8       THE BELLES OF CANTERBURY



the bookcase begins to shake slightly, becoming more
violent as the JUNIOR continues) The Wife of Bath
was a regular Mormon, five husbands, that's what
she had, and she wore red stockings. Such taste!
  SENIOR.  (rises and goes to JUNIOR)  Laurine,
don't talk so much. Come help us decide between dill
pickle and strawberry jam, we can't have both.
  SOPHOMORE. Laurine car't help talking. Her
whole class does it.
  JUNIOR. And what about your class, Miss And
the angelic Seniors  They never talk, do they.
Thank Goodness, we're not like that old patient
Griselda in Chaucer. She was afraid to open her
head.
  FRESHMAN. I think you know a lot about Chaucer.
I never will remember all those names.
  JUNIOR. Oh, there are a lot more of them. One
was a silly girl named Emily. She didn't do any-
thing but have " hair a yard long I guess" and for
that she had two lovers. I am going to get a hair
tonic. That's how silly men were in Chaucer's day,
before they learned how to play football, or had fra-
ternities.
  SOPHOMORE. Oh, girls, if you .had only seen the
hero in the matinee yesterday. He was simply
grand! And he had such pretty curly hair.
                (The bell rings.)
  SENIOR. I know I could think of lots more things
to eat if I only had more time.
  SOPHOMORE. Well, come on, I have to go to His-
tory. (she starts out)
  FRESHMIA&X. Wait for me.
  (Exeunt SENIOR, SOPHOMORE and FRESHMAN.)
  JUNIOR. Here's where I die. Where's that hateful
book It won't do any good to lose it, there are a
dozen more copies in the bookcase. (sings)