Produced by Suzanne Shell and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net MOLLY BROWN'S SOPHOMORE DAYS [Illustration] MOLLY BROWN'S SOPHOMORE DAYS BY NELL SPEED AUTHOR OF "The Tucker Twins Series," "The Carter Girls Series," etc. [Illustration] A. L. BURT COMPANY Publishers New York Printed in U. S. A. Copyright, 1912, BY HURST & COMPANY Printed in the U. S. A. CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE I. THE RETURN OF THE WANDERERS 5 II. OTOYO 17 III. A CLASHING OF WITS 33 IV. A TEMPEST IN A TEAPOT 47 V. AN UNWILLING EAVESDROPPER 62 VI. TWO LONG-DISTANCE CALLS 76 VII. THE GLEE CLUB CONCERT 94 VIII. A JAPANESE SPREAD 111 IX. VESPERS 126 X. ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL 140 XI. THE GREAT SLEET OF 19-- 158 XII. THE SKATING CARNIVAL 169 XIII. THE THAW 182 XIV. QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 196 XV. A RECOVERY AND A VISIT 212 XVI. CHRISTMAS EVE PLOTS 230 XVII. A CHRISTMAS SURPRISE 245 XVIII. BREAKING THE NEWS 258 XIX. HOW O'REILLY'S BECAME QUEEN'S 269 XX. THE TURN OF THE WHEEL 283 XXI. IN THE GARDEN 295 Molly Brown's Sophomore Days CHAPTER I. THE RETURN OF THE WANDERERS. "I never thought I could be so glad to be anywhere except home," thought Molly Brown as she swung off the 'bus, and, seizing her suit case, ran into Queen's Cottage without so much as ringing the bell. Two juniors whom Molly had known only by sight the year before and several freshmen had been in the Wellington omnibus; no one in whom she could confide her enthusiasm as the 'bus turned a bend in the road and Wellington's towers came into view. "Molly! Molly!" cried a voice from somewhere in the upper regions of Queen's, and down three flights of stairs rushed a wild figure, her fluffy light brown hair standing out all over her head and her voluminous kimono sailing behind her like the tail of a kite. "Oh, Judy, it's good to see you again," cried Molly, and the two girls were instantly folded in each other's arms in a long, loving embrace. "You remind me strongly of Meg Merriles," continued Molly, holding her friend off at arms' length and giving her a joyful little shake. "You look as if you had been running over the moors in the wind."