suppose she has been looked up to for so long that she regards herself as a fountain of wisdom. She must be taken down, said Edith firmly. This mustn't be allowed to go on at Wellington. But hazing isn't allowed, put in Molly. Not by hazing goosey, by some homely little joke that will show herself to herself as others see her. All right, consented Molly. She felt indeed that something should be done to save poor Minerva Higgins from eternal ridicule. If anybody has suggestions to make, here announced Margaret Wakefield, self-constituted chairman of all committees impromptu or otherwise, they may be stated in writing or announced by word of mouth tomorrow night in our rooms that she would be accepted, they cried in one breath. In the meantime Minerva Higgins was riding home to her mother that she had been, if not the guest of honour, almost that at a junior tea and had found the girls rather interesting though poor talkers. In fact, it was necessary to do almost all the talking herself. End of Chapter 2 Recording by D.R. Baker Robinson Chapter 3 of Molly Brown's Days by Nell Speed. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. In the Cloisters Life in the quadrangle hummed busily on. The girls found themselves in the very heart of college affairs. As a matter of fact the old queen's circle had been somewhat restricted, having narrowed down to less than a dozen. Whereas now they associated with many times that number and were invited to a bewildering reception of teas and fudge parties. Also they were nearer to the library, the gymnasium, the classrooms and the cloisters. Here during the warm, hazy days of Indian summer Molly loved to walk. It was not such a popular place as she had imagined with the quadrangle girls and often she was quite alone in the arcade bordered now with hydrangeas turning a delicate pink under the autumn suns. One afternoon a few days after Margaret's fudge party to discuss the question of Minerva Higgins Molly sought a few quiet moments in the cloistered walk. It was a half hour before closing up time but she would not miss the six strokes of the tower clock again as she had on her first day at college two years before. She usually confined her walks to the far side of the arcade keeping well away from the side of the cloisters on which the studies of some of the faculty opened. That afternoon she carried her volume of Rosetti with her and pacing slowly up and down she read in a low musical voice to herself the blessed demazelle leaned out from the gold bar of heaven. Her eyes were deeper than the depth of water still that even. She had three lilies in her hand and the stars in her hair were seven. Waves of rhythm ran through Molly's head and when she reached the end of the walk she mechanically and went the other way without pausing in her reading. Many girls studied in this way in the cloisters and it was not an unusual sight but Molly made a picture not soon to be forgotten by anyone who my chance to wonder in the arcade at that hour. She was still spare and undeveloped but the grace that was to come revealed itself in the girlish lines of her figure. Her eyes seemed never more serenely deeply blue than now and her hair disordered from the tamashanter she had pulled off and tossed onto a stone bench made a fluffy auburn frame about her face. Molly was by no means beautiful from the standpoint of perfection her eyebrows and lashes should have been darker, her chin was too pointed and her mouth a shade too large but few people took the trouble to pick out flaws in her face or figure. Those who loved her knew who did not could not deny her charm. Presently she sat down on a bench continuing to declaim the poem out aloud making a gesture occasionally with her unoccupied hand. After reading a verse she closed her eyes and repeated it to herself opening her eyes between verses she encountered the amused gaze of Professor Edwin Green who having seen her in the distance had cut across the grassy court and now stood as still as a statue leaning against a stone pillar. Oh! exclaimed Molly with a nervous start. Did I frighten you? I'm sorry I should have walked more heavily it's unkind to steal up on people who are reading poetry aloud. I was learning that something by heart she said blushing a little as if she had been detected in a guilty act. After all it was the professor who had introduced her to that poem and given her the book last Christmas but that of course was not the reason why she was so fond of the poem she was studying. How do you like the quadrangle? he asked are you comfortable and happy? Molly clasped her hands in the excess of her enthusiasm I was never so happy in all my life she cried it is perfect our rooms are beautiful and a sitting room too think of that with yellow walls and a piano the professor looked vastly pleased for an instant his face was lighted by a beaming radiant smile then he thrust his hands into his pockets and pressed his lips together in a thin line of determination I feel as if I were one of the workers inside the hive now Molly continued and all the difficulties about tuition have been settled he asked forgive my mentioning it but I felt an interest on account of my close relationship to the blounds oh yes the money from the two acres settled that you see whoever bought it whether it was an old man or a company for some reason the name is still a secret with the agent paid cash they rarely do mother says and the money is usually spent in driblets before you realize it Mr. Richard Blount expects to settle with his father's creditors in a few months my sisters are working they say they enjoy it but they are both engaged to be married she added smiling the orchard yield a good crop this year asked the professor irrelevantly oh splendid the apples were packed in barrels and sent away several of them were sent to mother as a present very nice of the owner wasn't it Barry replied the professor fingering something in his pocket absently the owner of the orchard has kept it in fine condition the trees have been trimmed and the ground cleared mother says she's ashamed of her own helplessness whenever she looks at it the grass was as smooth as velvet all summer until the drought came and dried it brown I used to go there summer mornings and lie in a hammock and read I didn't think anyone would care there's no harm in attaching a hammock to two trees mother says I don't seem to remember that we are no longer the owners of the orchard I have played in it and lived in it so much of my life that I've got the habit I suppose the professor cleared his throat you said the ground sloped slightly did you not yes just a gradual slope to a little brook at the bottom of the hill the water seems to cool the air in summer it never goes dry and there's a little basin in one place we used to call the birds bathtub such birds you never imagined they're attracted by the apples I suppose but there are hundreds of them they sing from morning to night you paint a very attractive picture Miss Brown it must have been hard to give up this charming property but you see we haven't given it up exactly it's there right against us we can still look at it and even walk under the trees no one minds and see what I have for it nothing could ever take the place of college not even an apple orchard a sharp voice broken on this pleasant conversation cousin Edwin I've been looking for you everywhere Judith Blount appeared hastening down the walk the professor watched the advancing figure calmly well now you have found me what do you want he asked Molly detected a slight note of annoyance in his voice she had a notion that Judith was one of the trials of his life I have rewritten the short story you criticized for me last week and I want you to look it over again he took the roll of paper without a word and thrust it into his coat pocket Molly Rose I must be going she said it must be nearly six o'clock Judith promptly sat down on the bench facing her cousin who still leaned against the stone pillar don't you think it's a little chilly to be lingering here Judith he remarked politely as he joined Molly it wasn't too chilly for you a moment ago answered Judith hotly but she rose and walked on the other side of the professor how do you like your rooms he asked presently I hate them she replied with such fierce resentment that Molly was sure that Judith was glad to have something on which to vent her angry mood thank heavens this is my last year I detest Wellington I have never been happy here it's brought shame and misfortune on me it's a horrible place oh Judith protested Molly unable to endure this libel on her beloved college my dear child you can't blame Wellington for your misfortunes interposed the professor who himself cherished a deep affection for the two gray towers it is hard to live in the village instead of at college said Molly feeling suddenly very sorry for the unhappy Judith but Judith was in no state to be sympathized with all day she had been nursing a grievance one of her friends in prosperity at the Beta Phi house had turned Judith was so enraged by the slight that her feelings were like an open sword she turned on Molly angrily you ought to know she said you had to do it long enough Judith Judith demonstrated the professor can't you understand that you gain nothing and always lose something by giving way like this denouncing and hating made the object you are working for recede you'll never get it that way how do you know what I'm working for she demanded more quietly we are all of us working for the same thing he answered happiness none of us proposes to get it in the same way but all of us propose to reach the same goal what would give me happiness no doubt would never satisfy you you don't know that either what would give you happiness Judith asked with some curiosity the professor paused a moment calmly a little home of my own in a shady quiet place with plenty of old trees where I could work in peace I have always fancied an old orchard there might be a brook at one end Molly smiled he's thinking of my orchard she thought there must be hundreds of birds in my orchard went on the professor and the grass must always be thick and green except perhaps when the drought comes and it can't help itself the six o'clock bell boomed out have an apple he said taking two red apples from his pocket and giving one to each of the girls then he opened the small door and stood politely aside while they passed out end of chapter 3 recording by D.R. Baker Robinson chapter 4 of Molly Brown's Junior Days by Nell Speed this LibriVox recording is in the public domain a literary evening the entertainment designed to bring Miss Minerva Higgins to a true understanding of her position as a freshman took place one Friday evening in the rooms of Margaret and Jesse it was called on the invitation a literary evening and was to be in the nature of a spread and fudge affair there had been two rehearsals beforehand and the girls were now prepared to enjoy themselves thoroughly Molly was loathed to take part in the literary evening I can't bear to see anybody humiliated even when she ought to be, she said but she consented to come and to give a recitation several study tables had been united for the supper the cracks concealed by Japanese Toweling contributed by Otoyo there was no Mrs. Murphy in the quadrangle from whom to borrow tablecloths all the chairs from the other rooms to seat the company who appeared grave and subdued most of the girls were dressed to resemble famous poets and authors Judy was Byron Margaret Wakefield, George Elliott Nance, Charlotte Bronte Edith Williams, Edgar Allen Poe and Molly was Shelley Shakespeare, Voltaire and Charles Dickens were in the company and the Duchess impersonated by Jesse Lynch the unfortunate Minerva was a little disconcerted at first when she found herself the only girl at the feast in her own character why didn't you tell me so that I could have come in costume too, she asked Margaret but you had your medals was Margaret's enigmatic answer Minerva looked puzzled then her gaze fell to the shining breastplate of silver and gold trophies she had worn them all this evening the temptation had been too great the medals seemed like so many solemn eyes she wondered if the others could read what was inscribed on them or if it would be necessary to call attention to the most choice ones the highest general average for four years regular attendance mathematics, the best historical essay, English in composition Edith opened the evening by delivering a speech in Latin which was really one of Virgil's eclogues mixed up with whatever she could recall of Livy and Horace and filled out occasionally with Latin prose composition it was so excruciatingly funny that Judy sputtered in her tea and was well kicked on her shins under the table Minerva, however, appeared to be profoundly impressed and the company murmured subdued approvals when at last the speaker took breath and sat down gazing solemnly around her with dark melancholy eyes very much blacked around the lids Margaret then delivered a learned discourse on poise of body and poise of mind which was skillfully expressed in such deep and intricate language that nobody could understand what she was talking about very, very interesting indeed observed Edith remarkable, wonderful so clearly put came from the others Minerva rubbed her eyes and frowned Mans recited the raven translated into very bad French this was almost more than their gravity could endure and when she ended each verse with many of the girls stooped under the table for lost handkerchiefs and Japanese napkins but it was not until Judy had sung a lullaby in Sanskrit so called that Minerva became at all suspicious even then it was the wrong kind of suspicion she thought that perhaps she should have laughed and the others had politely refrained because she hadn't after a great deal of learned talk Molly stood on a soap box and recited curfew shall not ring tonight this was the crowning joy of that famous evening but still Minerva appeared seriously impressed I recited that once at Milltown High School she remarked can't you give us something tonight asked Molly kindly feeling that in some way the unfortunate Minerva ought to be allowed to join in I don't know that I ought to give another poem by the same man she replied except Miss Olam gave the raven in French don't tell us you know the bells demanded Edith Williams and a trembling whisper oh yes I've given it at lots of school entertainments we had better turn down the lights said Margaret the room should be in darkness except the side light where Miss Higgins will stand that will be the spotlight this was a fortunate arrangement because while Minerva recited the bells with all proper gestures intonations and echoes according to Cleveland's recitation book the girl silently collapsed when she had finished they were reduced to that exhausted state that arrives after a supreme effort not to laugh at last the entertainment came to an end Minerva departed with some of the others while those who lived close by remained to chat for a few minutes I give up exclaimed Margaret Wakefield Minerva is beyond teaching she must remain forever the smartest girl in Milltown High School the only pity of it is that it was all wasted on one humorless person we really furnished her with a most delightful entertainment and she never even guessed it declared Nancy I'm glad she didn't remark Molly it was cruel I think suppose she had caught on do you think it would have helped her and we would have been uncomfortable suppose she did understand and pretended not to the joke would have been decidedly on us putting Catherine later events of that evening would seem to bear out the suggestion although just how deeply if at all Minerva was implicated in what followed no one could possibly tell it was a question long afterwards in dispute whether one person had managed the sequel to the literary evening or whether there had been a confederate certainly it seemed that every imp in Bedlam had been set free to do mischief and if Minerva as arc imp looking for revenge she founded I don't like to appear inhospitable girls but it's five minutes of ten and I think you'd better chase along said Margaret Wakefield but when Judy laid hold of the knob and tried to open the door it would not budge it won't open she exclaimed what's to be done what was to be done they pulled and jerked and endeavored to pry it open with a silver shoe horn and a pair of scissors and at last Judy as the smallest was chosen to climb over the transom and go for help it was five minutes past ten and they prudently turned out the lights let me get at that knob just once before we work the transom scheme ejaculated Margaret who was very strong and athletic people always think they can open tin cans and doors and pull stoppers when other people can't observe Judy sarcastically Margaret treated this remark with indifference seizing the knob with both hands she turned it and putting her knee to the jam pulled with all her force the arc fiend on the other side must have turned the key at this critical moment for the door flew open and the president tumbled back as if she had been shot from a catapult knocking a number of surprised poets and authors into a tumbled heap they were all considerably bruised and battered and Margaret bit her tongue a severe punishment for one class whispered Jesse who alone had escaped the tumble here comes the house matron softly she closed the door and the girls waited until the danger was over then Margaret hastened to examine the keyhole there's no key in it she whispered speaking with difficulty because her tongue was bleeding from the marks of two teeth whoever played the trick must have unlocked the door jerk the key out and fled the instant tern appeared at the end of the corridor there was no time to discuss the mystery however she would be coming back in two minutes again they waited in silence until they heard the swish of her dress as she went past the door now left open a crack in order that Judy lying flat on her stomach on the floor and enjoying herself immensely might be on the lookout come on she hissed as the large rotund figure of mrs. Pelham was lost in the darkness and out they puddle like a lot of mice loosed from the trap but the evening's adventures were not over as Judy in advance of Molly and Nance pushed open their door already a jar a small pail of water placed on the top of the door by the arc imp whoever she was fell on Judy's head and deluged her it contained hardly a quart of water but it might have been a gallon for the wreck it made of Judy's clothes in the room oh but I'll get even with somebody exclaimed that enraged young woman they turned on the green shaded students lamp and drew the blinds the night watchman being very vigilant at the dormitories and began silently mopping up the floor with towels Judy removed her wet clothes and unbound her long hair light in color and fine as silk in quality I can't go to bed she announced until I find out what's happened to the Gemini and without another word she crept into the corridor Nance whispered Molly when they were alone if Minerva Higgins did this she's about the boldest freshman alive today but after all we can't exactly blame her considering what we did to her she is taking great chances replied Nance who had a thorough respect for college etiquette and class case every pert freshman must be prepared for a call down and if she doesn't take it like a lamb she'll just have to expect a freeze out it's much better for her in the end if Minerva were allowed to keep this up for four years she would be entirely insufferable she's almost that now don't you think she could find it out without such severe methods severe methods indeed answered Nance indignantly do you call it severe to be asked to sup with the brightest girls in Wellington? Margaret's speech alone was worth all the humiliation Minerva might have felt but she didn't feel any do you consider that rough crude jokes like this are going to be tolerated? but we don't know that Minerva played them yet pleaded Molly I do admit though that it must have been a very ordinary person who could think of them Margaret might have been badly hurt if she hadn't fallen on top of the rest of us presently Judy came stalking into their bedroom it's just as I expected she announced the Williams's bed was full of carpet tacks and Mabel Hinton fell over a cord stretched across her door and sprained her wrist she isn't bound with Arnica now I don't see how Minerva could have had time to do all those things broken Molly there are some rare and very just natures and Molly's was one of them which will not be convinced by circumstantial evidence alone she would have had plenty of time argue Judy it would hardly have taken five minutes provided she had planned it all out beforehand besides it's easy for you to talk Molly you didn't bite your tongue or sprain your wrist or get a ducking or undress in the dark and get into a bed full of tacks you escaped disgusting came Nancy's muffled voice from the covers it is horrid admitted Molly whoever did it Minerva broken Judy must have a very mistaken idea of college and the sorts of amusement that are customary so the argument ended for the night End of Chapter 4 Recording by D.R. Baker Robinson Chapter 5 of Molly Brown's Junior Days by Nell Speed This LibriVox recording is in the public domain Various Happenings Guilty or innocent Minerva Higgins displayed an inscrutable face next day and the juniors lacking all necessary evidence were obliged to admit themselves outwitted but they let it be known that jokes of that class were distinctly foreign to Wellington notions and woe be to the author of them if her identity was ever disclosed. In the meantime Molly was busy with many things as usual she was very hard up for clothes and was concocting a scheme in her mind for saving up money enough to buy a new dress for the junior prom in February she bought a china pig in the village large enough to hold a good deal of small change and from time to time dropped silver through the slit in his back he's a safe bank she observed to her friends because the only way you can get money out of him is to smash him. The pig came to assume a real personality in the circle for some unknown reason he had been christened Martin Luther the girls used to shake him and guess the amount of money he contained sometimes they wrote jingles about him and Judy invented a dialogue between Martin Luther and herself which was so amusing that its fame spread abroad and she was invited to give it many times at spreads and fudge parties the scheme that had been working in Molly's mind for some weeks at last sprung into life as an idea and seizing a pencil and paper one day she sketched out her notion of the plot of a short story it was not what she herself really cared for but what she considered might please the editor who was to buy it as a complete story and the public who would read it there were mystery and love beauty and riches in Molly's first attempt then she began to write but it was slow work the ideas would not flow as they did for letters home and for class themes she found great difficulty in expressing herself her conversations were stilted the plot would not hang together I never thought it would be so hard she said to herself when she had finished the tale and copied it out on legal cap paper and now for the boldest act of my life with a triumphant flourish of the pen she rolled up the manuscript and marched across the courtyard to the office of Professor Green come in he called quite gruffly an answer to her knock but when she entered he rose and covered her a seat sitting down again in his revolving desk chair he looked at her very hard I know you will think I have the most colossal nerve she began when you hear why I have called but I really need advice and you've been so kind so interested always what is it this time he interrupted kindly more money troubles no not exactly although of course I am always anxious to earn money who isn't hiding B in my head I've had it ever since last winter although I can find myself mostly diverse Molly paused and blushed she felt a shame to discuss her poor rhymes with this learned man nearly a dozen years older than she was there's no money in poetry she went on and I thought I would switch off to prose I have written a short story and I hope you won't be angry I brought it over for you to look at I knew you looked over some of Judith's stories of course I shall be angry child I'm glad to help you although I am not a fiction writer and therefore might hardly be thought competent to judge let's see what you have he held out his hand for the manuscript on second thought he continued suppose you've read it aloud to me girl's handwriting is generally much alike hard to make out Molly trembling with stage fright her face crimson began to read the professor resting his chin on his interlocked fingers turned his whimsical brown eyes full upon her and never shifted his gaze once during the entire reading which lasted some 25 minutes when she had finished Molly dropped the papers in her lab and waited well what do you think of it please don't mince matters tell me the truth the professor came back to life with a start she knew at once that he had not heard a word oh I beg your pardon he said very good very good indeed suppose you leave the manuscript with me I'll look it over again tonight she rose to go after all she had no right to complain since she had asked this favor of a very busy man but she did wish he had paid attention wait a moment miss brown there was something I wanted to say what was it now he rubbed his head and then thrust his hands into his pockets oh yes this is what I wanted to say have an apple a flat Japanese basket on the table was filled with apples excuse my not passing the basket but they roll over take several help yourself he made Molly take three one for Nance one for Judy and one for herself then he saw her to the outer door bowing silently all the time like a man in a dream the next morning the manuscript was returned to Molly by the professor after the class in literature it was folded into a big envelope and contained a note the note had no beginning and was signed EG this is what it said since you wish my true opinion of this story I will tell you frankly that it is decidedly amateurish the style is heavy and labored and the plot mockishly sentimental and mock heroic try to think up some simple story and write it out in simple language do not employ words that you are not in the habit of using be natural and express yourself as you would if you were writing a letter to your mother write about real people and real happenings not about impossibly beautiful and rich goddesses and superbly handsome fearless gods such people do not really exist you know and you are supposed to be painting a word picture of life you have talent but you must be willing to work very hard good writing does not come in a day any more than good piano playing or painting I would add be yourself unaffected sincere and your style will be perfect Molly wept a little over this frank expression of criticism although there did seem to be an implied compliment in the last line she reread the story and blushed for her common placeness surely there never had been written anything so inane and silly for a long time she sat gazing at the white peak of Fujiyama on the Japanese scroll simple and natural indeed she exclaimed it's much harder than the other way unaffected and sincere that's not easy either she sighed and tore the story into little bits casting it into the waste paper basket that's the best place for you she continued apostrophizing her first attempt at fiction nobody would ever have laughed or cried over you nobody would even have noticed you my trouble is that I try too hard I'm always straining my mind for words and ideas now when I write letters how do I do I let go I never worry can a story be written that way how now mistress Molly called Judy bursting into the room why are you lingering here in the house when all the world's afield get the up and go hence with me into the green woods where we are to have tea probably for the last time before winter's call who's we asked Molly why the usual crowd and a few others from beta fi house but you'll never have enough teacups to go around child objected Molly oh yes we shall there are two other tea baskets coming from beta fi there will be plenty and some over besides Rosamund Chase and Millicent Porter were so taken with my basket last year that they each bought one of course Millicent's is much finer than mine or Rosamund's I daresay but I don't think I want to go Judy the truth was Molly never felt in sympathy with those two beta fi girls who represented an element in college she did not like they dressed a great deal for one thing especially Millicent Porter the girl who had sublet Judith Blount's apartment the year before now Molly I think you're unkind burst out Judy she never could endure even small disappointments they are awfully nice girls and they want to know you better they said they did well why don't they come and see me that's easy Judy did not reply she was pulling down all the clothes in the closet in a search for Molly's tam and sweater she was in one of her queer excited moods could it be that Judy thought Ellen Coterie from Queens was being honored by these two rich young persons from beta fi Molly rejected the suspicion almost as soon as it entered her mind no it was simply that poor old Judy was obsessed with the desire to get into the Shakespearean's and by courting the most influential members she thought she could make it Molly pulled her slender length from the depths of the Morris chair where she had been lolling well she said resignedly I was meditating on my ambitions when you broke in on me you are a very demoralizing young person Judy Judy laughed she made a charming picture in her scarlet tam and sweater come along she cried and ambitions be hanged she seized her tea basket under one arm and a box of gender snaps under the other why Judy I am really shocked at you exclaimed Molly I think I'll have to give you another shaking up before long you're getting lax and lazy nothing of the sort I only want to enjoy life while the weather is good it's lots easier to think of ambitions on rainy days the other girls were waiting on the campus the Williams's Margaret and Jesse Nance and presently the two beta fi girls Rosamond Chase was a plump rather type always dressed to perfection and bright enough when she felt inclined to exert her mind Millison Porter was quite the opposite in appearance small wiry with a prominent sharp featured face prominent nose prominent teeth and rather bulging eyes she talked a great deal in a highly pompous tone and her voice always slurred over from one statement to another as if to ward off interruption she seemed much amused at this little escapade in the woods quite bohemian and informal the Queen's girls could hardly explain why she appeared so patronizing it was her manner more than what she said although Margaret insisted that it was because she monopolized the conversation we didn't go to listen to a monologue Margaret thundered later when they were discussing the tea party we came to hear ourselves talk what surprised Molly was the attention that the young person would wealth bestowed upon her come and sit beside me Miss Brown and tell me about Kentucky she ordered I'm afraid I haven't the gift of language replied Molly without budging from her seat on a log ask Margaret Wakefield she's the only conversationalist in the crowd I suppose Mohammed must go to the mountain then observed Miss Porter and she moved graciously over to the log where she regaled Molly with a great deal of wordy talk if she's going to do all the conversing it might as well be on something interesting thought Molly and she started Millicent on the topic of silver work this young woman rich beyond calculation had an unusual talent which had not been neglected she worked in silver her natural medium Edith had observed when she heard of it she could beat out chains and necklaces rings of antique patterns beautiful platters with enameled centers with all the skill of a real silversmith Molly listened with polite interest to Millicent's lengthy description of her art there was often an unconscious flattery in the sympathetic attention Molly gave to other people's talk it had the effect of loosening tongues and brought forth confidences and heart secrets she was a good listener and the repository of many a hidden thought I am only going to college you know to please Papa Millicent was saying he thinks I should be finished off like a piece of statuary or a new house I would much rather do things with my hands I can't see how I am to be benefited by all these classics in the sort of life I shall lead they won't do me any good society people never quote Latin and Greek or make learned references to early Roman history and things of that sort it isn't considered good form modern novels are the only things people read nowadays but Papa is determined now with silver work it's quite different I love it I love to make beautiful things I have just finished a great fine chain the workmanship is exquisite my sitting room is my studio you know and I work there when I'm not busy with stupid books you seem interested do you know anything about silver work Molly admitted her ignorance on the subject but Millicent did not pause to listen her voice slurred over from the question to her next outburst I like beautiful rich colors I intend to design all the costumes for the next Shakespearean performance if I had been born in a different spear in life I should have divided my time between silver work and costuming I can draw to but it's more designing than anything else then Millicent encouraged by Molly sympathetic blue eyes lowered her voice and plunged into confidences the truth is she said we were not so well well to do two generations ago my great grandfather was an Italian silversmith isn't it he was really an artist in his way and made wonderful vessels for the church crucifixes and things like that I tell mama I believe her grandfather soul has entered into my body but that isn't all now if I tell you this will you promise never to breathe it it's really a family secret but it accounts for my love of rich beautiful things I can so you know I adore to embroider if I had to I could easily make all my own clothes but that's nothing to be ashamed of broken Molly no no that isn't the secret the secret is where I got the taste for such things you promise not to mention this I promise replied Molly gravely repressing the smile that for an instant hovered on her lips the silversmith grandfather had a brother who was a merchant he had a shop in Florence where he sold all sorts of beautiful fabrics velvets and brocades and lots of antique things no doubt it was an antique shop I thought Molly mama remembers it well and the shop is still there today but it's in other hands Molly felt much amusement of this explanation of heredity it would not be difficult to add a few lines to mellison's small thin face and place it on the shoulders of the old silversmith or of his brother the dealer and antiques how would they feel if they could hear this granddaughter conversing about society and the classics but I have rattled on here two family secrets but of course they will go no farther you know more about me than any girl in Wellington won't you come over to dinner with me Saturday evening and see my studio I am so sorry said Molly but I have an engagement to try to write a sincere natural simple short story she added in her mind oh dear what a nuisance can you come Sunday they have horrid early dinner Sunday but no matter Molly was obliged to accept anxious as she was to keep out of the beta phi crowd by the way do you act? ask mellison abruptly a little answered Molly and that ended the tea party in the evening Judy was slightly cold to Molly who was almost imperceptible so subtle was the change and Molly herself was hardly aware of it until her friends stretched on the couch reading suddenly closed her book with a snap and remarked considering you disliked the beta phi girls you certainly managed to monopolize one of them Judy remonstrated Nance shocked at this unaccountable exhibition of temperament Molly said nothing whatever and presently she slipped off to bed we've all got our faults she kept saying to herself but she was bitterly hurt nevertheless end of chapter 5 recording by D.R. Baker Robinson chapter 6 of Molly Brown's Junior Days by Nell Speed this LibriVox recording is in the public domain the best laid schemes Judy did have her failings the faults of an only child spoiled by indulgent parents but they were only on the surface impulsive flashes of irritability that never failed to be followed by deep poignant regret when the tempest had passed the next morning Molly was wakened by the fragrance of violets and opening her eyes she looked straight into the heart of a big bunch of those flowers lying on her chest goodness I feel like a corpse she exclaimed scrawled on a card pinned to the purple tissue ribbon around the stems of the violets was the following inscription for dearest Molly from her devoted and loving Judy the poor child must have got up early this morning and gone down to the village for them she said to Nance and she does hate getting up early too thus the coldness between the two girls came to a temporary end Molly did not go to the Beta Phi house to dinner on Sunday Millicent sent word that she was ill with a headache and would like to postpone the visit some of the Shakespeareans came to the apartment of the three girls to call one evening but they were Judy's friends invited by her to drop in have fudge and Molly and Nance kept quiet and remained in the background if Judy was working to get into the Shakespeareans she should have the field to herself the three visitors seniors all of them left early but in some mysterious way the news of their calls spread through the quadrangle which of you is boning for the Shakespeareans Minerva Higgins demanded of Nance next day this irrepressible young person had already acquired a smattering of college slang and college gossip but still she had not learned the difference between a freshman and a junior Nance drew herself up hodlily Miss Higgins she said there are some things at Wellington that are never discussed excuse me said Minerva making an elaborate bow but Nance did not even notice the bow she had gone on her way like an injured dignitary the air was certainly full of rumors however everybody even the faculty wondered upon whose shoulders the Shakespeareans highly coveted honors would fall the new members of this distinguished body were always chosen after the junior play preparations for which were now underway there had been first a stormy meeting of the class it was quite natural for President Wakefield to want all her particular friends to form the committee to choose a play and select the actors and it was equally human of the Caroline Brenton forces to resent the old clique rule but Margaret was a mighty leader and would brook no interference so the Queen's girls were the ruling spirits of the entertainment Judy was chairman of the committee and was to have the principal part in the play it being tacitly understood that she wanted to show the Shakespeareans what she could do it was just like the scholarly group to give a wide berth to the modern comedies and melodramas usually selected by juniors for this performance and to settle on 12th night we can never do it Caroline Brenton had announced in great vexation we haven't time and we have no coach but she had been calmly overruled and 12th night it was to be with daily rehearsals except on Saturdays when there were two Molly was cast for the part of Maria the maid and she was glad because the costume was easy Judy was to play Viola Edith Williams, Malvolio and the other parts were variously distributed Margaret being Sir Toby Belch when a college girl reaches her junior year her mind is well trained to concentrate and memorize two years before perhaps only Edith Williams whose memory was abnormal would have trusted herself to memorize a Shakespearean part but the girls were amazed now at their own powers Miss Pryor, teacher of Elocution was present at many of the rehearsals criticizing and suggesting and hers was the only outside assistance the juniors had in their ambitious production it was probably through her that the accounts of their ability were noised abroad and on the night of the play there was a great rush for seats the president herself was there and many of the faculty had a front balcony seat looking straight down on the stage goodness but I'm scared exclaimed Molly keeping through the hole in the curtain at the large assembly heaven help us all grown to nance dressed as an attendant of the Duke don't talk like that Judy admonished them we must make it go off all right Molly don't you forget and be too solemn your part calls for much merriment as the notes in the book said don't you be so dictatorial said nance under her breath hoping instantly that Judy in a high state of nerves and excitement had not heard her when the seniors began thumping on the floor with their heels and the sophomores commenced clapping Molly's mind became a vacuum not even the first line of her part could she recall at last the curtain went up and the play began she had no idea how Judy had conducted herself near her said she certainly had an awful case of stage fright but she'll be all right in the next act the words had no meaning to Molly and she sat like a frozen image in the wings until nance touched her on the shoulder and whispered hurry up then she stepped into the glare of the footlights her blood seized entirely to circulate her hands became numb icy fingers seemed to clutch her throat and when she'd opened her mouth to speak no voice came she remembered making a fervent speechless prayer in an instant her blood began to flow normally she felt a wave of crimson surge into her cheeks and she heard her own voice speaking to Margaret stuffed out with sofa cushions to resemble Sir Toby Belt when the scene was over there was a great clapping of hands it sounded to Molly like a sudden rainstorm in summer and like a summer shower it was refreshing to the young actors in the great comedy good work Molly Margaret I think we carried that off pretty well if only Judy doesn't get scared again the thing will go all right did Judy have stage fright demanded Molly in surprise you mean to say you didn't know she almost ruined the scene poor old Judy thought Molly and just when she wanted to do her best too Judy did improve considerably as the play progressed but even a friendly audience has an unrelenting way of retaining first impressions or perhaps it was that poor Judy sensitive and high strung imagine the audience was cold to her and so allowed her spirit to be quenched there were no cries for viola from the people in front and there were many for Malvolio, Sir Toby and Maria again and again these three actors came forth and bowed their acknowledgement veering the intermission several of the freshman ushers carried down bouquets of flowers Jesse received two from admirers who appeared to keep a running account at the florists in the village a splendid basket of red roses and a bunch of violets were handed over the footlights for Molly and when she was summoned from the wings to appear and receive these floral offerings she flushed crimson and remarked to the usher there must be some mistake they couldn't be for me a ripple of laughter went over the entire house there was another burst of applause which again brought Miss Molly Brown to prominence through no fault of her own the card on the magnificent basket of roses made known to her the fact that Miss Millicent Porter had thus honored her the card on the violets merely said from across the old critic who believes in your success I thought Millicent Porter had a big crush on you observed Margaret later in the green room there's no doubt about it now after this noble tribute nonsense said Molly it's because she has so much money and likes to spend it on herself yes, buying clothes and big lumps of silver to play with but not on you Molly dear unless she had been greatly taken with your charms Molly had seen a few college crushes and considered them observed a kind of idol worship by a young girl for an older one but because she had been so closely with her own small circle she had escaped a crush so far I never believe it she said I'm much too humble a person to be admired by such a grand young lady she sent the roses because she had to recall her invitation to dinner only time will prove it Miss Molly answered Margaret the play ended with a grand storm of applause and college yells not in their wildest dreams had the juniors hoped for such success it's difficult to tell who was the best they were all so excellent was reported to have said finally to satisfy the persistent multitude each actor marched slowly in front of the curtain and each was received with more or less enthusiasm raw raw raw raw raw Wellington Wellington Margaret Wakefield they yelled or what's the matter with Molly Brown she's alright Molly Molly Molly Brown in the intoxicating excitement of this 15 minutes nobody realized that Judy had withdrawn from the group of actors and hidden herself away somewhere behind the scenery there was some speculation in the audience as to why Biola had not filed across the stage with the others but since Judy's really devoted friends were all behind the scenes there was no one to bring her out unless she chose to show herself with the others wasn't it simply grand cried Jesse the last to taste the sweets of popularity the hall was still ringing with Jesse Jesse she's alright when she bound herself behind the curtain and joined her classmates in the green room then there came cries of speech speech Wakefield Wakefield Margaret is composed as a May morning stepped to the front of the platform and gave one of her most appropriate addresses to the joy of the audience and the intense amusement of the faculty think of that child only 18 and making such a speech they are certainly a remarkable group of girls so much individuality among them said miss Walker to miss Pomeroy at her side and rare charm in some of the individuals added miss Pomeroy the little brown girl for instance who by the way is as tall as I am but so thin that she seems small has magnetism that will carry her through many a difficulty in life they tell me she is almost adored by her friends in the meantime the juniors entirely unconscious of these compliments from high places and perhaps it was quite as well they were had just missed Judy from their midst didn't she go before the curtain with the rest of us someone asked but how strange when she had the leading part I thought I heard them give her the yell Judy Judy called here I am answered a muffled voice from behind the scenery presently Judy appeared showing a face so white and tragic that her friends were shocked with a tactful instinct most of the girls hurriedly gathered their things together and disappeared leaving only the intimates in the green room why Judy dearest why did you hide yourself I knew the leading lady of the company exclaimed Molly reproachfully when all outsiders had departed don't flatter me Molly Judy answered in a hard stream voice but you were said Molly and you acted beautifully I ruined the play said Judy angrily I ran into the entire business and you made me do it oh Judy cried Molly you were talking wildly what do you mean you did you upset me completely when you said don't be so dictatorial I never heard you make a speech like that before and just as I was about to go on too it was cruel it was unkind if it had come from anyone else but you here here broken Margaret really Judy you're losing your temper she never said it anyhow cried Nance I said it myself she did say it Nance you're just trying to screen her replied Judy who had worked herself into a nervous rage is this going to be a free fight asked Edith who always enjoyed battles Molly was gathering up her things not as far as I'm concerned she answered in a trembling voice as she went out she looked sorrowfully back at Judy but not another word did she say aren't you ashamed of yourself Judy keen cried Nance you're jealous and that's the whole of it and she flung herself out of the door after Molly the others quickly followed certainly sympathy was against Judy and what if poor Judy left all alone in the gymnasium torn with anger remorse jealousy and disappointment she threw herself face downward on the empty stage presently the janitor came in and switched off the lights end of chapter 6 recording by Debbie R Baker Robinson Chapter 7 of Molly Brown's Junior Days by Nail Speed this liber box recording is in the public domain a midnight adventure Molly and Nance had little to say to each other that night as they undressed for bed Nance was still filled with hot indignation over Judy's falling off as she called it and Molly had no heart for conversation the door to Judy's bedroom at the other end of the sitting room was closed and they were not surprised when she did not call good night as was her custom nobody looked in on them it was late and the quadrangle was soon perfectly still under the sheets her head buried in the pillows Molly cried a long time softly and quietly like a steady downpour of rain it seemed somehow that her beloved friend Judy had died and that she was grieving for her at last worn out she fell asleep it was a very heavy sleep she felt as if her arms were tied and she was sinking down into space and as is always the case with dreams of falling she waked with a nervous sleep as if her body had hit the bed and rebounded as she fell she had dreamed that she heard a voice calling never mind what it said already the word whatever it was was a mere pinpoint in her memory it had flashed through her mind like a shooting star across the sky it was brilliantly illuminating for the instant Molly was sure that it meant a great deal it was an important word and it had an urgent significance for the tenth of a second her mind had been awake and now it was quite dark again Molly leaped out of bed and began pulling on her clothes why am I dressing she thought it is because I must hurry hurry that was the word it came back to her now quietly and significantly nance wakened and set up in bed what is it she asked I must hurry don't stop me answered Molly nance looked at her curiously you've had a nightmare Molly she said Molly glensed up vaguely as nance switched on the light have I I don't know but I must make haste or I'll be too late too late for what I don't know yet wake up Molly you're asleep nothing is going to happen you are here in your own room yes yes I understand but I must hurry don't stop me nance you may come if you like but don't stop me nance had often heard that it was dangerous to awaken sleepwalkers too suddenly and she believed now as she saw Molly slipping on her skirt and sweater that she was certainly asleep dearest Molly she insisted this is college you are in your own room it's a quarter to twelve don't go out of the room Molly took no notice nance turned on another light and slipped across to Judy's room she must have help and Judy was the nearest person Judy's not in her room she exclaimed suddenly in a scared voice Molly gave a slight shudder it's Judy who needs me she said I was trying to remember I couldn't make it out at first put on your things nance don't delay put out the light we must hurry nance got into a few clothes as fast as she could she slipped on tennis shoes and an Ulster and presently the two girls were standing in the corridor where we going Molly asked nance now under the spell of the others conviction this way answered Molly looking indeed like a sleepwalker as she glided down the hall to the main steps if the girls had glanced back they would have noticed a figure creep softly after them but the gate is locked objected nance I know but we'll find another way down the steps they hastened noiselessly at the bottom instead of going straight ahead Molly turned to the left and led the way to a sitting room for visitors on the ground floor of the tower the windows of the tower room as it was known looked out on the campus they were small deep silt and closed with iron bound wooden shutters like the doors into the cloisters mounting a bench Molly opened the inside glass casement and drew back the bolt which secured the shutter then she hoisted herself onto the sill crawled through the window and holding by both hands dropped to the ground nance of a more practical temperament wondered how they would ever get back into the tower room but blind and questioning faith is an infinitely stronger staff to lean upon than uneasy speculation as nance was one day to find out when the night watchman makes his rounds will he see the window open in the tower she thought and if he does what will he do give the alarm at once or try to find out our names and report us if he reports us what then we may be expelled or suspended or punished in some awful way so nance's thoughts busily shaped out these tragic events as she followed Molly out of the window and dropped to the gravel walk below the tower clock struck 12 while the two girls flittered across the campus it was a strange adventure nance pondered and one she would never have undertaken or even considered alone but then her instincts were not like Molly's the inner voice which spoke to her sometimes was usually the sharp, reproving voice of a Puritan conscience he spoke to her now but she turned a deaf ear to it for once it told her how absurd she would appear to other people in this dangerous midnight escapade as she was running Judy, of course, had spent the night with one of the other girls, it said it troubled her mind with whispers of doubts and fears it ridiculed and abused her but not once did it weaken her determination to follow Molly wherever she intended to go and presently when Molly quickened her footsteps into a run nance kept right at her elbow like a noonday shadow foreshortened and broadened Molly turned in the direction of the lake as her heart gave a violent thump she had believed all along that they were taking a shortcut across to the gymnasium instead of following the gravel walk Molly, you don't think she began breathlessly don't talk now, hurry was Molly's brief reply across a corner of the golf course they flew and before nance could take breath for another dash through a fringe of pine trees she caught sight of the waters as black as ink and clutched Molly's arm did you hear anything? she asked in a frightened whisper they waited a moment straining their ears in the darkness from the middle of the lake came the sound of a canoe paddle dipping into the water Molly breathed the sigh of relief it's all right, she said and they hastened down to the platform of the boathouse in another moment they had launched a small rowboat and were out on the lake will judy king never learn since nance thought impatiently she's just like a prairie fire it only takes a spark to set her going and then she burns up everything in sight nance had never been able to understand why judy could not hold her passionate, excitable temperament more in control she herself had learned self denial at an early age but that was because she had a selfish mother how did you ever guess she would be here, Molly? she asked as the prow of the boat roughly through the waters of the lake with a musical ripple nance was rowing and Molly who had never learned to handle oars was sitting facing her I don't know, I can't explain it I dreamed that someone said hurry and the lake seemed to be the place to come to some 200 feet beyond they now made out the silhouette of a canoe judy, of course it was judy already they recognized the outline of her slender figure and the bottom of the boat had stopped paddling she held up her head like a startled animal when it sensed danger it occurred to nance watching her over her shoulder as they drew nearer that there was really something wild and untamed in judy's nature she remembered that the first morning they had met her at queens, judy had laughingly announced that she had been born at sea on a stormy night but it was no joking matter nance was thinking and she fervently wished that judy would learn to quell her troubled moods the next instant the two boats touched prowls the little canoe the most delicate and sensitive craft that there is quivered violently with the shock of the collision and sprang back as it bounded forward again Molly held out her hand instinctively judy grasped it and the two boats drew alongside each other crawl into our boat judy dearest said Molly it will be easier to pull the canoe to shore it's empty judy prepared silently to obey but a canoe is not a thing to be reckoned with at critical moments just as judy raised her foot to step into the other boat the treacherous little craft shot from under her and over she toppled head foremost into the waters fortunately she was an excellent swimmer and the star diver of the gymnasium pool but the lake was not deep and when she came up sputtering and puffing she found herself standing in water and was only shoulder high Nance often thought and looking back on this painful episode that nothing they could have said to judy would have brought her so completely to her senses as this cold ducking certainly if judy had actually planned to jump into the lake her wishes were most ludicrously carried out and the struggle she now made to climb back into the boat showed that she was not anxious to stay any longer than she could help in the icy bath it was aside for laughter more than for tears sensible Nance pondered with a slight feeling of contempt that of judy struggling and kicking to draw herself into the boat indeed she almost managed to upset them too but she did tumble in somehow shivering and wet but extremely contrite how did you know I was out here was the first question she put when having seized the rope on the prowl of the canoe they headed for shore I didn't know I only guessed answered Molly she was up and dressed before she even knew you were not in your room, announced Nance I was a fool exclaimed judy and I now know what good friends you are to have come for me I don't know exactly what I intended to do out here she went unbrokenly I felt ashamed to face anyone even mama and papa I might she broke off shivering rivulets of water were pouring from her wet clothing into the bottom of the boat she was worn in the last scene of the play I'll give you my Ulster as soon as we land judy said Nance rowing with long rapid strokes which sent the boat skimming over the water I'm just a low down worthless dog went on judy taking no notice of Nance's interruption there's no good trying to apologize Molly words don't mean anything but when the chance comes and the chance always does come if you want it I'll be able to show you how sorry I am for what I did and how much I really love you you showed me what a real friend you were last winter judy broken Molly when you gave up your room at Queens for my sake I wasn't angry about what happened at the gym I was hurt of course because I'm a sensitive plant but I knew it would be alright in the end because we are too close to each other now to let a few hasty words come between us but here we are at the boat landing having tied the two boats in the boathouse which was never kept locked they hurried back to college Nance insisted upon judy's putting on her Ulster you know I'm never cold she said you girls will just kill me with kindness exclaimed judy humbly but Nance did not even hear this abject speech the question of how they were to get back into the quadrangle was occupying her mind we're taking an awful risk she observed to Molly in a low voice there is no other way but the window I suppose I can't think of any other way answered Molly unless we ring the bell over the gate and alarm the entire dormitory suppose a night watchman has closed the window what then? demanded Nance why? we'll just have to find some other way then answered her optimistic friend but the window in the tower room was wide open just as they had left it the doubting Nance still had another theory suppose the night watchman has left it open on purpose to catch us when we come back she suggested I do wish you would stop hunting up troubles Nance ejaculated Molly irritably I never found supposing did any good anyhow Nance thus rebuked said nothing more Molly boosted by the other girls pulled herself onto the window sill and climbed into the room she looked about her cautiously but Nance's fears were groundless so far the room was perfectly empty let down a chair whispered Judy there were no small chairs about however and she was obliged to choose a bench how are we to get it back again she asked after Nance had clambered in and Judy halfway through paused to consider this question hurry the watchman hissed Nance on the lookout at the door he's coming down the side corridor the next instant Judy had leaped into the room and the three girls were tearing along the hall and up the steps Judy leaving a trail of water behind her the watchman had seen them they could hear the beat of his steps on the cement floor as he ran the fugitives reached the upper corridor just as he arrived at the first landing on the stairs kick off your pumps Judy and pick up your skirts he'll trace this by the wet trail if you don't another dash and they were in their sitting room the door locked behind them blessed relief Judy and her stocking feet was holding up her skirts with both hands Nance had seized one of the slippers and she thought that Molly had the other but the final excitement of that eventful night was veiled in mystery as they had burst into their sitting room someone ran swiftly across the room through the passage into Judy's room and into the corridor they dared not follow and run the risk of meeting the night watchman probably standing at that moment at the end of the corridor to trace that path of water which thanks be to Nance's prudence ended there and was lost on the green strip of carpet below in the tower room the windows of the casement flapped back and forth in the wind which was rising steadily and on the path below stood that tell-tale bench anyhow said Molly there's only one person who knows we were out tonight and whoever she is she can't tell without giving herself away Chapter 7 Recording by Debbie R. Baker Robinson Chapter 8 of Molly Brown's Junior Days by Nell Speed this LibriVox recording is in the public domain covering their tracks when the dressing bell rang next morning three heavy-eyed and extremely weary young women felt obliged to pull themselves together and appear at the breakfast table Judy had caught cold and to disguise this condition had plastered pink powder on her nose and now held her breath almost to suffocation to avoid coughing in public have you heard the news demanded Jesse hurrying in late and sitting next to Nance why no, what is it? asked Nance calmly Molly felt the color rising in her cheeks and Judy buried her snuffles in a long letter from her mother there's the greatest tale going around the quadrangle everybody is talking about it continued Jesse one of the chambermaid started it I think because she told it to me just now what is it? asked Edith Williams impatiently some of the quadrangle girls were out last night gallivanting they climbed through the tower room window left a bench outside and the window open I suppose the watchman frightened them before they could hide all traces that sounds like a wild freak commented Catherine what do you suppose they were doing they might have been doing lots of things replied Jesse mysteriously the maid said the watchman thought they had been driving or motoring with some X-more boys whew ejaculated a sophomore I'm sorry for them if they are found out I happen to know Prexy's feelings about escapades like that why were you ever caught? no, of course not don't you see me sitting here at the table but my older sister was in the class with a girl who was caught she was a campus girl what happened to her? demanded Judy forgetting her cold in the interest of the story bounced answered the sophomore briefly the Williams's and Jesse looked at Judy with mixed feelings of surprise not because they noticed her cold or regarded it with any suspicion but because when they had parted company with her the night before she had been in the throes of a jealous rage and had spoken most insultingly to her best friend their glances shifted to Molly the two girls were seated side by side Judy was leaning affectionately against Molly's shoulder while they looked together at a picture postcard sent by Mary Stewart from France all bets are off whispered Edith to her sister they have made it up Molly is an angel of forgiveness we were wrong for once and Margaret was correct a pound of Mexican kisses and two pounds of mixed chocolates said Margaret and Edith's other ear I won my bet, I hope you'll take notice we were just taking notice answered Edith but there's some more of the story piped out Jesse again don't you want to hear the most exciting part? heavens yes did they catch them? asked several voices no no but one of the girls was wet announced Jesse impressively she left a trail of water after her all the way up the steps I should think they could have traced her by that said Margaret they could have if she had kept on trailing but she must have remembered and held up a skirt for it stopped right there wise lady put in Catherine she must have been canoeing and not driving then observed Margaret else why the significant fact of wet clothes nice night to go canoeing in cold and dark strange notion of pleasure remarked Edith well there's more still to come announced Jesse when they had finished commenting on this remarkable escapade for heaven's sake Jesse you're like a serial story of adventure a thriller in every chapter what now? well said Jesse you may well prepare for a thriller this time the watchman found something what what they cried Judy and Molly joined in the chorus with as much excitement as any of the others he found a slipper Judy made an enormous effort to keep her hand from trembling as she raised her coffee cup to her dry feverish lips Molly as usual under excitement changed from white to red and red to white Nancy alone seemed perfectly calm I don't see how they can prove anything by that she observed there are probably fifty girls or even a hundred who wear the same size shoes here Molly is the only girl I know of who wears a peculiar size six and a half triple A well one thing is certain and the rest is lies as old Omar remarked said Margaret rising from the table and that is all juniors can prove an alibi last night no junior would ever go gallimanting on the night of the junior play hardly answered Nance who had risen to the occasion with fine spirit intact Molly's face resumed its normal color and Judy looked relieved the thing they will have to do said Edith is to find the other slipper and if the owner of that slipper takes my advice she'll drop it down the deepest well in Wellington County Molly and Nancy and Judy hurried through breakfast and brushed back to their apartment they locked all the doors carefully and gathered in Judy's room we have nearly fifteen minutes before chapel said Nance speaking rapidly Judy are your things dry get them quickly they may search our rooms Miss Walker is pretty determined once she's roused I hear Judy gathered up the stiff rough dry garments that had been hanging on the heater all night while Molly found tossed in a corner the mate to the fatal slipper Judy held at Viola's dress of old rose velvet it's ruined she exclaimed and that's another complication suppose don't suppose interrupted Molly hastily snatching the dress away from her hurry Nance where shall we put them for a temporary safe hiding place they chose the interior of the upright piano then they hastily made their beds set their dressing tables to rights and dashed off to chapel just as a matron appeared on an ostensible tour of inspection it was possible that she was not being very vigilant with the juniors however that particular morning knowing that they were one and all engaged in producing a very important play the night before at any rate she only glanced casually around saw nothing incriminating and departed to the next room the president looked grave and worried at chapel but contrary to expectations she had nothing to say after the prayer it's a bad sign observed a student when Prexy doesn't say anything she means business except for a few moments at lunch the three girls did not meet in private consultation again until late in the afternoon there was a busy sign on their study door Molly smiled knowingly to herself and gave them a sonic tap it's a good idea she thought and will keep out inquisitive people until we decide what to do she found Judy stretched on the sofa while Nancy was dosing her with a large dose of quinine and an additional dose of sweet spirits of niter you're going to kill me Nancy Judy was rumbling for heaven's sakes be quiet scolded Nancy you haven't any voice to waste Molly will you make her a hot lemonade I think we had better get her to bed and cover her up with all the comforts so as to bring on a perspiration only one inquired Judy get up from there and go to bed ordered Nancy the inspection is over and there won't be any chance of another one today you'll have them as supper tonight we'll say you have one of your sick headaches Judy obediently got out of her things while Molly flew around making hot lemonade and Nancy hung a blanket over the heater and pulled down their three winter comforts off of a shelf in the closet Judy meekly allowed herself to be smothered under a mountain of covers while she drank lemonade with childish enjoyment you always make good ones Molly darling because you put in enough sugar I'll probably be melted into a fountain of perspiration like undying only she went away in tears she complained presently that's the object of the treatment answered Nancy sternly whatever is left of you after the melting process is over is quite well of the cold Molly could have laughed if she had not been thinking of something else very hard the two girls sat down on the and began a subdued and earnest conversation what are we to do with these things Molly we can't leave them in the piano because the moment someone sits down to play will be discovered murderers take up the planks in the floor and hide their bloodstained clothing underneath observed Molly but we can't do that of course they took the bundle from its hiding place and looked over the garments I have an idea announced Nancy who had many practical notions on the subject of clothes suppose we take the dress to the cleaners in the village and have it steamed why can't we steam it ourselves over the teacole demanded Molly we can and we'll do it right now and press it on the wrong side if it hadn't been so much admired it wouldn't matter so very much but someone sure to ask to see it or barwood or something how about the under clothes can't we smooth them out with a hot iron ready they said to work at once to heat water and irons and presently we're engaged in restoring the old rose velvet to a semblance of its former beauty what are we going to do about that sliver demanded Molly pausing in her labors I've made up my mind to that replied Nancy we must bury it end of chapter 8 recording by Debbie R. Baker Robinson