“Why underrate your own superior capabilities?” Marjorie glanced from Leila to Leslie with twinkling eyes.
“We are but poor playhouse managers, and, at that, far from marvelous. It is one thing to manage mummers, in a make-believe drama. They are pleased to be managed. But to attempt to manage freshies, in a real drama, who have no taste for being managed, is quite another.” Leslie made a deprecatory gesture. “These New York freshies, Beauty, are an innovation at Hamilton. They are a gay, noisy set in their rooms, going back and forth to them through their end of the hall with plenty of laughter and commotion. To the other students at the Hall they show small friendliness. Miss Ogden loses no opportunity to court favor with them. We know they make sport of her behind her back, for we have heard them sneer about her. They patronize her to her face. Why they do not snub her outright, as they have two or three of the sophs at the Hall, we wondered, until yesterday. Then we heard that at the freshie class meeting she nominated Miss Norris, their leader, for president. Now we shall see what we shall see,” Leila said significantly.
“Was Miss Norris elected president?” Marjorie inquired interestedly.
“Yes; her crowd had been busily electioneering for her. She won over Miss Foster of Acasia House by only two votes. Her roommate, Miss Taylor, gave a dinner for her last night at Baretti’s.”
“Was Miss Ogden invited?” Marjorie’s interest had deepened.
“Yes! I was glad to hear from Leslie that she was.”
“She had Miss Taylor to thank for it,” Leslie interposed. “If any other girl in that crowd had given it, I’ll say Jewel Marie wouldn’t have had a look in. This Miss Taylor is rather different from the others. She’s stout and sleepy-looking. She appears stodgy until one happens to see her laugh. When she laughs, and that’s not often, her whole face changes. One sees humor written on every feature. She’d make a wonderful Touchstone in ‘As You Like It.’”
“Yes, and Miss Norris would make a fine Henry the Fifth. I’m thinking of putting it on at the Playhouse this winter. Still, she is one I am not anxious to manage. I am not fond of wrangling,” Leila made a wry face, “and I have heard her differ, far from politely, with the girls of her own set.”