“Ladies, ladies, to order please.” Mrs. Vanderbilt clapped her hands with a crack, her voice boomed over the twittering. Mother and I quickly sat in two of the sea of chairs, as did all the others. The room fell into an abyss of expectant silence.
“I'm so pleased to see you all here today,” Mrs. Vanderbilt began. I almost laughed, as if we had a choice. When Alva Vanderbilt called, everyone answered, or they would know her chill for years to come. “And I am so proud to introduce you to a new friend of mine, Miss Lucy Stone.”
As a small round of applause ensued, the serious woman stepped up beside Mrs. Vanderbilt.
“Miss Stone, here, is the first woman from Massachusetts to earn a college degree.”
Lighting struck me; the tips of my fingers tingled. Mother released a huff. I sat up straig
