Cumnock School - Chronicle Yearbook (Los Angeles, CA)

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I' L I T E R A T U R E Very well, Lydia, Herbert groaned pitifully. The light of triumph in her face faded, when, for reasons that she could never know, Lionel and Herbert walked together out of the room. THE DOOR OPENS . By VERNA HERBST Seated in a circle at her feet, their eyes on jessica's gentle face, the girls listened eagerly. jessica in a perky voice rambled on in a thrilling meter . . , The way Aunt Grace fusses up the country place at Christmas time! But it is nice to dash in after a sleigh ride and see all that holly and to sit down on the hearth. She always has a big fire in the grate. Inspecting again the letter that had been lying in her lap, jessica, fired by her own enthusiasm, let her eyes dash through a few more lines, then without raising her eyes she sputtered breathlessly: That darling Horton boy is coming! Oh, Auntie is so sweet! She knew he would add just the right touch to my new blue dress. She is so thought- ful. She knows just the type of boy that becomes me the most. The girls of Fair View School would almost rather hear about jessica's Christmas plans than make their own. While she painted the picture of her large country home, the girls didn't move--they scarcely breathed. But it was always like that. jessica Hamilton was the most popular girl in school, she was the best conversationalist, she was the on-ly girl in school who had her own car, she could have anything in the world she wanted, and now she wanted the entire room to hear about her Christmas. There were no objec- tions, for on this Monday afternoon as on all Mondays the girls had assem- bled in the cozy little sitting room for no other purpose than to listen to her. It was of no little annoyance to her when the door flung open, pulling after it Nancy Roberts. Worried by jessica's look of disapproval yet feeling the importance and excitement of what she had to say, Nancy tried to disregard that look-a very brave thing for her to do, she felt. Not many girls went around disregarding jessica's disapproving looks. A little frightened, yet de- termined that they should hear her, Nancy squealed out between healthy young giggles: The most funniest girl, I . . . I mean the funniest looking girl I have ever seenl Her head sorta leads her body around after it. Looks like it's 82

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L I T E R A T U R E 4' bert turned green. We had seen Lionel standing at the door, he must have overheard the conversation. This would be the end. Lionel, wal-king into the room, looked at Lydia, she smiled. This was, of course, unpardonable. He looked at Herbert, Herbert looked at his shoes. Lionel turned to the fireplace and paced up and down for a moment in deep thought, attempting to reach a judgment. Herbert looked sheepishly at Lydia. We'd better sit down, Lydia, he suggested in a tremulous voice. What for? she inquired innocently. Let's sit down, Lydia, he repeated, a trifle more insistantly. Somewhat bewildered, she obeyed. He fell into a chair beside her, and grasped her hand. Then Lionel turned. He looked at them carefully, seeming to weigh and study them. Clearing his throat in a judicial manner, he gazed steadily at Herbert. Then he shook his head. Herbert quickly withdrew his hand from Lydia's. The die had been cast. Even Lydia began to sense something. It almost seemed as if she had been judged and found wanting. But Lydia had heard of the court of appeals. You act so strangely, Herbert. Are you ill? The appeal was not granted, for the judge shook his head gravely. And that dog. He acts so queerly. ls he mad? Herbert shrank from her. You act strangely, too. Are you crazy, Herbert? You've been work- ing too hard. And that dog . . . you must get rid of that dog. Do you hear me, Herbert? You must get rid of that dog. Herbert gulped a couple of times, You don't know what you're saying Lydia, he managed to gasp. You seemed to like him a few moments ago. I refuse to stay in the same house with him, she flared. Lionel looked at Herbert, and then significantly at the door. The mar' tried to protest, but it was useless. You must choose, Lydia played her trump card confidently, between that beast and me. I will not have him acting as though he owns the place. I will not tolerate him any longer. Herbert, you must choose between that dog and your wife. The melodrama bored Lionel. He had spent a strenuous day of con- templation and was in need of rest. He fixed Herbert with a steady eye. Sl

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L I T E R A T U R E feeling around, before the rest of her follows after it. All of her clothes are hanging on her. She looks kinda like she'd just jumped in a parachute, and was wearing the parachute around to advertise the fact! She's coming up right now, and . . . and they are moving her trunk into Sixteen. With an air of There l told you so, Nancy waited for the girls' reac- tions. She didn't have long to wait, for in a chorus they sang out, A new girl. Head spokesman, jessica, remarked: Let's have a look, for after all she must pass our approval as well as Miss Bates '. ' This brought a laugh from the girls, and rising from their chairs they followed jessica through the sitting room door down the hall towards Six- teen. Stopping and raising her hand in a silencing gesture, jessica whispered: Girls, this is not the best way to do this. You all go back into the sit- ting room. Co in but leave the door open, and l'll think of some way to get her past the door. Whispering excitedly among themselves, the girls turned around and walked back to the sitting room where they waited to view the strange new spectacle. Whether fate wished to step in and save this poor creature, about to be the victim of a lot of thoughtless girls, till a further time, it is impossible to know, but just as jessica rounded the corner to pounce upon her unsus- pecting victim, the door of number Sixteen opened and Miss Bates emerged. Clinging to her arm, holding it desperately as though it were life itself, a drab little bit of humanity moved along by her side. Feeling jessicia draw back and seeing the rather amazed look on her face, Miss Bates announced: Oh, jessica dear, I was just taking the new girl through the school. l thought it would be nice to acquaint her with her new home. Without replying, jessica stood amazed at what apparently was the new girl. jessica, this is Sophie. I am sure you two will see a lot of each other, as your rooms are so near. Sophie stood clinging to Miss Bates, her limp brown hair, not wishing to attract any unnecessary attention to itself, slipped lifelessly down from the straight white line which divided her small head. This drab brown covering over her head came down and partly covered her narrow forehead. Two frightened grey eyes, encircled by large blue shadows, blinked out from be- neath too heavy eyebrows. These eyes blinked, and darted from place to W as