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Authors: Karin Tanabe
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elegant but diminutive family mansion more than it did their college’s soaring Main Building.
“We’re to go to the reception room, and one of the maids will send up a visitor’s card,” said Lottie.
“Just like at Vassar,” Anita said, looking all around her for Gertrude’s recognizable face.
“Not quite. The girls do not reside on campus here, no exceptions, but Lilly promised she would be in the library studying. She’s doing so on purpose, I’m sure, to appear as diligent as possible.” Lottie paid the carriage driver and they walked into the building, past the Radcliffe girls, who looked nearly identical to the Vassar girls—the same capriciousness, same chatter, same airs of privilege and intelligence.
“Miss Louise Taylor to see Miss Elizabeth Taylor,” said Lottie to the woman monitoring visitors that day. She handed the young woman her card and explained that Lilly was her cousin.
“Of course, miss,” she replied, and left to fetch Lilly from the third-floor library.
“It’s pretty here,” said Lottie, looking up at the ceiling. “Is it prettier than Vassar, do you think?”
“Certainly not,” Anita said, looking around her at the small single staircase. “Not even a fair competition.”
Suddenly, they heard Lottie’s name called out in a high, melodic voice. They turned to see Lilly approaching, all smiles and with the same blond curls, deep blue eyes, and cherubic features as her cousin.
“Lottie and Anita!” she said, stretching out her arms. She gave the Vassar girls each kisses on the cheek, her plaid taffeta dress swishing against them, and took their hands. “I’m so happy you’re both here! Lottie warned me that you were the prettiest girl at Vassar, Anita. Isn’t she brave to room with you?”
“Oh, that’s not—” Anita tried to protest, but Lilly stopped her.
“People see what they see, Anita dear.” She smiled, and Anita was happy to note that she shared her cousin’s gaiety.
“Are you two really going to that brutish football game today?” Lilly asked as she led them out of the parlor.
“I take great delight in a football game,” said Lottie. “I’ve always enjoyed the display of athleticism that comes with the sport. But it’s more than that. There’s something very democratic about it. Not just a bunch of silly rich people who have more money than hair.”
Lilly and Anita laughed, because it was obvious that almost everyone Lottie knew had more money than hair.
“Shall we do a tour of the campus?” asked Lilly, steering them toward the second floor. “You’ve visited Radcliffe, Anita?” she asked, her cool blue eyes admiring Anita’s striking face.
“Yes, she has,” answered Lottie for her roommate. “She’s from Boston.”
“Oh? I wasn’t aware. We girls are often making trips to Boston. Is your family there?”
“Yes,” said Anita, quickly peeking into a nearby parlor, looking to change the subject. “What a splendid room,” she said. “TheCorinthian columns are very elegant. Beautiful acanthus design.”
“Why, yes,” said Lilly, with a look of surprise at this sudden interest in architecture. “We are fond of our parlors.” Lottie glanced in and asked Lilly how much time she spent inside.
“Are you asking me how well I’m doing in school, cousin? Wondering why I’m loafing about in parlors and not upstairs in the library?”
Lottie laughed and put her arm around her cousin’s cinched waist. “Obviously, Lilly. You’re no stranger to me. I know your love of lazing about.”
“I’m doing just fine,” said Lilly. “Aren’t you kind to inquire.”
Lottie did a little curtsey and took Anita by the arm. They both followed her charming cousin through the building.
Anita, pretending that she wanted to see every inch of the structure, kept turning around, looking this way and that, but they were able to complete their visit of the public rooms without glimpsing Gertrude.
“I need some air,” said Lottie,
“We’re to go to the reception room, and one of the maids will send up a visitor’s card,” said Lottie.
“Just like at Vassar,” Anita said, looking all around her for Gertrude’s recognizable face.
“Not quite. The girls do not reside on campus here, no exceptions, but Lilly promised she would be in the library studying. She’s doing so on purpose, I’m sure, to appear as diligent as possible.” Lottie paid the carriage driver and they walked into the building, past the Radcliffe girls, who looked nearly identical to the Vassar girls—the same capriciousness, same chatter, same airs of privilege and intelligence.
“Miss Louise Taylor to see Miss Elizabeth Taylor,” said Lottie to the woman monitoring visitors that day. She handed the young woman her card and explained that Lilly was her cousin.
“Of course, miss,” she replied, and left to fetch Lilly from the third-floor library.
“It’s pretty here,” said Lottie, looking up at the ceiling. “Is it prettier than Vassar, do you think?”
“Certainly not,” Anita said, looking around her at the small single staircase. “Not even a fair competition.”
Suddenly, they heard Lottie’s name called out in a high, melodic voice. They turned to see Lilly approaching, all smiles and with the same blond curls, deep blue eyes, and cherubic features as her cousin.
“Lottie and Anita!” she said, stretching out her arms. She gave the Vassar girls each kisses on the cheek, her plaid taffeta dress swishing against them, and took their hands. “I’m so happy you’re both here! Lottie warned me that you were the prettiest girl at Vassar, Anita. Isn’t she brave to room with you?”
“Oh, that’s not—” Anita tried to protest, but Lilly stopped her.
“People see what they see, Anita dear.” She smiled, and Anita was happy to note that she shared her cousin’s gaiety.
“Are you two really going to that brutish football game today?” Lilly asked as she led them out of the parlor.
“I take great delight in a football game,” said Lottie. “I’ve always enjoyed the display of athleticism that comes with the sport. But it’s more than that. There’s something very democratic about it. Not just a bunch of silly rich people who have more money than hair.”
Lilly and Anita laughed, because it was obvious that almost everyone Lottie knew had more money than hair.
“Shall we do a tour of the campus?” asked Lilly, steering them toward the second floor. “You’ve visited Radcliffe, Anita?” she asked, her cool blue eyes admiring Anita’s striking face.
“Yes, she has,” answered Lottie for her roommate. “She’s from Boston.”
“Oh? I wasn’t aware. We girls are often making trips to Boston. Is your family there?”
“Yes,” said Anita, quickly peeking into a nearby parlor, looking to change the subject. “What a splendid room,” she said. “TheCorinthian columns are very elegant. Beautiful acanthus design.”
“Why, yes,” said Lilly, with a look of surprise at this sudden interest in architecture. “We are fond of our parlors.” Lottie glanced in and asked Lilly how much time she spent inside.
“Are you asking me how well I’m doing in school, cousin? Wondering why I’m loafing about in parlors and not upstairs in the library?”
Lottie laughed and put her arm around her cousin’s cinched waist. “Obviously, Lilly. You’re no stranger to me. I know your love of lazing about.”
“I’m doing just fine,” said Lilly. “Aren’t you kind to inquire.”
Lottie did a little curtsey and took Anita by the arm. They both followed her charming cousin through the building.
Anita, pretending that she wanted to see every inch of the structure, kept turning around, looking this way and that, but they were able to complete their visit of the public rooms without glimpsing Gertrude.
“I need some air,” said Lottie,
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