Marjorie Dean, College Sophomore | Page 2

they were
sophomores, with a year of college experience to their credit. What
befell Marjorie Dean and her four Lookout chums as freshmen at
Hamilton College has already been recounted in "Marjorie Dean,
College Freshman."
"Hooray!" rejoiced Jerry, from the top step of the train, waving her
handbag, a magazine and a tennis racket, all of which she clutched in
her right hand. This vociferous greeting was for Helen, who was
making equally vociferous signals of jubilation at the descending
travelers.

Marjorie had also caught sight of Leila Harper and Vera Mason, and
was waving them a welcome. Lucy's eyes were fixed on Katherine
Langly, whom she knew had come down to the station especially to
meet her. Veronica and Muriel were exchanging gay hand salutations
with a group of Silverton Hall girls prior to greeting them on the
platform. An instant and the Five Travelers were free of the train and
surrounded.
"And is it yourself?" Leila Harper was hugging Marjorie in an excess
of true Irish affection. "Vera had a hunch this morning that you would
be here today. I said it was too early; that you wouldn't be here until the
first of next week. She would have it her way, so we drove down to
meet this train. Now I know she has the gifted eye and the seeing mind,
as we Irish say."
"It is a good thing for us that she had that hunch," declared Marjorie,
turning to Vera and holding out both hands. "I was hoping you would
both be here to meet us. I would have wired you, Leila, but was not
sure that you would be back at Hamilton so early. We are here a week
earlier than last year. We wanted to be at home as long as we could, but
we felt that, as sophomores, we ought to come back earlier to help the
freshies. We had such a lonesome time on our freshman appearance at
Hamilton, you know."
"Yes, I know," returned Leila significantly. "That was one of the Sans'
performances which was never explained. Away with them. This is no
time to think of them. The rest of your Lookouts are running off and
leaving you, Beauty." This last had been Leila's pet name for Marjorie
since the latter had won the title at a beauty contest given the previous
year at the freshman frolic.
"They'd better not run far. I am going to take you all back to college in
my car," Vera hospitably informed Marjorie. "Leila brought Helen
Trent, Katherine, Ethel Laird and Martha Merrick to the station in her
car. Ethel expects a freshman cousin from Troy, New York. Martha
came along because she had nothing else to do. She said she would like
to see if my hunch came true. She had never yet heard of one that
amounted to a row of pins. She was sure you would not be on the 5.50

train. Oh, wait until I catch sight of her! She's circulating around the
platform somewhere."
"So are my pals." Marjorie glanced about her, endeavoring to locate her
chums. None of them were far away. Lucy and Katherine Langly were
already approaching. Muriel and Ronny were still engaged with the
group of Silverton Hall girls. Neither Robina Page nor Portia Graham
were among them. It was quite likely they had not yet returned to
Hamilton.
"Just as soon as we can collect your crowd, Marjorie, we'll spin you
along to the Hall. Then, I beg to inform you, you are needed at a grand
rally at Baretti's. Let us have faith in the stars that those four pals of
yours have not recklessly accepted invitations to other celebrations.
And if they have, I shall be in a high temper. I warn you." Leila showed
her white teeth in a smile that was certainly no indication of ill-temper.
"They haven't, Leila," Marjorie happily assured. She was thinking what
a joy it was to see Leila again. "On the train we all agreed not to accept
any invitations to dinner on this first evening. Our plan was to take you
and Vera, Helen and Katherine and Hortense Barlow to Baretti's for a
feast, provided you were all here. If some of you were missing, then we
thought we would take those of you who had come back to the Colonial,
and wait until you all arrived for the other celebration. You see, it is to
be what you might call a 'first friends'' party. Helen was the first girl we
met. Now she and Jerry are college pals. Katherine is Lucy's first friend.
Muriel is so fond of Hortense, and Ronny and I look upon you and
Vera as nearer than any of the others. I am fond of Robin Page, and
Portia Graham,