holding on to Ruth. "You're neither to
hold nor to bind after such an expedition. I say, girls, let's all go with
Curly next time."
Amy had been very sullen ever since the evening before. Now she snapped:
"I guess Curly didn't want her--or any of us. Ruth just forced herself
upon him. He doesn't like girls."
"Bless the infant!" said Ann. "What's got her _now_?"
"Jealous of our Ruth, I declare!" laughed Helen.
Amy burst out crying and ran ahead, nor did the older girls see her at the
breakfast table. Ruth was sorry about this. She had only then begun to win
Amy Gregg's confidence, and now she feared that the girl would be angry
with her.
That day, however, Ruth was too happy to think much about Amy Gregg.
Recitations went with a rush. Miss Brokaw even was disarmed, for all
Ruth's quickness and coolness seemed to have returned to her. She did not
fail once and the strict teacher praised her.
Besides, there was a long conference with Mrs. Tellingham and Mr. Hammond.
The scenario of "The Heart of a Schoolgirl" was to be filmed at once.
"We will do our best to release it for first presentation in six weeks,"
the producer said. "And I assure you that means some quick work. You
girls," he added, to Ruth, "must do your prettiest when we take the
pictures here. Your physical culture instructor will drill you in
marching, and forming the tableaux we require. Your exposition of the
legend of the Marble Harp is a clever bit of invention, Ruth, and in the
picture will make a hit, I am sure."
Of course Ruth was proud; why should she not be? But her head was not
turned by all the flattering things that were said to her.
The girls adored her. The fact that they were all working in unison toward
the rebuilding of the dormitory, removed from the daily life and
intercourse of the big boarding school one of its more unpleasant
features.
It was only natural that there should be cliques among two hundred girls.
But now rivalries were put aside. All were striving for the same end. Some
of the girls interested various societies in their home towns to hold
fairs and bazaars for the benefit of Briarwood Hall.
Personal appeals were made directly to every girl on the alumni list--and
some of those "girls" now had girls of their own almost old enough to
attend Briarwood.
By these methods the dormitory fund was swelled. In the results from the
moving picture drama, however, was the possibility for the greatest help.
Mrs.
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