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[Illustration: Singing and cheering wildly they carried her to the other end of the gym.]
CHAPTER I--THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL CHAPTER II--THE PAPER CHASE CHAPTER III--THE WELCOME DANCE TO THE NEW GIRLS CHAPTER IV--THE CHOOSING OF THE TEAMS CHAPTER V--THE THANKSGIVING PARTY CHAPTER VI--A RAINY DAY CHAPTER VII--BETTY'S DUCKING CHAPTER VIII--CUTTING THE LECTURE CHAPTER IX--THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS CHAPTER X--THE VALENTINE PARTY CHAPTER XI--PRACTICING FOR THE INDOOR MEET CHAPTER XII--POLLY'S HEROISM CHAPTER XIII--BETTY'S IDEA CHAPTER XIV--THE FRESHMEN ENTERTAIN CHAPTER XV--VISITORS CHAPTER XVI--GHOSTS CHAPTER XVII--POLLY INTERVENES CHAPTER XVIII--WANTED: A MASCOT CHAPTER XIX--FIELD DAY CHAPTER XX--THE MUSICAL CHAPTER XXI--COMMENCEMENT DAY
Seddon Hall, situated on top of one of the many hills that lined either side of the Hudson River, was a scene of hubbub and confusion. It was the 27th of September and the opening day of school. The girls who had already arrived were walking arm in arm about the grounds, in the broad assembly hall, and in the corridors, talking, laughing and discussing the summer vacation, plans for the winter, the new girls, and a variety of subjects with fine impartiality.
In the Senior reception room Mrs. Baird, principal of the school, and a number of the faculty were receiving and assuring the mothers and guardians of the girls.
Outside the carriages from the 5:04 train were winding up the steep hill from the station. The girls were waving and calling hellos as they passed one another, and on the broad piazza there was a quantity of suit cases, and a good deal of kissing.
Polly Pendleton, seated beside her uncle in one of the last carriages, was just the least little bit frightened. She had never seen quite so many girls nor heard quite so much laughing and talking in all her rather uneventful life.
Polly's real name was Marianna, but her heavy dark hair framed a face so bright and full of fun, and her big brown eyes had so much impishness in their depth, that to have called her by anything so long and dignified seemed absurd, and so she had been Polly all her life.