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padding-top: 1px } + + .coverpage, .titlepage, + .contents, .foreword, .preface, .introduction, .dedication, .prologue, + .epilogue, .appendix, .glossary, .bibliography, .index, .colophon, + .footnotes, + .cleardoublepage { page-break-before: right; padding-top: 1px } + + .vfill { margin-top: 20% } + h2.title { margin-top: 20% } +} +</style> +<style type="text/css"> +.pageno { position: absolute; right: 95%; font: medium sans-serif; } +.pageno:after { color: gray; content: '[' attr(title) ']' } +.toc-pageref { float: right } +pre { font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.9em; white-space: pre-wrap } +</style> +</head> +<body> +<div>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 38834 ***</div> +<div class="document" id="the-twins-in-the-south"> +<h1 class="document-title level-1 pfirst title">THE TWINS IN THE SOUTH</h1> +</div> +<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> +</div> +<div class="container" id="pg-produced-by"> +<p class="noindent pfirst">Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at <a class="reference external" href="http://www.pgdp.net">http://www.pgdp.net</a>.</p> +<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> +</div> +</div> +</div> +<div class="container titlepage"> +<div class="align-center auto-scaled figure" style="margin-left: 29%; width: 42%" id="figure-6"> +<img style="display: block; margin-left: 12%; width: 75%" alt="images/cover.jpg" src="images/cover.jpg" width="75%"/> +</div> +</div> +<div class="container frontispiece"> +<div class="align-center auto-scaled figure" style="margin-left: 26%; width: 48%" id="figure-7"> +<img style="display: block; margin-left: 12%; width: 75%" alt="Janet and Phyllis looked at her with dangerously calm eyes" src="images/illus-fpc.jpg" width="75%"/> +<div class="caption italics"> +JANET AND PHYLLIS LOOKED AT HER WITH DANGEROUSLY CALM EYES</div> +</div> +</div> +<div class="center line-block noindent outermost"> +<div class="line"><span class="bold x-large">THE TWINS IN THE SOUTH</span></div> +<div class="line"> </div> +<div class="line"><cite class="italics">By</cite></div> +<div class="line"> </div> +<div class="line"><span class="large">DOROTHY WHITEHILL</span></div> +<div class="line"> </div> +<div class="line"> </div> +<div class="line"> </div> +<div class="line">PUBLISHERS</div> +<div class="line"> </div> +<div class="line">BARSE & HOPKINS</div> +<div class="line"> </div> +<div class="line">NEW YORK, N. Y., NEWARK, N. J.</div> +</div> +<div class="container verso"> +<div class="center line-block noindent outermost"> +<div class="line">Copyright, 1920</div> +<div class="line"> </div> +<div class="line">by</div> +<div class="line"> </div> +<div class="line">Barse & Hopkins</div> +<div class="line"> </div> +<div class="line">MADE IN U.S.A.</div> +</div> +</div> +<div class="contents level-2 section" id="id1"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title">Table of Contents</h2> +<ul class="compact simple toc-list"> +<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><span class="first"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#chapter-iwelcome-to-hilltop" id="id2">CHAPTER I—Welcome to Hilltop</a></span></li> +<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><span class="first"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#chapter-iischool-chatter" id="id3">CHAPTER II—School Chatter</a></span></li> +<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><span class="first"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#chapter-iiisally-arrives" id="id4">CHAPTER III—Sally Arrives</a></span></li> +<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><span class="first"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#chapter-ivthe-rivalry-of-the-wings" id="id5">CHAPTER IV—The Rivalry of the Wings</a></span></li> +<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><span class="first"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#chapter-va-fresh-freshman" id="id6">CHAPTER V—A Fresh Freshman</a></span></li> +<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><span class="first"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#chapter-via-squelching" id="id7">CHAPTER VI—A Squelching</a></span></li> +<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><span class="first"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#chapter-viipoetry-and-prose" id="id8">CHAPTER VII—Poetry and Prose</a></span></li> +<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><span class="first"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#chapter-viiimore-twins" id="id9">CHAPTER VIII—More Twins</a></span></li> +<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><span class="first"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#chapter-ixa-question-of-names" id="id10">CHAPTER IX—A Question of Names</a></span></li> +<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><span class="first"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#chapter-xthe-parrot-is-consulted" id="id11">CHAPTER X—The Parrot Is Consulted</a></span></li> +<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><span class="first"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#chapter-xithe-archery-contest" id="id12">CHAPTER XI—The Archery Contest</a></span></li> +<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><span class="first"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#chapter-xiijanet-to-the-rescue" id="id13">CHAPTER XII—Janet to the Rescue</a></span></li> +<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><span class="first"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#chapter-xiiidiverse-paths" id="id14">CHAPTER XIII—Diverse Paths</a></span></li> +<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><span class="first"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#chapter-xivthe-story-of-the-two-dogs" id="id15">CHAPTER XIV—The Story of the Two Dogs</a></span></li> +<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><span class="first"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#chapter-xvmaking-plans" id="id16">CHAPTER XV—Making Plans</a></span></li> +<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><span class="first"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#chapter-xvimore-plans-and-plots" id="id17">CHAPTER XVI—More Plans and Plots</a></span></li> +<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><span class="first"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#chapter-xviithe-tableaux" id="id18">CHAPTER XVII—The Tableaux</a></span></li> +<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><span class="first"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#chapter-xviiithe-elections" id="id19">CHAPTER XVIII—The Elections</a></span></li> +<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><span class="first"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#chapter-xixthe-tennis-games" id="id20">CHAPTER XIX—The Tennis Games</a></span></li> +<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><span class="first"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#chapter-xxthe-dramatic-club" id="id21">CHAPTER XX—The Dramatic Club</a></span></li> +<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><span class="first"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#chapter-xxiand-last" id="id22">CHAPTER XXI—And Last</a></span></li> +</ul> +</div> +<div class="center line-block noindent outermost"> +<div class="line"><span class="bold xx-large">The Twins in the South</span></div> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="chapter-iwelcome-to-hilltop"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref pginternal" href="#id2">CHAPTER I—Welcome to Hilltop</a></h2> +<p class="pfirst">“I always believe in separating sisters,” +Miss Hull made this astonishing announcement +with a gentle smile.</p> +<p class="pnext">Janet and Phyllis looked at each other, consternation +written large on their faces.</p> +<p class="pnext">“But Miss Hull——” Janet began.</p> +<p class="pnext">It was Phyllis who spoke with grown-up +assurance.</p> +<p class="pnext">“We couldn’t think of being separated, Miss +Hull,” she said, with one of her winning smiles. +“You see, we found each other only a little over +a year ago, and we’ve such a lot of time to make +up.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“But if you were separated you’d get to know +the girls so much better,” Miss Hull’s soft +Southern drawl protested. “I’ve planned for +each of you to room with an old girl. I’m sure +it’s the better way.”</p> +<p class="pnext">Miss Hull was an imperious woman, statuesque +in figure, a smooth level brow, flashing +dark eyes and a mass of wavy gray hair, piled +high on her head. When she said a thing she +expected instant submission. She was surprised +when Phyllis, still with her charming smile, but +with a note of firmness in her voice, replied:</p> +<p class="pnext">“But you see, Miss Hull, we should both be +very unhappy. We’re twins, you know, and +that makes a difference.”</p> +<p class="pnext">Miss Hull could not deny the note of decision +in her voice, and like all broad-minded and +imperious people, she admired anyone who had +those same qualities in common with her.</p> +<p class="pnext">She did not speak down to Phyllis, but rather +as to an equal, when she replied:</p> +<p class="pnext">“Very well, you will room together. I suppose +being twins does make a difference,” she +added laughingly.</p> +<p class="pnext">Phyllis thanked her, and with a maid to guide +them, they went upstairs to a big room, with long +French windows, one of which opened onto a +tiny balcony. They sat down in comfortable +wicker chairs and stared at each other.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Oh, Phyl, you are magnificent!” Janet exclaimed. +“I never was so petrified in my life. +Miss Hull is such a masterful sort of person +that she silenced me with a glance.”</p> +<p class="pnext">Phyllis tossed her head.</p> +<p class="pnext">“The person never lived that could silence +me,” she said vaingloriously. “But I don’t +think it was very nice of her to wait until Auntie +Mogs left and then try to separate us.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“We should have let Auntie Mogs stay at the +hotel for a day or two as she wanted to,” Janet +remarked thoughtfully.</p> +<p class="pnext">“No; that would have been a kiddish thing +to do; and after all, Jan., Miss Hull was really +doing what she thought was right. As soon as I +explained to her she was very nice about it. I +like her tremendously,” she said.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Well, I don’t,” Janet announced firmly. +“She tried to separate us.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“But she didn’t, dearest. It would take more +than Miss Hull to do that.” Phyllis laughed +into Janet’s serious eyes.</p> +<p class="pnext">The Page twins after a summer in Arizona +with their brother Tom, had come to Hilltop +school. Their aunt, Miss Carter, had brought +them from New York to the Virginia hills, but +had returned almost at once, for they had arrived +early that morning, and she had taken the afternoon +train for home. It was six o’clock now, +and from their window they could see the twilight +creeping closer to the great old trees that +grew in a thick protecting border around the +school.</p> +<p class="pnext">Hilltop was indeed well named. The white +colonial building crowned the hill, and a roadway, +straight as an arrow, and lined on either +side with tall interlacing elms, ran down the +gentle slope for a mile and a half until it joined +the highway in the valley.</p> +<p class="pnext">It had been a wonderful mansion in its day. +Now a new wing had been added on, and many +of the rooms had been divided and cut up into +smaller ones, but the outside of the house had +lost nothing of its old-world dignity and charm.</p> +<p class="pnext">Janet and Phyllis stood in the little balcony +and watched the shadows lengthen on the green +below. They had each other so they were not +unhappy, but the suggestion of a lump in their +throats made them think a little forlornly of +Auntie Mogs and the cheerful rooms of their +New York house.</p> +<p class="pnext">“I wish Sally would come,” Janet exclaimed. +“I simply can’t wait to see her.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Neither can I,” Phyllis agreed. “Just think, +we haven’t seen her since last Christmas.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“It was a shame Daphne couldn’t come down +with us, wasn’t it?”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Yes, in a way; but we’ll be acquainted by +the time she gets here, and that will be nice, too.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Still, it would have been fun to have her on +the train with us.”</p> +<p class="pnext">Sally Ladd and Daphne Hillis were old +friends of the twins. They had known them in +New York, and at Miss Harding’s school they +had been known as The Quartette. Sally had +come to Hiltop for the second term the year +before, and it was because of her glowing +accounts of boarding-school life that the other +three girls had decided to come this year.</p> +<p class="pnext">Sally had not come from New York with the +twins, as they had planned, because at the last +minute she had decided to visit a friend of hers +in Ohio. Her train was due at eight o’clock.</p> +<p class="pnext">A knock at the door brought the twins in +from the balcony.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Come in,” Janet called, and a tall, heavily-built +girl with red hair and spectacles entered +the room.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Aren’t you the Page twins?” she inquired +heartily.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Yes, we are,” Phyllis and Janet answered.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Well, Sally Ladd has talked so much about +you that I feel as if I’d known you all my life. +I’m Gwendolyn Matthews, otherwise known +as Gwen.” She held out a large hand covered +with golden freckles, and the twins shook it +gratefully.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Come along downstairs and be shown off. +The girls are dying to see you, for of course Sally +has told us the thrilling way you discovered each +other last year.”</p> +<p class="pnext">Phyllis and Janet followed her down the wide +red-carpeted hall to the floor below. They could +see the lights coming from a big room a little +way beyond, and hear a hubbub of voices.</p> +<p class="pnext">Janet had a sudden and overwhelming desire +to run, but Phyllis hurried forward eagerly. +Gwen pushed them both before her, and they +found themselves in an immense room, brightly +lighted by two crystal chandeliers. The ceiling +was painted with white clouds against a blue +sky, and fat little cupids danced or plied their +art with miniature bows and arrows. It was +the old ballroom untouched and still beautiful +after these long years.</p> +<p class="pnext">They had barely time to look about them +before Gwen held up an impressive hand and +announced in strident tones:</p> +<p class="pnext">“The Page Twins.”</p> +<p class="pnext">There was an instant hush of voices and the +girls looked at them curiously. A dark-haired, +blue-eyed girl, dressed in fluffy white, left the +group she had been talking to and came towards +them with outstretched hands.</p> +<p class="pnext">“I declare, Gwen, you are just a dreadful +tease.” Her delightful Southern drawl was +lazily good-natured.</p> +<p class="pnext">“How do you do? We’re mighty glad to +welcome you to Hilltop,” she said cordially.</p> +<p class="pnext">“That’s awfully sweet of you,” Phyllis smiled +winningly.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Thanks,” Janet mumbled.</p> +<p class="pnext">“My name is Hillory Lee, and I’m a Senior,” +she went on; but a rippling laugh interrupted +her.</p> +<p class="pnext">“A Senior, just one day old. Come now, +Poppy, don’t put on airs. You’re not old +enough.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“A dear little, new little, Senior, all filled up +with dignity,” another voice teased.</p> +<p class="pnext">Poppy—Hillory Lee was always called Poppy—led +the laugh that followed, and then suddenly +the girls gathered around the twins, introducing +themselves and talking with a fine disregard +of one another.</p> +<p class="pnext">The dinner gong silenced them, and out of +the confusion a double line formed down the +length of the room. Phyllis and Janet were +shown their places along with the rest of the +new girls.</p> +<p class="pnext">Poppy, as the president of the senior class, +stood on the top of the steps that led to a small +stage at the end of the room.</p> +<p class="pnext">“You all must come to order, and please go +down very quietly to the hall,” she said a little +shyly; but no one attempted to tease her. She +represented Hilltop as she stood on the stage, +and they one and all gave her instant obedience.</p> +<p class="pnext">The dining hall was under the ballroom of the +first floor. Deer heads decorated the wall, with +other trophies of the chase. A huge fireplace +ran along the side of one wall. The mantel was +filled with big silver loving cups.</p> +<p class="pnext">Janet and Phyllis were to learn their importance +in the life of the school as the year progressed. +Just at present they could not take in +details. They were too busy trying to sort their +first impressions.</p> +<p class="pnext">There were four long tables with twenty girls +and two teachers at each. The twelve seniors, +with Miss Hull, sat apart in state on a dais at +the end of the room. The tables were all narrow +and the high-backed oak chairs gave the room +the look of an old monastery.</p> +<p class="pnext">There was lots of talking at dinner. The +twins did not try to remember all of the girls’ +names, but three of them stood out as special +friends of Sally’s. One was Gladys Manners, +a rough-and-tumble sort of girl with mischievous +blue eyes, dark hair and a contagious giggle.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Do you know Aunt Jane’s poll-parrot?” she +asked at the beginning of the meal, and the twins +loved her at once.</p> +<p class="pnext">Prudence Standish—called Prue for brevity’s +sake—sat beside Janet, and she was so attentive +and thoughtful during the meal and so careful +to explain what the girls meant by their many +illusions of places and things that had happened +in the past, that the twins’ gratitude ripened into +a sincere liking before the meal was over.</p> +<p class="pnext">The third girl sat just across from Phyllis. +Her name was Ann Lourie. She hardly spoke +through the meal, but her quiet smile and the +humor that lay at the back of her hazel eyes +gave the twins the impression of a personality +worth cultivating.</p> +<p class="pnext">The teachers at the table were Miss Remsted +and Miss Jenks. They were both young and +full of fun, and the twins contrasted them with +the teachers at Miss Harding’s, to the latter’s +disadvantage.</p> +<p class="pnext">When dinner was over Miss Hull stood up.</p> +<p class="pnext">“You have nothing to do tonight, girls, but +get acquainted; and I want you to do that thoroughly. +Remember, every new girl must be +made to feel at home at Hilltop.”</p> +<p class="pnext">The bell tinkled, the lines formed, and the +girls marched back to the ballroom.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="chapter-iischool-chatter"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref pginternal" href="#id3">CHAPTER II—School Chatter</a></h2> +<p class="pfirst">It was not long after they had returned to the +ballroom until the twins found themselves in +the center of a group of laughing girls.</p> +<p class="pnext">“It would be a regular game,” Gladys Manners +announced.</p> +<p class="pnext">“What would?” Phyllis demanded.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Guessing which was which,” Gladys told her.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Oh, let’s try it,” half-a-dozen voices exclaimed.</p> +<p class="pnext">They put the twins side by side, and then the +girls took turns guessing. Between turns the +twins would change places, or remain where +they were.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Oh, this is too much!” Prue exclaimed, after +she had stared at them for a full minute. “I’m +dizzy with looking from one to the other of you, +but I’m blessed if I know which one I sat next +to at dinner.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“This is going to be too complicated. I vote +that we do something about it.” Ann Lourie +spoke with a Southern intonation, but it was +different from Miss Hull’s speech and Poppy’s +lazy drawl. She came from New Orleans, +which accounted for the difference.</p> +<p class="pnext">“What are you all doing?” Poppy, with her +arm around Gwen’s broad shoulders, joined +them.</p> +<p class="pnext">“We’re playing a new game,” Gladys announced. +“It’s called ‘Guessing the Twins.’”</p> +<p class="pnext">“You’re it, Poppy,” Prue laughed. “See if +you can do it.”</p> +<p class="pnext">Poppy tried. The twins looked up at her +provokingly. Their soft brown hair waved back +from their forehead with almost identical curls. +Their heads, exactly the same oval shape, were +pressed close together. Their red lips each +smiled a twisted smile, and their golden-brown +eyes, so like the color of autumn leaves, danced +mischievously.</p> +<p class="pnext">“I declare to goodness there isn’t anybody on +earth that can tell you two apart,” Poppy +laughed.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Oh, but there are!” Phyllis told them. “Sally +never gets us mixed up.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Oh, that’s easy to understand,” Gwen remarked. +“Sally just asks Aunt Jane’s poll-parrot +which is which, and that bird, you know, can +tell her anything.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Just the same, it’s going to be complicating,” +Ann repeated, “and I suggest that we make one +of them wear something to distinguish her from +the other. It need only be something tiny, just +big enough for our select group,” her eyes +travelled from Prue to Gladys and to Poppy and +Gwen.</p> +<p class="pnext">“That’s a mighty good idea of yours, Ann, +and as representatives of the senior class”—Gwen +was captain of sports—“we endorse it.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“The question is, what shall it be?” Prue inquired.</p> +<p class="pnext">“I know.” Gladys unpinned a tiny little gold +pin that she was wearing. It was the shape of +the crescent moon, and was no bigger than a +good sized pea.</p> +<p class="pnext">“It’s an old class pin I had years ago when +I went to day school. I don’t know what possessed +me to put it on yesterday when I left +home——”</p> +<p class="pnext">“I do,” Prue interrupted. “You had a snapper +off, and you thought that would show less than +an ordinary pin.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Untidy little wretch you are,” Ann agreed.</p> +<p class="pnext">The rest looked at Gladys’ cuff and, sure +enough, there was a snapper off. Gladys, under +their laughing scrutiny, was no whit embarrassed.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Course I’m untidy,” she agreed; “that’s +because I’m an artist, and it’s being done this +year. You couldn’t expect me to be as neat as +Prue, the immaculate.”</p> +<p class="pnext">Prue laughed good-naturedly. “Meaning I +am not an artist,” she remarked. “Well, nobody +will dispute that with you, least of all Miss Remsted.”</p> +<p class="pnext">The rest of the old girls laughed as at some +well known joke and the twins smiled in sympathy.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Prue tried to have a crush on Miss Remsted +last year,” Poppy explained. “We don’t encourage +them—crushes, I mean—at Hilltop, +but Prue is stubborn—comes from New England, +you know, where the word was coined—and +she would have a crush in spite of the fact +that she had been here two years and knew that +we would have to take drastic steps to cure her.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“You did and I’m cured; can’t we spare +them the harrowing details?” Prue protested.</p> +<p class="pnext">“No; it may be a lesson they’ll need, and +besides, Poppy loves to point a moral,” Gwen +remarked. “Go on, Poppy; let’s hear the awful +end.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“It’s coming; just you listen.” Poppy directed +her story to the twins. “Prue suddenly decided, +about the middle of the term, that she was a +budding young artist and that all she needed +was a little special instruction, so she went to +Miss Hull and got permission to take special +art. Then she went to Miss Remsted——.” +Poppy paused to chuckle in anticipation.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Miss Remsted told her to bring her her best +sketch,” she continued. “Now, Prue had never +made a sketch in her life, but she reckoned it +would be easy enough.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Prue’s a futurist,” Gwen interrupted.</p> +<p class="pnext">“So she about made up her mind to draw an +animal. What made you choose something that +was living, Prue? I never did understand.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Then you never will, because I’m not going +to tell you,” Prue replied airily.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Oh, but I am,” Ann smiled reminiscently. +“The day before she did the sketch she came to +me and asked me if a great many artists hadn’t +made their start by drawing pictures of animals. +I thought for a minute and then——”</p> +<p class="pnext">“To show off the knowledge that you haven’t +got”—Gladys took up the story—“you casually +mentioned Rosa Bonheur, and Prue went +straight to her desk and——” She turned to +Poppy.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Drew—I mean sketched—the gardener’s +watch dog,” Poppy went on. “He was a nice +dog, but not very sketchable. You all know how +dogs will jump ’round, so you can’t blame Prue +for what happened. She finished the sketch and +took it to Miss Remsted.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“I did not, I <em class="italics">left</em> it for her in the studio,” +Prue corrected.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Left it; excuse me, I stand corrected,” Poppy +continued. “History does not repeat just what +Miss Remsted said or did, but when Prue went +to her desk next morning she found her dog with +this little note pinned to his tail—not literally, +you understand, but figuratively: ‘Prue, dear; +it’s a very nice little rabbit, but it’s a pity he has +the mumps.’”</p> +<p class="pnext">The laugh that followed was led by Prue. +The twins exchanged glances. They were both +thinking how very differently some of the girls +at Miss Harding’s would have taken such +teasing.</p> +<p class="pnext">Phyllis always liked and was liked by girls, +so she gave the matter less consideration than +Janet. Janet’s heart glowed; here were the +kinds of girls that she had dreamed about. Their +teasing stopped before it became unkind. Their +laughter held no hint of derision; and, above all, +she was conscious of the feeling of fellowship +and understanding that existed between them. +She found herself wishing that she could be the +brunt of their teasing, for somehow, she felt +that in that way only could she be admitted to +the happy sisterhood.</p> +<p class="pnext">“There’s a strong bond between sister classes +at Hilltop,” Gladys was explaining. “That’s +the reason that Gwen and Poppy prefer to talk +to us, who are only Sophomores, instead of +joining that group of important-looking Juniors +over there.” She pointed to half-a-dozen girls a +little older than the twins who were laughing +and joking at the other side of the room.</p> +<p class="pnext">“They’ll adopt the Freshmen and make them +behave,” Prue exclaimed.</p> +<p class="pnext">“While it is the Senior’s painful duty to see +that our class keeps out of mischief,” Gladys +laughed.</p> +<p class="pnext">The twins smiled. They liked the way these +girls finished each other’s sentences and interrupted +each other without giving and taking +offence.</p> +<p class="pnext">Ann looked up at the clock—a grandfather +one—which stood in the corner of the big room +and chimed out the hours drowsily.</p> +<p class="pnext">“’Most time for Sally to come,” she announced. +“Let’s go and watch for her.”</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="chapter-iiisally-arrives"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref pginternal" href="#id4">CHAPTER III—Sally Arrives</a></h2> +<p class="pfirst">“May we go to the senior’s retreat, +Poppy?” Gladys asked. “Your balcony +is such a dandy place to watch +the road from.”</p> +<p class="pnext">Once more the twins felt a little tremble of +pleasure. Although the girls were the best of +friends in spite of the difference in their ages, +the Sophomores as a class never failed in their +respect to the Seniors.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Yes, come along; we’ll go with you,” Poppy +replied.</p> +<p class="pnext">“I’d like to get the first look at Sally myself,” +Gwen added. “I hope she hasn’t forgotten to +bring Aunt Jane’s Poll-parrot.”</p> +<p class="pnext">They left the ballroom and walked down the +broad hall all arm-in-arm.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Seniors all busy tonight, the lights are not +lit,” Prue remarked as they entered a dark room. +Gwen switched on the lights and the twins found +themselves in what seemed to be a delightful +chintz lined nook.</p> +<p class="pnext">It was a small room directly over the front +door. The two-story piazza, with its enormous +pillars, enclosed the balcony that led from it +through long French windows.</p> +<p class="pnext">“This is the Seniors’ Sanctum Sanctorum,” +Prue explained. “When the cares of school +government grow too much for them they come +in here to rest.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“It is also the chamber of horrors on occasion,” +Gladys added. “Just wait until you’ve +done something bad, and Poppy calls you in to +give you a racking over the coals.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Why, Gladys; what do you mean by talking +like that?” Poppy protested mildly. “I just +never could be severe, and I don’t expect to have +to be either; especially,” she added seriously, +“to any girl in my sister class.”</p> +<p class="pnext">Prue and Gladys and Ann nodded approval.</p> +<p class="pnext">“We’ll be good,” Ann said seriously. “We +want to give you all the help possible.”</p> +<p class="pnext">Once more the twins felt a little glow of +thankfulness around their hearts.</p> +<p class="pnext">The sound of carriage wheels took them all to +the balcony.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Sally!” Gladys exclaimed; and with one +accord they rushed down the stairs and out to +the front porch.</p> +<p class="pnext">Long before the carriage reached the steps, +Sally was out of it. She rumbled to the ground +and ran towards them, her black bag knocking +against her knees.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Where are my twins?” she demanded breathlessly.</p> +<p class="pnext">Janet and Phyllis almost smothered her in the +warmth of their embrace.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Oh, Sally, you old darling!” Phyllis exclaimed. +“You look so wonderfully natural that +I could eat you up for sheer joy.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“We thought you’d never get here, and we +missed you on the train like everything,” Janet +said.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Hello, Sally; it’s great to have you back,” +Gladys shook hands heartily.</p> +<p class="pnext">“How’s Aunt Jane’s Poll-parrot?” Gwen inquired. +“My, how I missed that bird this summer!”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Well, and wiser than ever,” Sally laughed +as she held out her hand to Poppy.</p> +<p class="pnext">“It’s mighty nice to have you back, Sally,” +Poppy smiled affectionately.</p> +<p class="pnext">“We room together until your friend Daphne +comes,” Prue told her.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Good work. Hello, Ann; what are you +lurking in the shadows for?” Sally demanded.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Oh, I never rush, even to say how do you do +to my best friend. I much prefer to be the last +on the list. Did you have a good summer?”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Oh, wonderful!” Sally enthused. “Alice’s +family were awfully nice to me, and I had a +glorious time.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“It’s too bad Alice isn’t coming back,” Gladys +exclaimed. “I’m going to miss her frightfully.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“I know, but she really isn’t well enough. Why +girls, she’s lost pounds,” Sally replied. Alice +Bard was a girl Sally had been visiting. +She had been to Hilltop for three years, but +was unable to return on account of ill-health.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Well, come along; let’s go in,” Prue suggested. +“After all, we’re not the only ones that +want to see Sally.”</p> +<p class="pnext">They followed into the house, and Sally, after +she had said “how do you do” to Miss Hull, +rejoined them and they went on up to the ballroom. +A shout went up from the girls as they +saw her coming, and she shook hands until the +silence bell sounded.</p> +<p class="pnext">“That’s the trouble,” Sally protested. “We +no sooner get talking when that old bell rings. +There are loads of girls I haven’t even had a +chance to speak to yet.”</p> +<p class="pnext">The room emptied in a minute and the +twins, with Sally between them, went upstairs.</p> +<p class="pnext">“I can’t come in and talk to you, because +there’s no visiting after hours, but I’ll see you +bright and early in the morning,” Sally promised. +“You’re not homesick, are you?”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Homesick! I should say not,” Phyllis protested. +“I’m so excited I’m ready to die, and +now that you’re here it’s simply perfect.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“I never knew there were so many nice girls +in the world,” Janet exclaimed. “It’s going to +be wonderful, and won’t it be fun having +Daphne come?”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Indeed it will; the old quartette together +again,” Sally agreed. “But I’ve got to fly now +or I’ll be caught, and that will never do on the +first night back.”</p> +<p class="pnext">They parted, Janet and Phyllis, in their own +room with the door closed, stood in the middle +of the floor trying to decide why they were so +happy.</p> +<p class="pnext">“It’s wonderful, isn’t it?” Phyllis began.</p> +<p class="pnext">“It’s just like a wonderful dream,” Janet +agreed.</p> +<p class="pnext">“It’s nice to have Sally back, isn’t it?”</p> +<p class="pnext">“You bet.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“And I love Ann.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“So do I, the best of all.”</p> +<p class="pnext">They undressed slowly.</p> +<p class="pnext">“You honestly like it, Jan?” Phyllis inquired +anxiously, after the lights were out, and they +were both in their single white beds.</p> +<p class="pnext">Janet’s hand found Phyllis’s.</p> +<p class="pnext">“I do honestly,” she replied seriously. +“There’s something about their spirit, the nice +way they tease,” she added.</p> +<p class="pnext">“And that sort of understood respect they give +the Seniors,” Phyllis replied. “It’s all so nice +and—and—oh, I can’t think of the word I +want.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“I can; it’s <em class="italics">happy</em>,” Janet told her.</p> +<p class="pnext">They were quiet for a few minutes, and then +Janet suddenly sat up in bed.</p> +<p class="pnext">“But how awful it would have been if Miss +Hull had separated us,” she said in the darkness.</p> +<p class="pnext">“She couldn’t have done that. No one ever +can,” Phyllis replied very positively, but very +sleepily.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Never!”</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="chapter-ivthe-rivalry-of-the-wings"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref pginternal" href="#id5">CHAPTER IV—The Rivalry of the Wings</a></h2> +<p class="pfirst">“All aboard for the grand tour of inspection,” +Gladys announced.</p> +<p class="pnext">School for the day was over. All +through a confusing morning the twins +had been shown from one classroom to another +where they had met their teachers. There had +been no attempt at lessons, but the girls had been +encouraged to talk and give their opinions on +the different studies. As a result of this, some +shifting had been necessary. In English, one of +the new girls named Ethel Rivers had been +dropped to the class below. Because from her +hasty remarks it was easy to see that she knew +very little of literature. She protested, but Miss +Slocum stood firm. The twins acquitted themselves +well. They sat together and none of the +teachers could tell them apart, for they did not +know about the tiny crescent pin that Phyllis +was faithfully wearing. But unlike Miss Baxter +at Miss Harding’s school, the faculty at Hilltop +rather enjoyed their own confusion.</p> +<p class="pnext">Now they were free for the day, and Sally +with the able assistance of Prue and Gladys was +waiting to show the twins over the school and +the grounds.</p> +<p class="pnext">“You’ve seen the classroom,” Sally began, +“and you know about the assembly hall.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Oh, Sally, if you’re not going to do better +than that I’m going to play guide,” Gladys protested. +“The idea of calling a ballroom the assembly +hall! It loses all its romance.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“And besides, Miss Hull doesn’t like it,” +Prue added.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Why?” Phyllis inquired.</p> +<p class="pnext">Sally waved her hand at Gladys as if she were +introducing a speaker.</p> +<p class="pnext">“You tell it, Glad, and then we’ll be sure to +be amused.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“I accept the nomination, and I will do my +best for the people under my care,” Gladys said +grandly.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Well, do start with the explanation of the ball +room,” Janet begged. “I’m so curious.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“That means the history of Hilltop, but I’ll +do my best,” Gladys replied, and began:</p> +<p class="pnext">“Fifty years ago, Colonel Hull lived in this +house. He had lots of money and he lived like +a king. He was famous throughout the countryside +for his wonderful hunting, but, if you just +go on spending money and never do anything to +make it, it doesn’t last forever, so when Colonel +Hull died and Miss Hull’s father had the house, +he found he didn’t have any money to run it +with. So for a long time Miss Hull and her +father and mother lived in the old wing and +were terribly poor.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Then her parents died and the house was +Miss Hull’s, but still there wasn’t any money. +All her friends wanted her to sell it, but she +wouldn’t do it. There had been six generations +of Hulls on this place, and she wasn’t going to +let her ancestors up in heaven see her beaten by +a little thing like no money.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Oh, Glad!” Sally and Prue protested.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Well, she wasn’t,” Gladys persisted. “Maybe +that’s not a very elegant way of putting it, but +it’s exactly as it was. She wouldn’t admit she +was beaten, and, of course, she wasn’t.</p> +<p class="pnext">“She got together with some teachers that +she knew and she started Hilltop. She started +with ten pupils, and now I wish you’d look at +us. We’re the most wonderful school in the +country.”</p> +<p class="pnext">Gladys finished as though she were closing a +speech to the Senate.</p> +<p class="pnext">“But what about the ballroom?” Janet insisted.</p> +<p class="pnext">“I’m coming to that, if you have a little patience,” +Gladys told her.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Miss Hull remembered her grandfather, +and she remembered how he liked to have the +rooms called by their special name, so she goes +on calling them the same and so you see, instead +of having lectures in an assembly hall, like +everybody else, we have them in a real ballroom, +that’s the most beautiful room in the state.</p> +<p class="pnext">“That’s why we call it the ballroom still, and +why we call the dining room the hall, why Miss +Hull’s room is the boudoir instead of an office, +and why we have history in the library instead +of a classroom. You see, it gives us an advantage +over other schools, makes Hilltop original +instead of an ordinary boarding school.”</p> +<p class="pnext">Gladys paused, and looked at her listeners +for appreciation.</p> +<p class="pnext">The twins sighed. “It’s just wonderful!” +Janet said.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Why it makes you think you’re living in the +time of white wigs and patches,” Phyllis whispered, +looking about her as though she expected +to see Colonel Hull walk through one of the +heavy oak doors, ready for a day with the +hounds.</p> +<p class="pnext">Janet’s eyes held the look of dreamy speculation +that had so often filled them when she was +reading old-world stories in her Enchanted +Kingdom.</p> +<p class="pnext">Gladys had dropped her mocking tone as the +story unfolded. The realest love in her life was +Hilltop, and she loved to talk about it. She saw +the look in the twins’ eyes that she had hoped to +see, and she smiled contentedly.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Now, ladies and gentlemen, step this way if +you please,” she went on with a return to her +laughing manner. “We will now learn something +of the present history of the school. We +are now in the old building and, I might add, +the only building to live in, but observe this +green baize door. It leads to what is commonly +called the new wing.”</p> +<p class="pnext">She pushed it open with a contemptuous push, +and they found themselves in a spick-and-span +corridor of white woodwork and gleaming mahogany +doors. In comparison to the old and +stately paneled walls of the old building it +seemed new indeed.</p> +<p class="pnext">Several girls that the twins recognized came +out of one of the rooms and stopped in mock surprise.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Why, Gladys! Why, Prue! Why, Sally!” +Louise Brown, a tall and lanky girl, and one of +their own classmates, exclaimed. “Is it possible +that you’ve come for a breath of fresh air to our +light and sunny abode, after the mouldy shadows +of yours?” she asked, smiling sweetly.</p> +<p class="pnext">Gladys sighed, but it was Sally who answered.</p> +<p class="pnext">“No,” she said in a bored tone, “we are simply +showing Janet and Phyllis what to avoid in +the future.”</p> +<p class="pnext">The other girls laughed good-naturedly.</p> +<p class="pnext">“That’s one on you, Sally,” Louise admitted, +and one of the other girls exclaimed:</p> +<p class="pnext">“Long live the rivalry between the old and +the new at Hilltop!”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Well, anyway, now that you’re here, come +on into my room, I’ve got a whale of a box of +candy,” little Kitty Joyce invited.</p> +<p class="pnext">When they were all seated in her dainty +room, Phyllis said, shyly:</p> +<p class="pnext">“I wish somebody would explain to me about +this rivalry; I don’t understand.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“I’ll explain!” Louise jumped up and stood +in the middle of the floor, her hands behind her +back.</p> +<p class="pnext">“We are two distinct and separate wings,” she +began, “and we represent the old and the new. +For some reason that nobody will ever understand, +a spirit of rivalry started between the +two years ago, when we were very new. Now +it is an established fact. We fight in games, in +art and in lessons for the glory of our wings, and +even at the risk of being rude,” she added with a +little twinkle in her eye, “I’m going to state +last year our house won everything.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Everything but archery, history, composition +and dramatics,” Prue reminded her gravely.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Oh, pouf!” Kitty laughed. “Those don’t +count. We won the tennis cup, the running cup, +the art prize, for sculpture and painting.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“That was last year,” said Sally severely.</p> +<p class="pnext">They munched the candy for a while in silence, +and then Kitty said slowly:</p> +<p class="pnext">“Funny thing the way the wings feel about +each other. Why, look at you, Sally. You were +awfully good friends with Alice Bard, and she +was a new wing girl....”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Well, for that matter, take us here today,” +Louise put in. “We’re really the best of friends, +and yet—”</p> +<p class="pnext">“And yet there’s a difference. It’s rather like +two brothers who go to different colleges. They +love each other, but they love their colleges +too.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“All very well,” said Gladys, “but the truth +of the matter is that both wings enjoy the spirit +of competition. It gives us something to think +about and work for.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“But you’re so good-natured about it,” Janet +said wonderingly.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Of course we are,” Sally replied. “Whoever +heard of two basketball teams really disliking +each other, and yet they’ll fight tooth and nail +for a cup.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“A cup that they really don’t want, either, except +for what it stands for,” Gladys added with +a little laugh.</p> +<p class="pnext">Kitty threw up her two little hands in mock +despair.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Mercy on us. We are getting in deep. I +vote we have some more chocolates.”</p> +<p class="pnext">The girls returned to the candy box with renewed +interest and for the time being the subject +of the wings was dropped, but not before +the twins had grasped the exact nature of the +rivalry.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="chapter-va-fresh-freshman"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref pginternal" href="#id6">CHAPTER V—A Fresh Freshman</a></h2> +<p class="pfirst">“Something’s got to be done about +that little Ethel Rivers.”</p> +<p class="pnext">Sally sat down in the big tufted +chair in the twins’ room, and made +the announcement with a positiveness that left +no room for doubt.</p> +<p class="pnext">“What’s she been doing now?” Phyllis +laughed.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Why, Prue and I met her in the hall and she +walked past us with her nose in the air. Prue +stopped her and asked her where she was going, +and what do you think she said?”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Can’t imagine,” Janet shook her head. “Tell +us.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“She said she was hurrying back to the new +wing for a breath of clean air.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Impertinent infant,” Ann drawled lazily. +She was lying on the foot of Janet’s bed, almost +asleep. “It wouldn’t have been nearly so bad +if she said fresh, but clean is really outrageous.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“But of course she didn’t mean it,” Phyllis +said.</p> +<p class="pnext">“That’s the funny part of it,” Prue came in +from the balcony and stood in the doorway, blotting +out the light. “She really did mean it. +She’s taken the rivalry of the wings as a deadly +serious thing.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Being entirely without a sense of humor, she +would,” Sally said crossly. “Remember Mary +Marble last year? I was only a new girl, but I +saw something was going to happen.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“It did. Our little Mary returned not this +year.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“What was the matter with Mary?” Phyllis +inquired.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Didn’t fit,” Sally replied shortly, and dismissed +the subject.</p> +<p class="pnext">There was a knock on the door and Gladys, +too impatient to wait for Janet’s “Come in,” +opened it. By the expression on her face, all +the girls knew that something was the matter; +even Ann sat up and looked surprised.</p> +<p class="pnext">“What’s wrong, Gladys?” she demanded.</p> +<p class="pnext">Gladys stood with her back to the door, her +hand still on the knob.</p> +<p class="pnext">“The trouble,” she said impressively, “is +Ethel Rivers.”</p> +<p class="pnext">Sally groaned. “What next?” she inquired.</p> +<p class="pnext">“She put a sign up on the green door, requesting +the occupants of our wing to be sure and +keep it closed, so as not to let in any of the stale +air.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Oh, that’s too much,” Prue said indignantly.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Just like her,” Ann replied with a shrug. +“What did you do about it, Glad?”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Didn’t have to do anything. Poppy and +Gwen came along just then and read it. Poppy +said, ‘I declare, that’s no nice way to act,’ and +Gwen settled the whole matter with ‘Very bad +manners for one so young.’”</p> +<p class="pnext">The girls laughed a relieved sort of a laugh. +The Seniors had the affair in hand, and Hilltop +looked from year to year to that little group of +girls to straighten out all their difficulties.</p> +<p class="pnext">Another knock sounded on the door. Gladys +opened it, and one of the younger children +handed her a note. She opened it and read:</p> +<blockquote><div> +<p class="pfirst">“Dear Glad:</p> +<p class="pnext">Find Ann and Prue and Sally, and come +down to the Seniors’ Retreat. We think you +are better able to deal with the affair of +Ethel Rivers than we are.</p> +<p class="pnext">If we give her impertinence special notice, +it will be putting too much importance +to the whole silly thing.</p> +<div class="line-block noindent outermost right"> +<div class="line">Yours,</div> +<div class="line">—— Poppy.”</div> +</div> +</div></blockquote> +<p class="pfirst">The girls jumped up quickly as Gladys finished +reading the note aloud.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Better go right away,” Prue said. “They’re +waiting.”</p> +<p class="pnext">The rest followed her out of the room.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Meet you down on the front steps later,” +Sally called back over her shoulder, and the +twins were alone.</p> +<p class="pnext">Two weeks had passed since the opening of +school, but although Janet and Phyllis felt perfectly +at home in their new surroundings, the +life at Hilltop had never for a second become +monotonous. Every day they had found some +fresh interest, and they were beginning to understand +that apart from lessons every girl had +a big responsibility towards the school.</p> +<p class="pnext">“What a perfectly silly way for that girl to +act!” Janet exclaimed. “I’d like to box her +ears.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“So would I,” Phyllis agreed. “Come along; +let’s go down and wait for Sally.”</p> +<p class="pnext">They went downstairs arm in arm and across +the broad piazza. Phyllis sat down with her +back against one of the big pillars, and Janet +stood on the top step.</p> +<p class="pnext">The close-cropped green lawn fell away from +the house in a gracious slope to meet a fringe +of trees that deepened into a woods at all sides. +The tennis courts were visible far away to the +right. They were filled with girls, and in the +quiet of the late afternoon their voices floated +laughing on the breeze. To the left the archery +target blazed in its fresh coat of bright colors.</p> +<p class="pnext">Archery was the chief sport of Hilltop. Each +year teams were chosen from both wings, and +on Archery Day the big silver loving cup was +engraved with the name of the girl who made +the highest score; then it was replaced in the +center of the mantel-piece in the hall to await +the next year.</p> +<p class="pnext">Archery Day came at the end of the term, +and, although the days before and after it were +filled with tennis matches, basketball, and running, +it stood out in importance above them all.</p> +<p class="pnext">The tryout for possible candidates was to take +place the following week. The girls in the four +upper classes shot five arrows, and the committee +comprised with the Senior class and the faculty +judged. Those selected worked hard and +practiced, and just before the Christmas holidays +the teams were chosen.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Did you ever shoot a bow and arrow, Jan?” +Phyllis inquired.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Loads of them,” Janet replied. “Harry +Waters used to make them for me. Little short +ones made from the branches of trees, and arrows +with a pin in the end of them. Harry was +very good at it, but I was terribly clumsy.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“I don’t believe it,” Phyllis protested; “you +have a straight eye anyway. Look at the way +you shot Sulky Prescott’s gun last summer.”</p> +<p class="pnext">Janet gave a little shiver and looked long and +earnestly at the target.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Don’t talk about it,” she said. “I’ll tell you +a secret Phyl. I’ll die of mortification if I don’t +make some sort of a score next week.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“That’s no secret,” Phyllis laughed affectionately. +“If you could have seen your eyes when +Gwen was talking about the contest; they were +as big as saucers.”</p> +<p class="pnext">Janet flushed a little. “It’s a good thing the +rest of the girls don’t know me as well as you +do,” she said.</p> +<p class="pnext">“That’s because I’m your twin. Oh, Jan, if +you knew how I love to say that,” Phyllis said +seriously.</p> +<p class="pnext">“I know,” Janet nodded. “I’m still afraid +sometimes that I’ll wake up and find it’s all been +a dream.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Hush,” Phyllis cautioned suddenly. “Here +comes Ethel.”</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="chapter-via-squelching"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref pginternal" href="#id7">CHAPTER VI—A Squelching</a></h2> +<p class="pfirst">Upstairs in the Seniors’ Retreat the +girls were talking seriously.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Of course, she deserves to be called +down in front of the whole school,” +Helen Jenkins, a very severe type of girl with +big horn-rimmed spectacles, was saying. She +was the editor of the school paper, and the most +studious girl in the school.</p> +<p class="pnext">“But, as Poppy says, it’s never wise to attach +too much importance to the mistakes of a new +girl,” Marion West, vice-president of the class, +replied.</p> +<p class="pnext">Poppy looked at the three Sophomores before +her.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Have you all any suggestions?” she inquired.</p> +<p class="pnext">Gladys and Sally looked at Ann.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Perhaps a gentle little boycott might help,” +she suggested quietly.</p> +<p class="pnext">“It’s just as hard on our wing, if not worse, +than it is on yours,” Stella Richardson, one of +the Seniors who lived in the new wing, spoke +up. “There isn’t one of us who wouldn’t gladly +drown the little wretch, and the trouble is, she’s +gotten some of the new girls and talked to them +until they feel it’s a positive virtue to be rude +every time they see one of you.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Oh, it’s all too nonsensical,” Gwen exploded. +“Good old wings, who dares to take our happy +fight and make an ugly thing out of it?”</p> +<p class="pnext">“My thumbs are down for anyone who dares,” +Ruth Hall announced. She roomed in the new +wing with Stella Richardson.</p> +<p class="pnext">Gwendolyn Matthews might have been said +to have snorted with rage. She was a splendid +healthy specimen of girlhood; a mind capable +of small and mean thoughts was beneath her +contempt. She walked out on the balcony, her +back to the rest of the room.</p> +<p class="pnext">A minute later she beckoned cautiously to the +girls to follow her. They crowded out on the +balcony on tip-toe and peered down as Gwen +directed.</p> +<p class="pnext">Just below them, sitting on the steps, were +Janet and Phyllis. Ethel stood beside them. +She was talking in a loud and excited way and +the girls listened.</p> +<p class="pnext">“I should think you’d want to get out of the +damp old hole,” she was saying. “There’s an +extra room in our corridor.”</p> +<p class="pnext">Janet and Phyllis looked at her with dangerously +calm eyes.</p> +<p class="pnext">“We’ve by far the finest bunch of girls in our +wing,” she continued. “We’re going to take +everything away from you this year.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Indeed!” Janet said quietly.</p> +<p class="pnext">“May I inquire how long you’ve been at Hilltop?” +Phyllis asked politely.</p> +<p class="pnext">A smile ran around the group of faces watching +from the balcony above.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Oh, I’m a new girl,” Ethel replied rather +flatly.</p> +<p class="pnext">“You’d never guess it,” Janet said with so +much scorn that Gwen almost laughed, and +Sally did, but the three on the piazza below +were too intent to look up.</p> +<p class="pnext">“I think the new girls ought to stick together,” +Ethel announced. “Of course, if you still persist +in living in the old wing, why the fight’s on, +but I rather hoped you’d come over to us.”</p> +<p class="pnext">Phyllis stood up. She was taller than the +other girl, and she looked straight down into +her pale blue eyes.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Pardon me,” she said, “but there is no fight +on at all. As a new girl, neither I nor my twin +would presume to act as you advise.” She sat +down again, with her back towards Ethel.</p> +<p class="pnext">Janet did not bother to stand when she said +what she had to say.</p> +<p class="pnext">“We saw the sign you put up on the green +door, and as new girls we are thoroughly disgusted +with you. If we banded together, it +would be to show you your proper place.” Janet +did not raise her voice as she spoke, and when +she had finished she looked out over the green +lawns as though the sight gave her pleasure after +Ethel’s sour face.</p> +<p class="pnext">“It might be well for you to remember,” +Phyllis spoke as though her thoughts came from +a long distance, “that though we are two separate +wings, we are both a part of Hilltop, and +though we each give the best that is in us, it is +that Hilltop may soar the higher—not as you +seem to think it is, for any individual and mean +advantage.”</p> +<p class="pnext">The girls on the balcony looked at one another, +speechless with admiration and delight.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Oh, well said!” Alice whispered.</p> +<p class="pnext">Gwen and Stella hugged each other and +Gladys danced a little jig.</p> +<p class="pnext">“I declare, I love those children!” Poppy exclaimed.</p> +<p class="pnext">“They’re <em class="italics">my</em> twins, I’d have you remember,” +Sally exulted.</p> +<p class="pnext">They looked back again to the piazza. Ethel +had gone and the twins were strolling arm-in-arm +over the green lawn.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="chapter-viipoetry-and-prose"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref pginternal" href="#id8">CHAPTER VII—Poetry and Prose</a></h2> +<p class="pfirst">Janet ran down the hall, waving a letter +over her head.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Sally, Phyllis, where are you?” she +called.</p> +<p class="pnext">The door of Sally’s room opened, and Prue +came out carrying a drawer piled high with +clothes.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Hello there!” she called. “Come and help +me move.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Oh, then you know Daphne is coming? I +just had a letter from her and I’m trying to find +Sally and Phyllis,” Janet replied, taking one end +of the heavy drawer.</p> +<p class="pnext">“You’ll find them all in there.” Prue nodded +her head towards the door she had just left. +“They are stuffing my peanut butter, eating my +crackers and making fun of my poetry.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Why, Prue, I didn’t know you wrote,” Janet +exclaimed.</p> +<p class="pnext">“I don’t,” Prue told her; “that is, not for publication, +but every once in a while I put things +down on paper and somehow or other they +rhyme.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Why didn’t you show me any of them?”</p> +<p class="pnext">“They weren’t good enough. I’d never have +let those wild Indians see them. Just as I was +packing, my notebook fell out of my desk, and +a lot of papers I had in it, scattered to the floor. +And, of course, Sally pounced on them.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Poor Prue,” Janet sympathized.</p> +<p class="pnext">They were walking slowly down the hall +carrying the drawer between them.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Oh, that’s not the worst of it; as I told you, +they are eating my food and laughing at my +most beautiful thoughts, and to think I’m going +to room with Glad and Ann. I suppose I’ll +have no peace.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Better start writing poetry about them and +their pet failings,” Janet suggested. “If you +wrote an ode to the freckles on Glad’s nose, she’d +probably keep very still in the future.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Oh, good idea! I’ll do that very thing!” +Prue exclaimed.</p> +<p class="pnext">They reached the room at the end of the hall +and Prue paused to open the door.</p> +<p class="pnext">“The Countess’s Room,” she announced.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Oh, what a nice name. I didn’t know you +called it that.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“We don’t, but Miss Hull does,” Prue corrected. +“You see the beautiful Countess de +Something Something, Camier, I think it was, +came to visit Colonel Hull, and she had this +room; so it’s been called her room ever since.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Oh, I think that’s awfully nice; Phyllis will +be crazy about it. Wonder who slept in our +room?”</p> +<p class="pnext">Janet looked around the big room with interest. +It was plenty large enough to accommodate +three beds. Two of them were cots, the +third was an enormous four-poster. It looked +worthy indeed to be the couch of a Countess. +She was so busy exclaiming over the tester, with +its glazed chintz ruffle, that she did not see the +sudden gleam in Prue’s eye. She even forgot +to make any more inquiries about the possible +celebrity that had slept in her own room.</p> +<p class="pnext">They dumped the contents of the drawer onto +the bed and then carried it empty back to Sally’s +room.</p> +<p class="pnext">As they paused at the door, a shout of laughter +greeted them, and they heard Glad exclaim:</p> +<p class="pnext">“Oh, do listen to this,” she cried: “‘The +smoky darkness of a rich Egyptian night.’”</p> +<p class="pnext">Prue walked into the room, followed by Janet.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Prue, dear, didn’t you mean a Pittsburgh +night?” Ann asked provokingly as she finished +spreading a cracker with as much peanut butter +as it could hold.</p> +<p class="pnext">Prue did not deign a reply. Instead she +swooped down upon the unsuspecting Ann and +took her carefully spread cracker away from +her.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Peanut butter is bad for freckles, darling,” +she said without a trace of ill-humor in her +voice. “Prue will eat it.”</p> +<p class="pnext">There was a scuffle and the cracker was eventually +ground under somebody’s heel. When +peace was restored, Janet flourished her letter +once more above her head.</p> +<p class="pnext">“From Daphne?” Phyl cried, recognizing the +writing.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Yes; she’s coming today, but how did you +find it out?”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Miss Hull called me down after mail, and +told me,” Sally explained. “She gets in about +five-thirty, just in time for dinner.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Oh, I wish we could go to the station,” Janet +exclaimed.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Afraid we can’t do that,” Sally replied, “but +we can go down to the gate.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Oh, good! Then when we see her carriage +we can hop aboard,” Phyllis said.</p> +<p class="pnext">“To think she’d really be here tonight!” Janet +cried. “Funny, beautiful Taffy.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Do tell us about her,” Gladys demanded.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Yes, do,” Ann and Prue echoed.</p> +<p class="pnext">The three girls looked at each other.</p> +<p class="pnext">“You tell them, Sally,” Janet said, but Sally +shook her head.</p> +<p class="pnext">“No, Jan, Taffy’s more yours than ours,” she +replied, and Phyllis nodded.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Go ahead,” she encouraged. “If we were +talking about Sally I’d be spokesman.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Preserve my character,” laughed Sally.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Oh, don’t worry; they’d never learn the truth +from me,” Phyllis said airily.</p> +<p class="pnext">“We know all there is to know about Sally,” +Prue exclaimed.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Yes, Jan, tell us about this Daphne. She has +a lovely name,” Ann added.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Well, it exactly suits her,” Janet began, “only +we call her Taffy because she has a mop of hair +that looks exactly like taffy candy, the rich yellow +kind, and her eyes are green, just the color +of the sea, when you look straight down into it +on a misty day, and her cheeks are like rose +petals, not bright pink, but a soft, delicate tint, +and her cheeks are ivory white, like cream. She +has long slender hands and the most wonderful +voice you ever heard; it’s soft and furry; she +always drawls; in fact, Taffy always looks and +talks as if she were half asleep. Her eyelashes +are so long and heavy that they almost cover her +eyes. When she opens them wide she looks as +if she were surprised at what she saw. She’s +got the keenest sense of humor you ever heard +of, and when she says a thing it sounds twice as +funny as if anyone else had said it, because of +her queer little laugh.”</p> +<p class="pnext">Janet stopped and looked suddenly very self-conscious +while the girls looked at her with a +new expression in their eyes.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Why, Jan,” Prue exclaimed. “You’re a +poet.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“I feel as if I’d been listening to a fairy story,” +Gladys said.</p> +<p class="pnext">“With the lovely Daphne as the enchanted +princess,” Ann added dreamily.</p> +<p class="pnext">“I never realized before how really lovely +Daphne was,” Sally laughed. “Honestly, Jan, I +felt as if she was here in the room as you talked.”</p> +<p class="pnext">Phyllis said nothing. She was curled up on +one end of the bed, her head against Sally’s pillows, +her arms stretched above her. Her face +wore an expression of pride and ownership, but +not surprise. Janet was her twin, and everything +Janet did was perfect in her eyes. When +other girls admired her, too, Phyllis just sat back +and smiled contentedly.</p> +<p class="pnext">“You’ll make a great old quartette,” Gladys +laughed.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Sort of a mutual admiration society,” Prue +added.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Phyl, I’d think you’d be jealous of this +Daphne,” Ann laughed. “Won’t your nose be +out of joint when she arrives?”</p> +<p class="pnext">The twins stared at her in blank amazement.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Jealous!” they said together. “Why, how +perfectly silly.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“You might as well say that I might be jealous +of Sally,” Janet chuckled.</p> +<p class="pnext">“No,” Phyllis shook her head, “Jan and I +couldn’t possibly be jealous. We’re twins, you +see.”</p> +<p class="pnext">The little phrase ended all argument and +doubt as it always did. The girls realized with +something of a start how close the bond between +them was, and they felt a glow of pride around +their hearts. Affection like this was worthy of +a place at Hilltop, and could be pointed out with +pride.</p> +<p class="pnext">“My Aunt Jane’s Poll-parrot!” Sally exclaimed, +jumping up. “Look at the time,” and +she held out her wrist watch. “Ten minutes +past five. If we’re going to meet Taffy we’d better +hurry.”</p> +<p class="pnext">They found sweaters and started off down the +long avenue that lead to the gate.</p> +<p class="pnext">Prue turned to Gladys and Ann.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Are the twins elected?” she inquired.</p> +<p class="pnext">“They are,” they replied. “To the very heart +of Hilltop,” Ann added.</p> +<p class="pnext">They sauntered back to their room.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Look at my beautiful bed that a perfectly +good Countess has slept in,” Gladys wailed, as +she saw the contents of three drawers piled high +on the blue and white counterpane.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Oh, never mind that,” Prue brushed some +of the things aside and sat down on the edge of +the bed.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Speaking of Countesses,” she began, “Janet +wanted to know if anybody really important had +ever slept in their room, and I thought it was a +good chance for a ghost story.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Of course, the very thing,” Gladys agreed decidedly.</p> +<p class="pnext">“We might as well have a good one while +we’re about it. You’d better make it up, Prue,” +Ann suggested.</p> +<p class="pnext">Gladys had been gazing out of the window; +she turned half way around now.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Don’t have to make it up,” she said slowly. +“There’s a perfect cracker-jack about a pretty +lady popping off the balcony when they brought +in her lover who had been shot in a duel.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Which balcony was it?” Prue demanded.</p> +<p class="pnext">Gladys’s eyes twinkled. “Well, it might just +as well have been theirs,” she said.</p> +<p class="pnext">The other two nodded in understanding.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="chapter-viiimore-twins"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref pginternal" href="#id9">CHAPTER VIII—More Twins</a></h2> +<p class="pfirst">The twins and Sally were breathless +when they reached the gate, but they +were in time to see two carriages coming +down the turnpike.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Two carriages!” Phyllis exclaimed.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Maybe they’re not both for here,” Janet replied.</p> +<p class="pnext">Sally smiled a broad smile.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Oh, but they are,” she said.</p> +<p class="pnext">“What’s the mystery?” Phyllis demanded.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Wait and see,” was all the satisfaction Sally +would give them.</p> +<p class="pnext">They watched the carriages as they crawled +along. The little station of Hillsdale did not +boast taxicabs, but contented itself to the old-fashioned +surreys driven by talkative old negroes.</p> +<p class="pnext">At last the first carriage turned in at the gate +and the girls saw Daphne and her mother sitting +on the back seat. They jumped on the steps, +and Phyllis climbed in beside the driver.</p> +<p class="pnext">Daphne at their unexpected appearance was +so delighted that she fairly danced, and Mrs. +Hillis, who had feared Daphne’s silence on the +way up from the station was the first sign of +homesickness, was relieved.</p> +<p class="pnext">Daphne had tight hold of Janet’s hand. A +year ago she had understood, when things looked +very black for Phyllis’s twin. And now the +tables were turned, and in this new world of +boarding school she looked to Janet.</p> +<p class="pnext">Janet gave her hand a tight squeeze.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Taffy, it’s so good to see you,” she said.</p> +<p class="pnext">“At first we were just sick that you couldn’t +come with us, but really, it’s more fun this way,” +Phyllis turned around in her seat as she spoke +and saw the other carriage still following.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Why, look,” she said. “That is coming +here, too.” But Sally interrupted her.</p> +<p class="pnext">“The twins are regular old girls now at Hilltop,” +she said to Daphne. “Oh, isn’t it great +we’re all four together!”</p> +<p class="pnext">Mrs. Hillis smiled. Her laugh was a little +like Daphne’s.</p> +<p class="pnext">“How happy you girls are,” she said. “I was +a little worried about Daphne’s coming so far +away from home, but now I know Mrs. Ladd +was right. I can see by your faces that Hilltop +is a vast improvement over Miss Harding’s.”</p> +<p class="pnext">The girls nodded an eager agreement.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Here we are!” Sally exclaimed excitedly as +they drew up before the steps.</p> +<p class="pnext">“What a beautiful place!” Mrs. Hillis said +warmly.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Don’t you feel like the President in the +White House when you walk up and down these +steps?” Daphne drawled.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Well, you do feel awfully important,” Janet +agreed.</p> +<p class="pnext">A maid met them at the door and took +Daphne’s bag.</p> +<p class="pnext">“If you all-ll come dis way, I’ll show you just +where to go,” she said.</p> +<p class="pnext">Mrs. Hillis and Daphne followed her, and +the girls waited in the square hall.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Who under the sun is in that next carriage?” +Janet demanded.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Wait and see,” Sally replied provokingly.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Oh, I know,” Phyllis exclaimed. “It’s another +new girl. She’s going to be in the new +wing. I heard Kitty and Alice talking about it +in history class today.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Indeed,” Sally asked politely.</p> +<p class="pnext">The maid came back just as the other carriage +stopped. A man and two girls got out and came +up the steps. Sally clutched each of the twins +by an arm and pulled them in to a sheltering +window recess.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Now don’t scream when you see what’s coming,” +she whispered.</p> +<p class="pnext">The maid was taking the bags. They could +hear the man’s voice asking for Miss Hull. The +twins looked out from their hiding place.</p> +<p class="pnext">Two girls stood in the doorway; the old lantern +that swung from the porch illuminated +their faces. They had red hair and they were +dressed exactly alike.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Twins!” Janet exclaimed in a muffled voice, +and Phyllis looked bewildered.</p> +<div class="align-center auto-scaled figure" style="margin-left: 25%; width: 49%" id="figure-8"> +<img style="display: block; width: 100%" alt="“Twins!” Janet exclaimed in a muffled voice" src="images/illus-083.jpg" width="100%"/> +<div class="caption italics"> +“Twins!” Janet exclaimed in a muffled voice</div> +</div> +<p class="pfirst">“Isn’t it a lark?” Sally demanded. “The minute +the old wing gets a pair of twins the new +one has to follow suit.”</p> +<p class="pnext">They heard Daphne’s voice and saw her with +her mother and Miss Hull coming down the +hall. They went forward to meet them as the +new twins and their father followed the maid +in the same direction, and under the center light +exactly in the middle of the hall they all met.</p> +<p class="pnext">All four twins looked at each other. Janet +and Phyllis saw that their rivals were easily distinguishable +one from the other. For although +their faces were exactly alike, one was considerably +stouter than the other.</p> +<p class="pnext">It was Miss Hull’s low musical laugh that +broke the awkward silence.</p> +<p class="pnext">“How did our little surprise turn out, Sally?” +she asked.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Oh, beautifully, Miss Hull,” Sally laughed. +“Jan and Phyl never guessed for a minute.”</p> +<p class="pnext">Miss Hull smiled delightedly and turned to +the gentleman who was waiting for her.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Mr. Ward,” she said, holding out her hand.</p> +<p class="pnext">Mr. Ward scowled.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Yes’m. They’re my twins; May and Bess,” +his abrupt way of speaking contrasted oddly +with his southern voice. “If you can take them +right now and let me get back and catch that +next train for town I’ll be mighty obliged. I +kept the carriage waiting.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Certainly, Mr. Ward,” Miss Hull replied, +“You go right on. We’ll take care of May and +Bess.”</p> +<p class="pnext">Mr. Ward bowed over her hand for a brief +moment, nodded to his daughters and strolled +out of the front door.</p> +<p class="pnext">The Ward twins’s faces relaxed and they +smiled. It was easy to see that their father’s +departure was a relief rather than a sorrow.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="chapter-ixa-question-of-names"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref pginternal" href="#id10">CHAPTER IX—A Question of Names</a></h2> +<p class="pfirst">“May and Bess are to be in the new +wing,” Miss Hull said. “Will you +girls take them upstairs when you +are going up with Daphne and find +some of the girls on their corridor. Alice and +Kitty will take good care of them, I am sure. +Mrs. Hillis and I are going to have a little chat +until dinner.”</p> +<p class="pnext">She dismissed the girls with a nod. Sally +turned to Bess Ward.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Will you come along?” she said, “and we’ll +find Alice and Kitty.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Are you two going to room together?” Phyllis +inquired.</p> +<p class="pnext">Janet was walking with Daphne. She had +gotten as far away as possible from the new +twins, for she instinctively disliked them on +sight.</p> +<p class="pnext">“I should say we’re not,” Bess, the fatter of +the two, replied. “May and I were figuring +to see as little of each other as possible.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“But why?” Phyllis demanded, surprised.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Reckon we’re not dying of love for each +other,” May explained calmly. “You being a +twin could understand, I guess.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“We can’t understand any such thing,” Janet +suddenly flared up.</p> +<p class="pnext">They were on the stairs and they all stopped +to turn and look at her.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Phyl never wants to be away from me,” she +continued, her cheeks hot in anger.</p> +<p class="pnext">“I don’t hear Phyl agreein’ with you,” May +remarked.</p> +<p class="pnext">It was Phyllis’s turn to be angry. The color +left her cheeks and her eyes flashed dangerously.</p> +<p class="pnext">“No need of my saying anything for people to +know that I agree with my twin,” she said coldly. +“We always agree on every subject,” and she +walked upstairs the rest of the way in silence +with her head up in the air.</p> +<p class="pnext">The new twins exchanged glances.</p> +<p class="pnext">“What did you say anything for?” Bess asked +sulkily.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Oh, keep still,” May replied.</p> +<p class="pnext">When they reached the new wing, Sally was +glad to turn them over to Kitty and Alice. The +news had circulated that there were to be twins +for the new wing, and the girls had collected +to welcome them. It is only truthful to say that +their faces fell at the first glance. Beside Phyllis +and Janet, the new twins did not show promise +of adding greatly to the new wing.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Phew! I’m glad that’s over!” Sally sat +down on her bed and pulled Daphne down beside +her.</p> +<p class="pnext">Phyllis sat in a big chair and Janet perched +on the arm of her chair.</p> +<p class="pnext">“They haven’t any right to be twins,” +Daphne’s drawl held a note of decision, “and +they really don’t look alike either.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“They’re perfectly horrid,” Janet replied vehemently.</p> +<p class="pnext">“I wish they’d leave Hilltop,” Phyllis added.</p> +<p class="pnext">Sally said nothing for the moment, but she +looked very wise.</p> +<p class="pnext">“A penny for your thoughts, Sally,” Phyllis +offered.</p> +<p class="pnext">Sally came back from her dreaming with a +little start.</p> +<p class="pnext">“I was only wondering what they’d be like +in six months,” she said slowly.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Horrid,” said Janet without a moment’s hesitation.</p> +<p class="pnext">Sally smiled. “That’s how little you know of +Hilltop,” she said.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Oh, who cares what they’re like!” Phyllis +laughed. “They’re in the new wing and we’re +in the old. All that matters is that Daphne’s +here, and we four are together again.”</p> +<p class="pnext">Daphne gave a queer little laugh.</p> +<p class="pnext">“It’s pretty wonderful,” she admitted, “to find +you all just the same. I was afraid that perhaps +Sally had found a new pal, and that perhaps +you two have discovered some other girls. +It rather worried me.”</p> +<p class="pnext">The rest laughed, and Janet said:</p> +<p class="pnext">“Taffy, my darling, you were growing an imagination. +You kill it before it becomes dangerous.”</p> +<p class="pnext">Snatches of a song came to them from the hall +and Sally jumped up and ran to the door.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Come in, you three,” she called.</p> +<p class="pnext">Prue, Ann and Gladys entered.</p> +<p class="pnext">“We thought we would let you have the first +few minutes in peace,” Prue began, but Ann +went straight to Daphne and held out her hand.</p> +<p class="pnext">“You’re the very princess come to life,” she +said. “And we’re awfully glad to welcome you +at Hilltop.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“We thought Janet was making you up,” +Gladys added, “but we see she wasn’t.” She +smiled her roguish smile at Daphne.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Indeed, we are glad to welcome you to Hilltop,” +Prue held out her hand, “and specially +glad for the old wing.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“We’ve been looking over the new twins and +I can’t say that they are very exciting. All they +did was to scrap,” Ann remarked.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Oh, dear!” Phyllis sighed. “I suppose now +they’ll be the new twins, and we’ll be the old +twins.”</p> +<p class="pnext">Gladys looked at her and shook her head very +slowly.</p> +<p class="pnext">“They will not,” she said emphatically. “For +I have already named them the Red Twins, and +Red Twins they shall be,” she ended triumphantly.</p> +<p class="pnext">She was right. The girls had always followed +her lead, and they followed it faithfully +in the naming of the Red Twins, and Janet and +Phyllis, to the old wing’s secret satisfaction, remained +always The Twins.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="chapter-xthe-parrot-is-consulted"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref pginternal" href="#id11">CHAPTER X—The Parrot Is Consulted</a></h2> +<p class="pfirst">“Nice poll, pretty poll!” Gladys stood by +Sally’s window, where the girls had +decided that Aunt Jane’s Poll-parrot +lived in a magic cage.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Polly want a cracker?” she continued coaxingly.</p> +<p class="pnext">“What are you flattering my Aunt Jane’s Poll-parrot +for?” Sally demanded with dignity.</p> +<p class="pnext">“I want to find out if I’m going to make the +Archery Contest tomorrow,” Gladys replied, +“and I don’t know anybody but Aunt Jane’s +Poll-parrot that can tell me.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“You might ask her about the rest of us,” +Prue suggested, and Gladys turned back to the +window.</p> +<p class="pnext">“How about Prue, Polly?” she inquired seriously.</p> +<p class="pnext">“... Oh, is that so?”</p> +<p class="pnext">“... Well, perhaps you’re right.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“... Very well, I’ll tell her.”</p> +<p class="pnext">She turned back to the laughing group of +girls.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Aunt Jane’s Poll-parrot says that Prue +couldn’t hit the side of a barn door, and he advises +her to serve lemonade on the side lines.”</p> +<p class="pnext">Prue sniffed contemptuously.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Just to show you that that bird is a fraud, +I’ll make a bull’s-eye tomorrow.”</p> +<p class="pnext">A shout greeted her threat. Prue had never +even hit the target, but every year she tried +again, for the hope that she might some day +make the archery team for the old wing burned +bright in her heart.</p> +<p class="pnext">“What’s the gossip about the new wing?” Ann +inquired. “It would be simply terrible if they +got the cup this year.”</p> +<p class="pnext">Gladys frowned and shook her fist at imaginary +Polly.</p> +<p class="pnext">“That’s the trouble with the new wing,” she +said. “They’re so beastly efficient, and they +really have good material to work with.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Meaning that we haven’t?” Ann inquired indignantly.</p> +<p class="pnext">“No, but they have six in the old team back +this year, and we have only three. Gwen’s +really upset about it. Of course, as captain of +sports, she has to be neutral, but everybody +knows she wants the old wing to get it.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“I heard the Red Twins bragging awfully,” +Daphne said. She had been at Hilltop for a +week now and had found her place already. She +was so thoroughly likeable that the girls gave +her their instant affection. “The twins and +Taffy are just like old girls,” was a constant +phrase.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Were there ever two girls as bumptious as +those two?” Gladys demanded.</p> +<p class="pnext">Ann looked up with a twinkle in her eye.</p> +<p class="pnext">“I know of only one other,” she replied. “She +was an impudent little wretch, named Gladys +Manners.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Hum, I knew you were going to say that,” +Gladys replied, her temper not one bit ruffled. +“And it’s almost true. I was an awful smarty, +but then I was only ten years old.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“And it didn’t take you long to reform, I’ll +say that for you,” Ann admitted.</p> +<p class="pnext">“It couldn’t have, because butter wouldn’t +melt in her mouth my first year,” Prue laughed +at a sudden memory now two years old. “If I +even raised my voice above a whisper, the little +imp would remind me that I was a new girl, +and here I was a whole year older than she was.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Mercy, we must be careful, Jan,” Phyllis +said, and Janet nodded.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Do you suppose we’ve been here long enough +to call Taffy down if she’s noisy?” she inquired. +“I’d just love to call Taffy down.”</p> +<p class="pnext">Daphne’s cool gaze rested on Janet, then she +laughed her funny little laugh.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Guess I’ll have to stay through the Christmas +vacation to get even with you,” she drawled.</p> +<p class="pnext">“You’ll do nothing of the kind,” Sally protested. +“I just had a letter from mother today +and she says she’s planning with Auntie Mogs +Carter the most scrumptious Christmas Eve +party, and I’d like to see you dare stay away +from it.”</p> +<p class="pnext">Gladys turned back to the window and her +private conversation with Aunt Jane’s Poll-parrot.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Why, Poll, you never told me that New +York girls gave parties,” she complained.</p> +<p class="pnext">But the New York girls were too busy discussing +Mrs. Ladd’s letter to notice her.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Merciful gumption!” Phyl exclaimed a few +minutes later. “There goes sweet dreams.”</p> +<p class="pnext">The others stopped to listen. From the +farthest end of the hall came the soft chimes of +the grandfather clock. The little melody +sounded like a slumber song, and the girls all +called it sweet dreams.</p> +<p class="pnext">“I thought it was about eight o’clock,” Ann +protested. “I haven’t even looked at my history.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Well, I hate to be inhospitable,” Sally said, +“but I must set the example to Taffy; she’s a new +girl, you know.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“You never would know it,” Prue said with a +little smile. “Taffy and the twins are part of +the spirit at Hilltop, and have been for centuries. +Who dares to call them new?”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Very prettily said, Prue darling,” Sally +laughed. “But, out you go, just the same and +seek your own little beds.”</p> +<p class="pnext">Gladys put her arm protectingly around Prue.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Never mind, lamb child. You can come and +orate to your two long-suffering room-mates.”</p> +<p class="pnext">They all left the room, finishing their good-nights +in the hall.</p> +<p class="pnext">The twins went straight to bed. Each night +at Hilltop saw them thoroughly but happily +tired out.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Do you think the Red Twins have a chance?” +Phyllis inquired sleepily.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Awfully afraid they have,” Janet answered. +“I saw them practicing today, and they made +awfully good scores.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Well, cheer up, perhaps they’ll be nervous +tomorrow, with the entire school looking on.”</p> +<p class="pnext">A muffled chuckle came from the depth of +Janet’s pillow.</p> +<p class="pnext">“What are you laughing at?” Phyllis demanded.</p> +<p class="pnext">“The idea of the Red Twins being fussed by +anything. Why those girls have got the assurance +of Diana herself. I wish you could see +them string their bows.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“The responsibility of being the twins for the +old wing is growing daily,” Phyllis laughed. +“I’m worse than Prue when it comes to a straight +eye, so I suppose we’re doomed for one defeat.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“We’re doomed for no such thing,” Janet denied +hotly.</p> +<p class="pnext">But an inarticulate murmur was all the response +she received from Phyllis.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Oh, go to sleep then, lazy bones!” she said, +and snuggled deeper into her pillow.</p> +<p class="pnext">She was soon dreaming that the Red Twins +were making bull’s-eyes with every arrow that +they loosed.</p> +<p class="pnext">When the sun, red gold in his morning splendor, +sent his first shafts through the woods, +throwing queer patterns on the green lawn, he +surprised two girls, busy with their bows and +arrows. They had flaming red hair, and the sun +always jealous of competition scowled behind +a tiny white cloud.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="chapter-xithe-archery-contest"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref pginternal" href="#id12">CHAPTER XI—The Archery Contest</a></h2> +<p class="pfirst">On the day of the Archery Contest, +lessons stopped at noon at Hilltop. By +two o’clock all the girls were assembled +on the south lawn. They all wore +immaculate white dresses, that contrasted +prettily with the autumn colors. A stack +of bows, their strings loosened, stood against the +bench near the target and a heap of feathered +arrows lay on the ground.</p> +<p class="pnext">Under the shade of a big tree, the score board +flashed forth in white letters, “Archery Day.”</p> +<p class="pnext">Forty girls were competing. You could pick +them out from among the others by their eager +expectant expression.</p> +<p class="pnext">The faculty in the daintiest of gowns were +making the guests, who had driven in from all +around the countryside, as comfortable as possible +in the grey wicker chairs that had been +brought down from the school, and placed in a +half circle back of the shooters. They came because +they loved the pretty sight of the girls in +their white dresses on the green lawn, with the +old mansion as a background, rather than for any +real interest in Archery.</p> +<p class="pnext">There were tables under the trees, where, +after the contest, lemonade would be served to +the girls, and tea to the guests and faculty.</p> +<p class="pnext">Prue at the last moment had decided not to +enter.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Why swell the number of the old wing failures?” +she said to Gwen, and Gwen nodded, fully +conscious of the sacrifice she was making; and +to repay her for it, she made her official score-keeper.</p> +<p class="pnext">The twins, with Sally and Daphne, and +Gladys and Ann, formed a little group with her +around the board.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Prue, if I make a score, will you please write +it very large?” Phyllis requested. “I don’t expect +to make more than one, and it would be a +comfort really to see it.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“I’m as nervous as a cat,” Sally shivered. “I +have a horrible feeling that the old wing is going +to lose.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Oh, don’t even breathe it!” Gladys wailed. +“The very idea makes me turn cold all over.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“My hands are icy,” Ann held them out for +inspection. They were beautiful hands, firm +and capable, but they trembled ever so slightly.</p> +<p class="pnext">Gwen and Poppy joined them.</p> +<p class="pnext">“I declare you all look like picked chickens,” +Poppy protested, “I never saw the old wing +hang its head so low.”</p> +<p class="pnext">The girls straightened up, every chin lifted +with determination.</p> +<p class="pnext">“That’s better,” Gwen encouraged. “If you +feel like dropping them again, just look at the +new wing.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“The Red Twins are positively walking on +air,” Sally ground her teeth and looked appealingly +at Phyllis.</p> +<p class="pnext">Phyllis put up one hand in entreaty.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Don’t look at me like that,” she entreated. +“I’m only in the contest because you and Jan insisted. +I won’t even hit the target, and I know +it.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Never mind, I will,” Janet comforted; +“though, of course, we won’t beat the Red +Twins.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“I’ve put them together, and Phyllis and you +directly after,” Gwen explained; “then you’ll +see what you’re up against. It isn’t as bad as +it looks. We still have Agnes Leiter, Puss +Boroughs, and Poppy, all last year’s team girls, +and Marion West has been practicing all summer. +She only missed out by a point for the +team last year. Then there are a couple of Juniors, +that have belonged to archery clubs at home, +so we may pull through.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“But look what we’re up against,” Gladys +groaned.</p> +<p class="pnext">A bell tinkled as Miss Hull walked out of the +hall, a soft grey dress floating about her, and a +shade hat on her aristocratic head. It was a +signal for the contest to begin.</p> +<p class="pnext">Gwen had arranged the order cleverly. The +girls who had been on the team the year before +were played off first. As there were six to three +in favor of the new wing, the score looked very +one-sided, as Prue marked it on the board.</p> +<p class="pnext">Then came the younger girls, who stood very +little chance of scoring the required six points. +They were worked off quickly, and then the +real work began. Two girls from the new wing, +would alternate with two girls from the old +wing. Cheering followed every score, so that +it was impossible to tell which side was ahead.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Ann, you’re up after Kitty,” Gwen said as +she hurried by. “Mind, you do us proud.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Do my best,” Ann replied shortly. She was +working her fingers to take some of the stiffness +out of them.</p> +<p class="pnext">Kitty took her place marked by white tape.</p> +<p class="pnext">“She’s too little to be really dangerous,” +Phyllis laughed, as she strung her bow.</p> +<p class="pnext">Kitty shot rapidly, but with a nice precision. +Only one of her arrows went astray, and that +pinned the leg in the target.</p> +<p class="pnext">The other four hit. Two on the white, counting +two, one on the red, counting three. Kitty +waited an effective moment before she loosed +the fifth.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Make it a bulls-eye,” one of the Red Twins +shouted.</p> +<p class="pnext">The arrow went its way through the air, and +bore deep into the broad red circle.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Making eight in all,” Prue said in satisfaction. +“Ann will do better than that.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Look,” Sally pointed across the lawn, where +the Red Twins were sitting, their special bows +lying across their knees. Kitty and Louise +Brown were swooping down upon them.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Don’t you ever do that again, Bess,” Kitty +said angrily. “If you have any silly advice, +and you feel you must yell it out, you’re to wait +until the player has finished. Do you understand?”</p> +<p class="pnext">“I told her to keep still,” May grumbled, “but +she wouldn’t do it.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“You see that she does next time,” Louise advised.</p> +<p class="pnext">The girls walked on. Their lecture had made +no impression whatever on Bess Ward. She +tossed her head with a great show of indifference, +and started whistling.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Yes, she’s decidedly bumptious,” Gladys said +quietly, as Ann rose to take her place. “If she +so much as breathes aloud, when you’re up, I’ll +murder her,” and Gladys fastened her eyes on +the Red Twins, and looked so threatening, that +Bess squirmed uncomfortably.</p> +<p class="pnext">Ann did everything that she did methodically, +and though her hands may have been cold, +none of the onlookers, who watched her carefully +string her bow and fit her arrow, guessed +it.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Don’t watch her, it gives her fits,” Prue +whispered almost in tears.</p> +<p class="pnext">So the girls directed their gaze towards the +target. One arrow whanged through the air +and hit the red, so near to the bulls-eye, that the +spectators gasped. Another arrow fell just beside +it. The third pinned the blue, and the +fourth and fifth returned to the red, in a little +cluster.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Fourteen, oh my Aunt Jane’s Poll-parrot!” +Sally exclaimed. “How perfectly beautiful!”</p> +<p class="pnext">“I knew she’d do it,” Prue exulted, as she +wrote the number down, in broad white letters.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Your turn, Sally,” Gladys said. “You’ve got +Louise’s twelve to beat.”</p> +<p class="pnext">Sally groaned, but when she took her place, +her wonderful blue eyes blazed from their setting +of raven hair.</p> +<p class="pnext">Four arrows sped through the air in quick +succession. Sally did everything with a rush. The +girls counted the total.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Eleven,” Phyllis groaned.</p> +<p class="pnext">“If the next one is wide of the target——” +Gladys did not finish the terrible thought.</p> +<p class="pnext">They looked at Sally. She didn’t look a bit +flustered, but for some reason or other, she was +taking her time.</p> +<p class="pnext">Then she did a curious thing, but a thing so +like Sally that neither the girls nor the faculty +could repress a smile.</p> +<p class="pnext">She suddenly closed her eyes very tight, and +without taking aim, let go of her arrow.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Aunt Jane’s Poll-parrot!” Gladys whispered, +as though she were praying the mythical +bird to carry the arrow safe to the target.</p> +<p class="pnext">Daphne put her hands over her eyes, and +didn’t take them down until the shout that rose +high and clear told her that Sally’s blind shot +had found its way home.</p> +<p class="pnext">“A blue!” Janet almost screamed. “Just one +point more than she needed to beat Louise.”</p> +<p class="pnext">Sally threw down her bow, and came back to +them.</p> +<p class="pnext">“So much for that,” she said grinning.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Sally Ladd, I declare you’re a caution!” +Poppy squeezed her hand. “Whatever made you +take such a terrible chance, child?”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Oh, life’s a chance,” Sally replied airily. +“When I’m in a hole, I always trust in my luck, +and it never fails me.”</p> +<p class="pnext">From that minute “Sally’s luck” was added +to the phrases of Hilltop.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="chapter-xiijanet-to-the-rescue"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref pginternal" href="#id13">CHAPTER XII—Janet to the Rescue</a></h2> +<p class="pfirst">Daphne was the next up, after two +more new wing girls had made creditable +scores.</p> +<p class="pnext">“She looks like Diana herself,” Miss +Hull said, to the old gentleman who was sitting +beside her, and indeed Daphne’s beauty never +showed to such advantage, as when she stood beside +her bow. But alas! looks are not everything. +Although the beautiful curve of Daphne’s arm, +covered by its sheer angel sleeve, was grace itself, +the refractory arrows fell almost anywhere +but on the target. Only one struck home, and +marked the red.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Three,” Prue wrote the number down +slowly.</p> +<p class="pnext">“What a pity!” Miss Hull said, but she noted +Daphne’s cheerful little smile, and nodded to +herself. “Sally Ladd has very good taste in +friends,” she said, as her eyes traveled to the +Twins, and then back to Daphne.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Can’t say I made a very brilliant success,” +Daphne was saying, and she threw herself down +on the grass beside Janet.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Well, one landed, and it was a red anyway,” +Janet tried to be consoling.</p> +<p class="pnext">“And that’s more than many of the new girls +have made,” Sally added.</p> +<p class="pnext">“I’ll be with you in a minute, Taffy,” Phyllis +laughed. “Just wait until the Red Twins have +had their turn.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Hush, here they come now,” Gladys cautioned.</p> +<p class="pnext">A silence fell on the spectators as they awaited +the victory of the new wing. Even the faculty +felt it, and though they tried to be happy, they +were conscious of a persistent little feeling of +disappointment.</p> +<p class="pnext">Bess Ward was the first one up. She shrugged +her shoulders just to show she was not in the +least nervous, then she strung her bow, struck +a rather extravagant attitude, and loosed her +first arrow.</p> +<p class="pnext">She made a red. A faint cheer followed it.</p> +<p class="pnext">The Red Twins were far from popular with +their own wing, but anything or anybody that +could enlarge the score was welcome.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Not so good,” Ann said critically, as the second +arrow glanced off and hit the white.</p> +<p class="pnext">A slow red mounted to Bess’s cheek. She was +angry, that unpardonable sin in any sport, and +she showed it. The third arrow went to the +blue. Bess forgot to shrug her shoulders. Her +anger was steadily mounting, and the next +two arrows followed each other to the red, making +a total score of twelve.</p> +<p class="pnext">Prue marked it down on the board very slowly, +and very deliberately.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Hope her twin does no better,” Gladys said. +“But I suppose she will.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“One of them has got to make a bulls-eye, after +all their boasting,” Ann laughed. “Look, there +she comes.”</p> +<p class="pnext">May took her place at the tape. She was considerably +sobered by her sister’s failure. She did +not shrug her shoulders, but went to her bow +with a dark scowl.</p> +<p class="pnext">Her first arrow hit the blue. She stopped to +readjust her bow, before fitting in the second +arrow, but the blue claimed that as well. Really +angry now, she shot the third with such a vicious +whang, that the arrow glanced off to the white.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Take your time,” her sister cautioned from +the side line. Her tone held a note of resentment.</p> +<p class="pnext">May pulled herself together, and took deliberate +aim. Two blues were her award.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Making a total of nine,” Prue said as she +drew an extra long stem to the figure.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Jan, if you go in, and get a half-way decent +score, and Phyl does, too, we won’t be so badly +licked after all,” Gladys said.</p> +<p class="pnext">Janet nodded. There was a lump in her throat +and she could not trust herself to speak.</p> +<p class="pnext">“If I don’t stop trembling, my arrows will +land over there among the faculty,” Phyl +pointed to the right of the target, where the +faculty sat out of range of any but the wildest +shot.</p> +<p class="pnext">Daphne looked at her, and saw that she really +was trembling.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Well, goodness knows I love all the faculty +at Hilltop,” she said in her peculiar drawl. “But +if you must shoot one of them, please choose +Miss Jenks, for I haven’t my history prepared +for tomorrow.”</p> +<p class="pnext">The one thing that Phyllis needed was to +laugh, and she did heartily, with the result that +when she took her place at the tape, her nerves +were steadied, and her thoughts were on +Daphne’s last remark. She could see Miss Jenks +out of the corner of her right eye. She hardly +gave the target a thought, until her arrow was +in her bow.</p> +<p class="pnext">Her total score was five, for though she did +some fancy shooting, around the legs of the target, +only two of her arrows scored.</p> +<p class="pnext">She came back to the girls, a little crestfallen.</p> +<p class="pnext">“You mean thing!” Daphne said, “you made +two more than I did.”</p> +<p class="pnext">Phyllis smiled in spite of herself.</p> +<p class="pnext">“It’s a secret, Taffy, but I’ll tell you,” she +whispered. “That last one was a mistake.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Good luck, Jan!” Sally called softly, as Janet +went out to take her place. Her silence seemed +to envelope her as she stood facing the target, +and the bow felt strange to her touch.</p> +<p class="pnext">She had practiced a good deal during the past +few weeks, but mindful of her brother Tom and +the wisdom of her boy friends, she had rested for +the past two days, content only to keep her hand +in. In this she had the advantage of the Red +Twins, who had practiced for two hours, before +breakfast.</p> +<p class="pnext">She felt as though she were taking a very long +time, as she strung her bow, and fitted her first +arrow, and then she shot.</p> +<p class="pnext">She had aimed for the bulls-eye, but the grass +under her feet, worn by so many tennis shoes, +was slippery. Her heel twisted ever so slightly, +and the arrow scored a red.</p> +<p class="pnext">The girls shouted their appreciation, but before +they could stop, another arrow had hit this +time, just below the bulls-eye, making one above, +and one below. Janet shifted her position ever +so slightly, and a third arrow almost touched the +bulls-eye on another side.</p> +<p class="pnext">The fourth completed the square; then Janet +did the most spectacular thing, done that afternoon. +She scored a perfect bulls-eye. The +school, united in its admiration, went wild with +joy, and the old man, sitting beside Miss Hull, +shouted, “Well done, little lady, well done!”</p> +<div class="align-center auto-scaled figure" style="margin-left: 26%; width: 48%" id="figure-9"> +<img style="display: block; width: 100%" alt="Then Janet did the most spectacular thing done that afternoon" src="images/illus-121.jpg" width="100%"/> +<div class="caption italics"> +Then Janet did the most spectacular thing done that afternoon</div> +</div> +<p class="pfirst">Janet was born high on the shoulders of the +delighted girls, a happy, triumphant, but very +much bewildered heroine.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="chapter-xiiidiverse-paths"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref pginternal" href="#id14">CHAPTER XIII—Diverse Paths</a></h2> +<p class="pfirst">It took the school, and particularly the +old wing, several weeks to recover from the +result of the contest. Janet, much to her +surprise, remained a heroine, and was not +forgotten after the flush of the first few days, but +she was not happy.</p> +<p class="pnext">Phyllis, after her failure on Archery Day, +had steadfastedly refused to have anything more +to do with the sport, and half the pleasure of the +prospect of making the team was gone, when +Janet realized that Phyllis would not be with +her. Daphne, too, refused to show any interest, +and it was Sally that Janet spent most of her +time with, practicing before the target.</p> +<p class="pnext">They were coming up from the lawn this +afternoon. The warm days of late summer had +chilled with the coming of Autumn, and in the +late afternoon the girls found sweaters comfortable.</p> +<p class="pnext">When they reached the lower hall they met +Ethel Rivers. She was still incorrigible on the +subject of the wings.</p> +<p class="pnext">“I hope you know, that even if you did beat +us at Archery, we’re going to win out in Dramatics.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Win in anything your little heart wants,” +Sally laughed; “the old wing is never selfish.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Well, you just wait and see,” Ethel began +angrily, but she turned suddenly to Janet and +stopped. “I’ve—I’ve—wanted to congratulate +you for a long time,” she said shyly. She was +the same age as the two girls before her, but a +class below. She was feeling the difference +acutely.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Thanks awfully,” Janet was almost as embarrassed +as she was. She was trying hard not to +feel her position as a future member of the team, +but it was difficult when girls like Ethel forgot +their feeling of animosity long enough to offer +congratulations.</p> +<p class="pnext">Without realizing it Janet mounted the pedestal +of a personage.</p> +<p class="pnext">“I—I—really thought you were wonderful,” +Ethel continued grudgingly, “and I’m not a bit +sorry, really, that you beat our twins.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“That’s awfully decent of you Ethel. I’m +glad to see you’re coming around to the right +way of thinking. Mustn’t take the rivalry of the +wings too seriously, you know. Come down to +target practice some day, while I’m there, and +I’ll show you how to fix your arrow. I saw you +were having trouble with it.” And Janet walked +up the broad stairs, her head held high, as a +queen might have walked on after she had +spoken to her humble courtier.</p> +<p class="pnext">But when they reached Sally’s room and she +threw herself down on the bed, her face suddenly +fell.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Sally,” she said seriously. “I think Phyl is +a little hurt that I spend so much time away from +her. She’s going to hate it if I make the team, +so I think, if I am elected, I’ll refuse.”</p> +<p class="pnext">Sally whistled then she looked seriously at +Janet.</p> +<p class="pnext">“You are going to do nothing of the kind, if +I can help it,” she said emphatically, “but we +won’t talk about it now. Let’s go find Phyl and +Taffy.”</p> +<p class="pnext">They went over to the Twin’s room, but there +was no sign of them.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Maybe Glad’ll know where they are,” Sally +suggested.</p> +<p class="pnext">But they found Prue and Ann and Gladys +cheerfully munching crackers and peanut butter, +as they studied their English for the next +day.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Come and join us,” Ann invited shoving forward +the peanut butter. “We’ve got a marvelous +system. Prue reads aloud to us and then we +discuss it.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“You might as well join us,” Gladys suggested. +“We’ve only just started.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“We’re looking for Daphne and Phil,” Sally +replied.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Oh, you won’t find them,” Gladys told her. +“They’re down in the Senior’s Retreat.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“What under the sun are they doing down +there?” Janet demanded.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Dramatic Club,” Prue said solemnly. +“Shakespeare meeting and all that sort of thing.”</p> +<p class="pnext">Sally and Janet looked at each other in bewilderment. +“How did they get down there? +They aren’t Juniors or Seniors,” Sally protested.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Can’t help it, Miss Slocum sent their names +in to Poppy as shining lights in literature,” Ann +replied. “And Poppy, of course, was tickled to +death.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“So was Helen Jenkins, by the way,” Prue +added. “She’s really the brains of the club, +while Poppy’s the looks.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“And they’re both Old Wing Girls,” Gladys +exulted. “Just imagine how they feel at the idea +of letting in two Sophomores!</p> +<p class="pnext">“But it’s unheard of,” Sally objected, “don’t +you have to be a Junior at least, before you’re +eligible?”</p> +<p class="pnext">“’Tisn’t a rule, it’s simply a custom,” Ann told +her. “It just never happened before, that the +Sophomores showed very much brains.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“But, oh my beloved hearers!” Gladys exclaimed +excitedly, “can’t you see that our Phyllis +and our Taffy may be the brilliant exceptions?”</p> +<p class="pnext">Janet had looked wonderingly from one to the +other of the girls.</p> +<p class="pnext">“You don’t mean Phil and Taffy could possibly +make the Dramatic Club?” she asked at +length.</p> +<p class="pnext">“But I exactly do mean just that,” Gladys informed +her. “And, oh my Aunt Jane’s Poll-parrot, +if they should, think what a victory it +would be for the Old Wing!”</p> +<p class="pnext">Prue picked up the book that she had been +reading when Sally and Janet interrupted her.</p> +<p class="pnext">“I refuse to think of it,” she said with decision. +“Come on, girls, sit down and make +yourselves comfy, and in my most dulcet tones +I will read to you the lesson in <em class="italics">Guy Mannering</em> +for tomorrow.”</p> +<p class="pnext">Janet and Sally curled up on the end of the +Countess’s bed and Prue began.</p> +<p class="pnext">It is a question whether any of the girls kept +their mind on the book. The Dramatic Club at +Hilltop was a very important institution of +school life. There were hardly ever more than +twelve members, and they were chosen for a +variety of reasons. The principal one was an +understanding and appreciation of literature, +but equally important were good looks and an +ability to act, for the Dramatic Club gave two +plays a year. They were not the usual amateur +performances, for wise Miss Slocum, with the +aid of the Seniors, chose her material carefully +and trained it exceedingly well.</p> +<p class="pnext">She had hesitated a long time before suggesting +two Sophomores for possible membership, +but Daphne’s bewildering beauty and Phyllis’s +apt reading of lines finally persuaded her.</p> +<p class="pnext">The Juniors and Seniors had accepted this +innovation of an old custom with surprise, but, as +Poppy had explained, it would not be necessary +to make a decision at once, for the Dramatic +Club was never chosen until just before the +Christmas holidays.</p> +<p class="pnext">The girls who were interested met in the +Senior Retreat twice a week and read plays of +their own or Miss Slocum’s selection. The +meeting was over at six o’clock.</p> +<p class="pnext">Daphne and Phyllis hurried to the latter’s +room as quickly as possible.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Taffy, was there ever such luck?” Phyllis +exclaimed, “wasn’t it adorable of them to let us +be there!”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Indeed it was,” Daphne agreed heartily. +“And we’re only new girls, too, and that makes +it all the nicer. But, Phil, what do you suppose +they really mean?”</p> +<p class="pnext">Phyllis shook her head and her brows puckered +in a puzzled frown.</p> +<p class="pnext">“I wish I knew, Taffy,” she replied slowly. +“When I went in, Poppy squeezed my arm and +Helen Jenkins asked me how I liked the Dramatic +Club pin.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“And when you said you loved it, she asked +you how you would like to wear one,” Daphne +finished for her. “I know, I heard it, and my +heart just flopped right over.”</p> +<p class="pnext">Phyllis walked to the balcony and stood looking +out over the lawn.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Isn’t it funny the way people get jumbled +up,” she said musingly. “We four haven’t paired +off as we ought to. It almost looks as if we had +changed partners. Just look at this afternoon. +Jan and Sally were practicing with their ever-lasting +bows and arrows, and you and I were sitting +in all our glory in the midst of the Dramatic +Club.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“That’s what makes us such bully good +friends,” Daphne explained. “It doesn’t matter +which two of our four are together, they are +bound to have a good time, and the very best +times of all are when we are not paired off, but +doing something that we can all enjoy.”</p> +<p class="pnext">Phyllis nodded. “I used to think, at Miss +Harding’s that we weren’t so very remarkable, +and that if we got away to boarding school we’d +find plenty of friendships as strong as ours——”</p> +<p class="pnext">“What nonsense!” Daphne interrupted, drawling +the words until they held a wealth of scorn. +“Prue and Gladys and Ann are a wonderful +combination but they’re not nearly as wonderful +as we are,” she added with her queer little +laugh.</p> +<p class="pnext">They both picked up books and pretended to +study.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Taffy,” Phyllis said suddenly, “it really isn’t +fair.” There was a little catch in her voice.</p> +<p class="pnext">Daphne looked up from her copy of <em class="italics">Guy +Mannering</em>. “What isn’t?” she inquired.</p> +<p class="pnext">“My being chosen, when Janet’s left out. She +knows twice as much about books as I do. Why +she knew every book in <em class="italics">The Enchanted Kingdom</em>, +and she can quote poetry by the yard.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“But she can’t recite it the way you do,” +Daphne protested. “You read Rosalind’s lines +in <em class="italics">As You Like It</em> when we had it in class, until +I honestly thought I was in the Forest of Arden. +I agree with you that Jan loves it and appreciates +it as much as you, but she reads it as though +she hated to have to share it with anybody else.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Perhaps you’re right,” Phyllis sounded only +half convinced. “But I’ll tell you this, if Jan +isn’t elected to the Dramatic Club, I won’t join +even if they ask me.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Oh, yes you will,” Daphne drawled. Her +words were almost an echo of Sally’s used earlier +in the day under a similar circumstance.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="chapter-xivthe-story-of-the-two-dogs"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref pginternal" href="#id15">CHAPTER XIV—The Story of the Two Dogs</a></h2> +<p class="pfirst">That night Sally and Daphne held a +council of war in their room. It began +by Sally saying: “I want to talk to you, +Taffy, about something important.” To +which Daphne replied, “Very well, go ahead, +but remember to ask me what I have to tell you +when you finish!”</p> +<p class="pnext">“All right, mine’s about Jan.” Sally made +herself comfortable in the big chair and Daphne +curled up on the window seat. “On the way +back from target practice today, she informed +me that she would not be on the team, even if +she got the chance, because Phyl might be hurt.”</p> +<p class="pnext">Instead of looking angry or concerned, as +Sally expected, Daphne laughed heartily.</p> +<p class="pnext">“I don’t think it’s funny, she really meant it,” +Sally protested.</p> +<p class="pnext">Daphne stopped laughing. “It is funny +though, listen. This afternoon, after we had +come up from the Senior’s Retreat, Phyl told me +the same thing.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“But I don’t understand.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“About Jan, of course.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“You mean she said she would be hurt if Jan +did accept for the team?”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Oh, no, you ought to know Phyl better than +that. She said she wouldn’t accept for the Dramatic +Club unless Jan was asked, too. There +now, what do you think of that?”</p> +<p class="pnext">Sally listened and after a mystified minute +understood.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Well, of all the ridiculous children!” she exclaimed +laughing.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Yes, but what are we going to do about it? +They simply can’t be allowed to spoil each +other’s chances like that,” Daphne objected.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Oh, we can fix that, now that we know about +them both,” Sally exclaimed. “Look, we’ll do +it this very minute.” She jumped up and went +to the writing table, found a half sheet of notepaper +and began to write.</p> +<p class="pnext">Daphne looked over her shoulder.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Will that do?” Sally inquired as she finished +and carefully blotted the page.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Couldn’t be better,” Daphne laughed. +“Thank goodness, you can always depend on the +Twins to see the funny side of everything.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“I can’t wait until morning to give it to them,” +Sally announced. She was half undressed but +she slipped into a kimono and tip-toed into the +hall. She poked the letter under the Twins’s +door and hurried back to the waiting Daphne.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Wish I could see their faces when they read +it,” she said.</p> +<p class="pnext">Janet saw the note first.</p> +<p class="pnext">“What is that?” she demanded, drawing +Phyllis’s attention to it.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Looks like a letter,” Phyllis replied smiling +at Janet’s apparent concern. “Anyway, I don’t +think it’s a bomb, so it might be safe to pick it +up.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“You never can tell.” Janet stood looking +down at the white envelope. “It may be a joke, +and then again it may be a communication from +one of the numerous ghosts that haunt Hilltop. +You’d better pick it up, Phyl.”</p> +<p class="pnext">Phyllis leaned down and looked at the letter. +“Sally’s writing, so it can’t be dangerous,” she +said as she picked it up and opened it.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Oh, it’s for both of us. It says: ‘Read this +aloud’ in large letters. Listen—</p> +<blockquote><div> +<p class="pfirst">“Dear Twins: (she read)</p> +<p class="pnext">Once upon a time there were two dogs. One +was an Irish terrier and the other was a +poodle, and they loved each other as only dogs +can. The Irish terrier liked to run and jump, +but the poodle liked to sit still and look very +beautiful.</p> +<p class="pnext">One day they were both very hungry, and +they both went hunting but they did not go +together.</p> +<p class="pnext">The Irish terrier met a kind old gentleman +who offered him a bone, but the silly dog +wouldn’t take it because he thought of his +friend who was so hungry, too.</p> +<p class="pnext">Now the poodle, on his walk, met a kind +old lady, and she offered him a nice bone, too, +but he thought of the poor hungry terrier and +he refused to eat it.</p> +<p class="pnext">So both of those nice dogs died of hunger, +because they were so foolish, but of course it +would never have happened if they had each +known that the other was being offered a bone. +This tale has a moral!”</p> +</div></blockquote> +<p class="pfirst">Janet and Phyllis looked at each other, and +then burst out laughing.</p> +<p class="pnext">“I know what it means,” Phyllis said at last. +“At least I think I do.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Of course, it means the Archery Team and +the Dramatic Club,” Janet answered. “I told +Sally today that if I am elected I didn’t think +I’d accept, because it would take me away +from you so much.”</p> +<p class="pnext">Phyllis’ arm encircled Janet’s shoulder, and +she rubbed her soft cheek against hers.</p> +<p class="pnext">“I told Taffy exactly the same thing about the +Dramatic Club,” she said, “and of course you +might know they would have a fit.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“I didn’t know about the Dramatic Club until +after I’d told Sally,” Janet admitted.</p> +<p class="pnext">“And I didn’t think about Archery when I +talked to Taffy. I was just angry at the thought +of Miss Slocum choosing me when you know +twice as much,” Phyllis protested.</p> +<p class="pnext">“But I don’t,” Janet denied. “Imagine my +acting in anything! Why, I’d perfectly hate it +in the first place, and in the second I’d die of +fright.”</p> +<p class="pnext">Phyllis looked at her doubtfully. She still +hated the idea of being in something that had no +place for Janet.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Then I suppose—” she began.</p> +<p class="pnext">“That we may as well each eat our own +bones,” Janet finished laughing, “as long as there +are two of them; and after all if you should +make the Dramatic Club and I the Team it +would help the old wing.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Yes, of course, it would,” Phyllis agreed. +“But you’re sure you don’t care, Jan?”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Of course, I don’t, silly. I was only afraid +you might. Let’s answer Sally’s letter.”</p> +<p class="pnext">They thought for several minutes, and the +final result seemed to please them, for Janet stole +softly across the hall, slipped the note under +Sally’s and Daphne’s door, and knocked ever so +lightly, before she hurried back.</p> +<p class="pnext">Sally was almost asleep, but Daphne heard +the knock. She jumped up, switched on the +lights, and woke Sally.</p> +<p class="pnext">“The Twins’s reply,” she announced as she +opened the note.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Read it quick,” Sally said sleepily.</p> +<p class="pnext">“The Story of the Two Dogs, continued (she +read).</p> +<blockquote><div> +<p class="pfirst">And so the two little dogs went home to die. +But just as they were about to draw their last +breath, the nice old gentleman met the nice +old lady, and they told each other about the +dogs they had met on their walk, and about +how foolish they had been.</p> +<p class="pnext">‘But Aunt Jane’s Poll-parrot, this can’t go +on,’ said the old gentleman.</p> +<p class="pnext">‘It would be silly to let it, wouldn’t it?’ +drawled the nice old lady.</p> +<p class="pnext">‘We will go and tell them how foolish they +are,’ they said together.</p> +<p class="pnext">So they went, and the two dogs were very +glad to see them, and when they learned that +there was two bones, they jumped up and +barked, and they each promised to eat one +apiece, and never again to be so silly; because +they realized that if they ate enough bones +they would grow strong, and perhaps some +day they would be a credit to the wing, it was +a very old wing, of the dog kennel where they +lived.”</p> +</div></blockquote> +<p class="pfirst">“The satisfying thing about the Twins is that +they always do what’s expected of them,” +Daphne commented as she folded the note up. +“The beginning of the Two Dogs was brilliant +enough but the end—”</p> +<p class="pnext">“The end is a masterpiece,” Sally replied, now +wide awake.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Aunt Jane’s Poll-parrot marked you as the +old gentleman.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Well, how about ‘drawled the nice old +lady’?”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Oh, it was a masterpiece all right, and I +loved the touch about the wing.” Daphne went +back to her own bed.</p> +<p class="pnext">“That, my child, is the first real stirring of +the spirit of Hilltop—loyalty. Oh, for the day +when we are Seniors!” Sally yawned and +stretched her white arms high above her head. +“Think of it, Taffy, Seniors, our four!” she +added drowsily, but this time Daphne was +asleep.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="chapter-xvmaking-plans"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref pginternal" href="#id16">CHAPTER XV—Making Plans</a></h2> +<p class="pfirst">“Well, it would be a calamity anywhere +else in the world, but nothing +is ever bad at Hilltop.” Gwendolyn +Matthews and Poppy were in the +Twins’ room, and a crowd of girls were listening +to what they had to say with flattering +attention.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Not even Thanksgiving away from home?” +Prue demanded with a little pout.</p> +<p class="pnext">It had just been decreed by Miss Hull and the +faculty that there would be no Thanksgiving recess +this year. Several cases of measles had +broken out in the past week, and the school doctor +had ordered a quarantine. Such a thing had +never happened before, and the seniors were +doing their best to cheer up the many disappointed +girls. Gwen and Poppy had selected +Twins’ room to go to first of all, for they were +pretty sure that they would find a goodly number +of the girls there.</p> +<p class="pnext">“It’s only four days, Prue,” Poppy said consolingly, +“and Miss Hull says we are to have a +longer Christmas vacation to make up, besides +no lessons for the four days now. You all must +admit, that’s fair enough.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Of course, it’s fair,” Prue agreed readily; +“but, well I had a very special engagement this +Thanksgiving, and I hate to give it up.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“I was going to visit Ann’s uncle,” Gladys +said sadly, “and now, of course, I can’t.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Well, you will some other time,” Prue suddenly +turned cheerful.</p> +<p class="pnext">It is always so easy to make light of other +people’s disappointments, particularly when you +are comparing them with your own. They always +seem small in comparison.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Don’t be too sure of that,” Ann laughed her +quiet little laugh. “Uncle Lacey doesn’t offer +invitations very often, and he is not so terribly +fond of me. He’s probably delighted to receive +my telegram, and has already made up his mind +that he has done his duty to his sister’s only +daughter, and with a sigh of relief returned to +his library.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Poor Glad!” Sally laughed, “cruel uncle refuses +second invitation and Ann and Glad have +to find other host for Christmas.” Both girls +lived at a considerable distance from school.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Not for Christmas,” Ann denied. “I am going +home for that blessed day, and so is Glad, +aren’t you honey?”</p> +<p class="pnext">“I most certainly am,” Glad replied. “Christmas +is one day when I must be with my mother, +not to mention my small brothers and sisters.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“What were <em class="italics">you</em> going to do that was so exciting, +Prue?” Janet inquired carelessly.</p> +<p class="pnext">“I was going to New York,” Prue replied. +“I have never been there in my whole life.” She +spoke as though she were ninety. “And Daddy +promised to take me this year. We were going +to meet my brother John, he’s a freshman at +Princeton, you know,” she added with pride. +“And, oh dear, we were going to have a simply +wonderful time, and now just because the +Red Twins and that horrid little Ethel Rivers +have the measles, I can’t go. John will be so +disappointed.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Don’t worry about brother,” Gladys teased. +“It’s my opinion that he will be quite relieved. +Grown-up boys are never very crazy about their +baby sisters, especially when their friends are +around. You know, Prue darling, you may feel +terribly grown-up, but you still wear your hair +down your back, and to boys that means you are +still a babe and beneath their notice.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“That isn’t so at all, Glad,” Prue protested. +“John and I have always been the best of friends +and he would like to introduce me to his friends, +I know he would.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“John is in college now,” Gladys spoke with +cool and perfect assurance, “and that makes all +the difference in the world. I guess I ought to +know, I’ve had three brothers at Yale.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Perhaps that accounts for it, Yale isn’t +Princeton.” Prue was almost in tears but she +managed to smile as she said this.</p> +<p class="pnext">The other girls laughed.</p> +<p class="pnext">“I reckon you’d better admit defeat,” Poppy +teased. “Prue got ahead of you that time sure +enough.”</p> +<p class="pnext">Gladys drew herself up, and tried to make her +roly-poly little self look imposing as she replied:</p> +<p class="pnext">“When Prue has had as much experience with +brothers as I have, she will come to me and +humbly beg my pardon and tell me I am right,” +she laughed suddenly. “Never will I forget the +dance my youngest brother took me to when he +was home for his first Christmas vacation. It +was at the Country Club, and because it was +Christmas all the younger kids went.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“I know about that kind of dance,” Poppy interrupted. +“Nobody has a very good time.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Well, I know <em class="italics">I</em> didn’t,” Gladys admitted. +“I felt very elegant when I left home. Ted had +on full dress and looked magnificent, and I had +let my best party dress down—” she stopped abruptly +and fell to playing a tatoo on the arm of +her chair.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Go on, Glad, we’re listening,” Phyllis urged. +“What happened when you arrived at the +dance?”</p> +<p class="pnext">Gladys looked from girl to girl, then she said +quietly: “Nothing.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Nothing?” Sally protested. “Oh, Glad, don’t +be irritating!”</p> +<p class="pnext">“I’m not trying to be,” Glad replied. “Simply +nothing happened. Ted left me as soon as he +found some of my old maid cousins that he could +leave me with, and he only came back and +danced with me once. He brought a boy to +meet me that wore glasses because he was cross-eyed, +and he stuttered. I danced with him once +and then I went into the dressing room and took +off my slippers. My feet were almost broken, +and the next day they were black and blue. He +had tramped all over them.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Well?” several voices demanded as Gladys +paused.</p> +<p class="pnext">“There’s nothing more to tell. I wept into +somebody’s opera cape until it was time to go +home, and during the drive I fell asleep on +Ted’s shoulder. I didn’t think he understood +until the next day, when Mother asked me if +I’d had a good time. I said I had, and after +breakfast Ted took me to the village and filled +me full of ice cream, and on the way home he +explained very gently what a nice thing a sister +could be, a sort of little comfort, you know, and +then on the other hand, what a dreadful little +bore. I didn’t need the talk, I’d learned my lesson. +I stay at home now and fix the studs in +their dress shirts when they want to go out, and +if it’s cold I stay up and make hot soup for them, +but I never ask to tag along.”</p> +<p class="pnext">Nothing was said after Gladys stopped, for a +minute or two. The girls were all thinking +hard. Most of them had brothers or cousins +and they all understood.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Perhaps if I’d treated my brother like that,” +Gwen said with a laugh that held sadness in it, +“he might have been a better friend of mine now +than he is; but I always tagged along and he got +thoroughly sick of me. I dance about as well +as your cross-eyed friend, Glad.”</p> +<p class="pnext">Phyllis was thinking of Tom, and being +thankful that he was so much older than she +and Janet, that they had never had the chance +to make Gwen’s mistake.</p> +<p class="pnext">Janet was thinking of Peter and wondering. +Peter Gibbs was a boy she had known back in +Old Chester. They had shared the Enchanted +Kingdom together, and he had taken the place +of her brother long before Tom had arrived to +claim the right. Janet was fonder of Peter than +she really knew, and she found herself suddenly +wondering if he had outgrown her, now that he +was in college. She made a firm resolve to take +Gladys’s advice.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Well, thank goodness, Chuck isn’t in college +yet,” Daphne said suddenly, and Sally and the +Twins laughed.</p> +<p class="pnext">Then, as so often happens, when a room-full +of people have been quietly thinking, everyone +began to talk at once. They dismissed the subject +of brothers and returned to the holidays. +They made plans for all of the days, except +Thanksgiving Day itself.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Something’s bound to happen then,” Gwen +assured them. “Miss Hull will probably ask +one of the classes to entertain.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“You know it will be the Seniors,” Poppy +replied reproachfully, “and what we will do at +so short notice I’m sure I don’t know.” This in +Poppy’s complaining tones made the girls all +laugh.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Cheer up, Poppy, we’ll all help you, no matter +what,” Sally promised. “We might have a +real old-fashioned pillow fight between the +wings; that would liven us up a bit,” she suggested. +“I admit I feel rather depressed myself.”</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="chapter-xvimore-plans-and-plots"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref pginternal" href="#id17">CHAPTER XVI—More Plans and Plots</a></h2> +<p class="pfirst">But the plans for Thanksgiving Day +were not entrusted to the Seniors as they +expected. That night after dinner Miss +Hull got up from her place at the Senior +table, before she rang the little silver bell that +always signalled the close of each meal.</p> +<p class="pnext">Instant silence fell over the dining room, and +the girls all turned to her expectantly.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Girls,” she began, “I was more than sorry +to have to ask you to give up your holidays, and +I want to say how much I appreciate the splendid +way you have all accepted the disappointment. +You must make your own plans for most +of the time. You are free to do as you like. I +would suggest a picnic for one of the days. It +is really not a bit too cold and it would be a +good way to keep out of doors.</p> +<p class="pnext">“On Thanksgiving day, I want you to be my +guests at a Thanksgiving dinner.” The girls +clapped their hands enthusiastically but Miss +Hull had not finished.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Just one more thing, girls please,” she went +on. “Remember the girls that have the measles. +They are sick in the Infirmary, and although +you must remain on their account, just think +how very much worse it is for them, and do what +you can for them. Notes are always welcome +when one is in the Infirmary, aren’t they?” she +turned to Poppy.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Yes, Miss Hull, most anything is,” Poppy +replied, a worried expression on her usually +placid face. She was wondering whom she +could persuade to write to the Red Twins and +Ethel Rivers. Kitty Joyce and Louise Brown +she knew would be well taken care of. Miss +Hull had a way of making a suggestion, and then +leaving it to the Seniors to see that it was carried +out.</p> +<p class="pnext">The same thought was reflected on the face +of every Senior. Gwen and Poppy found their +solution in the Sophomore class. Their own +particular pets could be depended on they know.</p> +<p class="pnext">“We’ll ask them after dinner,” Gwen said, +and Poppy nodded.</p> +<p class="pnext">So, soon after dinner found the same group in +one corner of the ballroom that had discussed +the subject earlier in the day.</p> +<p class="pnext">“We’ll write, all of us,” Ann announced, +speaking as was her right as the oldest girl. She +had been at Hilltop a year longer than any of +the others. “And what’s more, we will write +really nice notes.” She looked around the circle +defiantly as though she dared any one of +them to contradict her.</p> +<p class="pnext">“We will,” Prue agreed.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Suppose so, though what I’ll say, I’m sure I +don’t know,” Gladys scowled at the prospect.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Thank goodness, the measles stayed in the +new wing. I hope none of us catch it,” Sally +remarked. “What else are we to do besides +writing the notes?”</p> +<p class="pnext">“I don’t know. We’ll have to think of something,” +Gwen replied.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Why don’t we serenade them?” Daphne suggested. +“It’s always fun to hear people sing, +especially if they sing all the songs you like.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Good idea,” Poppy agreed. “We’ll do that +very thing. We’ll sing some of the old plantation +melodies and the old ballads that Miss Hull +loves. Daphne, you and Janet come down to +Seniors’ Retreat in the morning. You have +awfully pretty voices, both of you. I heard you +singing in church, last Sunday.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Sure it wasn’t Phyl?” Ann inquired. “If +you can tell the Twins apart in church, when +their heads are bent reverently over their prayer +books, you are doing more than I can.”</p> +<p class="pnext">Poppy laughed and pointed to the tiny crescent +pin that Phyllis was still wearing.</p> +<p class="pnext">“I couldn’t at first,” she admitted. “But +Phyllis took off her coat and I saw that pin, +then I watched them when the next hymn began, +and she never opened her lips, so I said to myself, +‘Janet has the voice.’”</p> +<p class="pnext">“And, of course, Taffy looks as if she ought +to sing, and she does,” Gwen added.</p> +<p class="pnext">“She looks like Diana at the chase, with a bow +in her hand, too,” Sally teased, “but she can’t +shoot.”</p> +<p class="pnext">Daphne blushed ever so slightly. “What an +unfortunate turn the conversation has taken,” +she drawled. “Poppy, we will meet you in the +morning, of course any time you say.”</p> +<p class="pnext">Janet nodded. “Love to, Poppy, I think it +will be a lot of fun,” she said.</p> +<p class="pnext">“It’s awfully decent of Miss Hull to give us +a party,” Sally remarked. “I know it will be +something rather nice, she always does things so +beautifully!” She paused and added after a second, +“Wish we could do something for her.”</p> +<p class="pnext">It was only a germ of an idea, but it grew with +amazing speed.</p> +<p class="pnext">“I wish we could, too,” Gwen said first.</p> +<p class="pnext">Then Prue added, “So do I.”</p> +<p class="pnext">The rest nodded and it was Sally’s turn again.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Well, why don’t we?” she said.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Let’s.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Good idea.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“But what?” came the replies.</p> +<p class="pnext">“I don’t exactly know,” Sally admitted. “The +idea just popped into my head.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“A serenade,” someone suggested.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Not nice enough.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“How about tableaux, living pictures? Miss +Hull loves those.” It was Poppy who spoke.</p> +<p class="pnext">The rest thought for a few minutes in silence. +Just tableaux were not exactly the thing somehow. +The idea lacked originality.</p> +<p class="pnext">At last Gladys jumped and executed a silent +but triumphant dance.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Well, let’s hear it.” Ann knew Gladys better +than any of her other friends, and she felt +that the question had been solved.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Well, I don’t want to be forward or cheeky,” +Gladys began shyly, “and anyway it’s just a suggestion.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Let’s have it,” Gwyn demanded.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Well,” Gladys began again, “you all know +how fond Miss Hull is of the stories that have +come down about Hilltop.” The rest nodded +eagerly.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Why couldn’t we have tableaux representing +all the Hilltop stories we know about?” she finished +with a rush.</p> +<p class="pnext">The girls looked their admiration.</p> +<p class="pnext">“We can and we will,” Poppy declared. “I +declare, that’s just the sweetest idea I ever +heard!” She and Gwen went off to confer with +the other Seniors, and the rest went back to +Gladys’ room.</p> +<p class="pnext">“What tableaux would you have, Glad?” +Prue inquired respectfully.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Well, there’s our Countess,” Gladys replied. +“There’s a miniature of her own in the library, +in the bookcase, that has all the souvenirs in it, +and, as I remember it, she looks like Taffy.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“But where shall we find the costumes?” Phyllis +inquired.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Up in the attic. It’s loaded with cedar chests +full,” Ann told her. “Miss Hull always lets us +wear them when we give masquerades.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Tell us about the rest of the characters,” +Sally said impatiently.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Well, there’s the poor unhappy lady that +haunts the Twins’ balcony,” Gladys suggested +with a perfectly straight face.</p> +<p class="pnext">“The Twins’ balcony?” Sally showed her surprise +at this new adaption of an old tale, but +neither Ann nor Prue moved a muscle as Gladys +continued. It was the opportunity they had been +waiting for, ever since Janet had expressed the +wish that their room had a ghost.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Yes,” Gladys went on in a matter-of-fact +tone, “the poor pretty lady that was standing +on the balcony and looked down, and saw them +bringing home the dead body of her lover. He +had fought a duel with her brother, and the +brother had killed him.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Oh, Glad, and you never told us!” Janet protested. +“Was it really from our balcony?”</p> +<p class="pnext">Sally who had caught Prue’s warning wink +did not question any further. She knew as well +as they did, that the famous haunted balcony was +on the other side of the house, outside of one of +the class rooms.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Truth of the matter is, I didn’t intend to tell +you at all,” Gladys said seriously. “Those things +are not nice to know about. The servants, you +know, all vow they have seen the ghost.”</p> +<p class="pnext">Phyllis shivered. “Poor lovely lady” she +said, “I’m awfully sorry for her, but I know I +shall never sleep again.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“What nonsense” Janet exclaimed. “The idea +of believing in ghosts.”</p> +<p class="pnext">The other girls did not agree with her that +it was nonsense; they merely exchanged rather +knowing glances.</p> +<p class="pnext">Then Poppy and Gwen and some of the other +Seniors came in, and the talk changed to plans +for the tableaux.</p> +<p class="pnext">It was decided to give six in all. They talked +earnestly until the clock chimed the Happy +Dreams, then the Seniors went back to their +rooms, and the rest of the girls, after a few minutes’ +more talk, to theirs.</p> +<p class="pnext">Janet went straight to the balcony, when she +and Phyllis were alone in their own room. She +looked out into the lovely night, and in her vivid +imagination she saw the whole scene, as Gladys +had told it to her, unfold before her.</p> +<p class="pnext">If Miss Slocum had seen her stretch out her +arms, as she looked down with the eyes of the +poor maiden upon the body of her lover, she +might have wondered. In literature, Janet kept +her emotions to herself, and the more a scene +from Shakespeare touched, the more colorless +was her voice as she read it. As she would have +hated to have shared the Enchanted Kingdom +with any one but Peter, so she hated to share her +love of the romantic, and hold it up for possible +ridicule.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Jan, do come in from that horrible balcony,” +Phyllis besought her. “I have the creeps every +time I look at it.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Nonsense,” Janet replied shortly, but she +came in, and it was not many minutes before she +was in bed. Phyllis, in spite of her predictions +to the contrary, was soon fast asleep, and Janet, +though she tried to keep awake and think about +the pretty lady, soon followed.</p> +<p class="pnext">Neither of them ever knew how long they had +been asleep, before they were conscious of a low +moaning sound that came from the balcony.</p> +<p class="pnext">Phyllis heard it first, and she leaned over and +shook Janet’s arm.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Jan, listen, what is that horrible noise?” she +demanded.</p> +<p class="pnext">Janet, still very sleepy, sat up to listen. For a +minute there was no sound, but the whisper of +the wind in the trees. Then very faintly at first, +but coming nearer and nearer, they heard a low +moan.</p> +<p class="pnext">Phyllis was in Janet’s bed in a second, and was +shivering against her. For the best part of a +minute Janet was frightened, then her good +sense came to her rescue. She had not lived in +an isolated house in Old Chester, where the +wind played queer tricks with echoes and the +waves beat dismally against the shore, to be easily +frightened.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Oh, Jan, it’s that woman, I know it is!” +Phyllis was sobbing.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Rats!” Janet replied inelegantly.</p> +<p class="pnext">Before Phyllis could stop her, she had slipped +out of bed and was creeping softly to the window. +Phyllis was too frightened to speak. The +moan came again, and this time a white arm +waved through the open door. Phyllis put her +head under the covers and did not see what followed.</p> +<p class="pnext">Janet crept closer. She was conscious of the +pounding of her heart, but she was not afraid. +Instead, she rather enjoyed the possibility of +catching a real ghost.</p> +<p class="pnext">She watched the window for a minute and +then, acting on a sudden impulse, she walked to +the door. She put her ear to the keyhole, and, +as she had half expected, she heard a very cautious +whisper.</p> +<p class="pnext">Without waiting a minute she caught the handle +of the door and opened it suddenly.</p> +<p class="pnext">Two kimonoed figures fell into the room. The +noise was so loud that Phyllis felt no ghost could +have been responsible for it, and she uncovered +her head.</p> +<p class="pnext">She saw, by the silver moonlight that was +pouring in through the window, the prostrate +forms of Prue and Ann, and she heard Janet +say,</p> +<p class="pnext">“Come in, won’t you? If you are looking for +Glad, she is out on the balcony.”</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="chapter-xviithe-tableaux"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref pginternal" href="#id18">CHAPTER XVII—The Tableaux</a></h2> +<p class="pfirst">“Really, you girls choose the oddest +time to visit!” Janet said the next +morning after breakfast.</p> +<p class="pnext">Gladys sneezed. “Don’t rub it in,” +she begged; “it’s bad enough as it is. I do think +though, that when we took all that trouble to +give you a real ghost, and I make an excellent +ghost, if I do say so, that the least you could +have done was to play up to it.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Phyl did,” Prue looked reproachfully at +Janet. “Will you please tell me whatever made +you think of opening that door?”</p> +<p class="pnext">“She was going to call for help,” Ann suggested.</p> +<p class="pnext">Janet smiled a superior smile. “Hardly. I +knew, of course, that it was a joke, and I rather +suspected whose. I knew there was only one of +you on the balcony, but I knew the other two +would not be far off, so I tried the door, with +what results, you already know.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Jan Page, I am perfectly willing to take my +medicine, but I will not be gloated over.”</p> +<p class="pnext">Gladys made a dive for Janet, and they rolled +together in a rough-and-tumble fight.</p> +<p class="pnext">In the midst of it Poppy came in.</p> +<p class="pnext">“What are you two young ones up to?” she +demanded. “Do stop, or you’ll hurt yourselves +and not be fit for the tableaux.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“We’ve decided about the one for the little +lady that fell off the balcony,” Gwen began. +“We’re going to have it in two scenes.”</p> +<p class="pnext">The girls could hardly keep their faces +straight as they listened.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Is Glad going to be the pretty lady?” Janet +inquired innocently.</p> +<p class="pnext">“No, we thought we’d use you and Phyl for +that,” Gwen went on with her explanation.</p> +<p class="pnext">They discussed and changed their plans many +days before Thanksgiving Day arrived, but +when it did come, a little over a week later, it +found them ready.</p> +<p class="pnext">The rest of the school, when Poppy had told +them of the scheme, had heartily endorsed it, +and Thanksgiving morning found them all busy.</p> +<p class="pnext">Some were fixing the ballroom with bows of +evergreens, and some were busy preparing the +refreshments. The girls who were interested in +the Dramatic Club were taking care of the stage.</p> +<p class="pnext">They had ransacked the old barn, where the +scenery from year to year was stored, with a +happy result. They had found a balcony that +rather resembled a pulpit, a woodland back drop +for the Countess to pose against as she had in +the miniature, and an old spinnet for a famous +composer.</p> +<p class="pnext">The actors themselves were not allowed to do +anything, for fear of tiring them, and no famous +actress could have been taken more care of, than +was Daphne.</p> +<p class="pnext">The new wing had been a little difficult at +first, for the suggestion had come from the old +wing, and they were jealous, but the Seniors had +smoothed things over, and when the day came +it found them all united.</p> +<p class="pnext">Church took up most of the morning. It was +a long walk to the little building set in a clump +of protecting pines, where the school worshipped. +The sermon was long, and it was not +until after one o’clock that they reached Hilltop.</p> +<p class="pnext">Luncheon was spread informally on the two +long service tables, and the girls helped +themselves. Dinner was to be at six o’clock, so that +there would be plenty of time afterwards for the +final preparations.</p> +<p class="pnext">Miss Hull had been invited to come to the +ballroom at eight o’clock, but apart from that, +she had no idea what was going to happen. The +girls had all kept it a profound secret, and only +Miss Slocum of the faculty knew the plans.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Daphne, darling, please don’t stuff so,” Janet +implored in an agonized whisper behind Miss +Jenks’s back. “If you eat another mouthful, you +will never be able to get into that bodice this +evening.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“More secrets,” Miss Jenks laughed. “It’s a +good thing we won’t have to wait much longer, +for I couldn’t stand it.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Neither could I,” Miss Remsted agreed. “I +can’t remember ever being so curious or so excited.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Tell us who’s idea it was anyway?” Miss +Jenks begged.</p> +<p class="pnext">“It was a combination,” Prue exclaimed. +“Sally started it, and Glad finished it.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“What a truly wonderful combination!” Miss +Remsted said smiling.</p> +<p class="pnext">“I’m very proud of our table,” Miss Jenks +added.</p> +<p class="pnext">The girls looked at Daphne, and the Twins +and winked at each other. Their favorite teachers +would have more cause to be proud later in +the day.</p> +<p class="pnext">After luncheon the entire school plunged into +a whirl of work that lasted until time to dress for +dinner.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Best clothes, mind,” Poppy had warned the +girls; “white if you have it, Miss Hull loves to +see the whole school in white.”</p> +<p class="pnext">The girls nodded, and hurried to their rooms, +to appear a half-hour later in filmy white +dresses, their hair tied by pink and blue bows.</p> +<p class="pnext">“You look like a lot of dainty butterflies,” Miss +Hull told them delighted at the pretty picture +they made. “I appreciate your wearing white, +for I am sure you did it to please me. But I +mustn’t talk any longer, we have still that surprise +ahead of us and it would never do to delay +it.”</p> +<p class="pnext">They took their seats and there followed a +meal of the kind one reads about in books—a +typical southern dinner.</p> +<p class="pnext">At every girl’s place there was a dainty place +card. Miss Remsted had painted them all, and +every one was a little joke in itself. The Twins +had green pods with two little peas in each, and +written above it was “alike as.”</p> +<p class="pnext">Sally had a green poll-parrot with “My Aunt +Jane’s” written in front of it. Daphne’s read, “I +excel with” and then a bow and arrow.</p> +<p class="pnext">The tables were all decorated with baskets +of fruit and nuts, and the snowy linen and shining +silver gave the beautiful old hall a splendid +aspect.</p> +<p class="pnext">Everybody was very merry and happy. The +old darkies who had waited on the tables at +Hilltop since it started were immaculate and +grinning in white aprons and red bandanas.</p> +<p class="pnext">“And now for the surprise,” Miss Jenks said +as they left the table after the nuts and fruit.</p> +<p class="pnext">The girls hurried upstairs. Gwen came into +the Twins’s room to help them, and Poppy +stayed with Sally and Daphne.</p> +<p class="pnext">At last everything was ready. The stage was +set for the first tableaux, and the lights in the +ballroom were out.</p> +<p class="pnext">The curtain rose slowly to discover Sally, +dressed as a boy in a velvet suit, a broad, white +lace collar and shoes with big buckles. She was +posed on a rock with the woodland screen behind +her, and she looked so like the first owner +of Hilltop, whose painting hung in the library, +that Miss Hull and the rest of the faculty +gasped.</p> +<p class="pnext">The next picture was a copy of another painting,—Ann +and Prue, dressed in long, very full +skirts that showed frilled pantelets beneath +them, stood side by side before a tiny grave. +They were “Delia and Constance Hull beside +the grave of their favorite spaniel.”</p> +<p class="pnext">Prue was kneeling on a tack in the green +denim floor cover, and her knee was so paralyzed +after the curtain fell for the third time, that +Sally had to lift her up. She limped for a week.</p> +<p class="pnext">The Twins came next in two scenes from +The Haunted Balcony. In the first, Phyllis, +dressed in a soft white robe, sat with her chin +cupped in her hands and her eyes looked out +toward the rising sun. At the back of the stage +behind a net curtain, to give the effect of a vision, +were Gladys and Janet. They wore black satin +knee breeches and white shirts, open at the +throat. They held old pearl-handled duelling +pistols pointed at each other’s hearts.</p> +<p class="pnext">The curtain fell, to rise again on the sad scene +of the poor demented lady, about to throw herself +from the balcony. Attendants were carrying +in the crumpled body of her lover. Gladys +looked very dead, while her brother stalked behind, +his arms folded, a smile of triumph on his +youthful face. Gwen was imposing as the old +doctor carrying a very dilapidated bag.</p> +<p class="pnext">The next illustrated the story of Mrs. Fanmore +Hull’s bravery. Poppy was seated before +a spinning wheel, in a soft gray dress and cap +and kerchief. At the door three villainous looking +bandits peered in at her. One had a patch +over his eye and they all looked very rakish.</p> +<p class="pnext">Mrs. Hull went on spinning for a minute or +two, and then she rose with dignity and grace. +She approached the robbers, and just as she +reached the door she picked up the thin apron +she was wearing and as one would scare the +chickens off the grass, she said, “shoo!” The robbers +disappeared.</p> +<p class="pnext">Everybody laughed, for they knew the old +story, and Miss Hull clapped delightedly.</p> +<p class="pnext">The next was the famous Countess de Camier. +Daphne in all her radiant loveliness was so like +the miniature of the Countess, kept carefully in +a locked case in the library, that Miss Hull was +stunned. Like her charming model, Daphne +wore a quaint shepherdess dress, that spread +about her dainty slippered feet in soft billows. +Her hat was a white leghorn with just a flat bow +of blue velvet on top, but a mass of tiny forget-me-nots +snuggled beneath the brim, against her +wonderful hair, at the back.</p> +<p class="pnext">She sat on a small, straight-back chair, leaning +a little forward, her lips parted in a haunting +little smile, and her eyes bright.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Oh!” gasped everybody, the girls, the faculty, +and Miss Hull, and then held their breaths, +fearful lest the curtain drop and shut out the +lovely picture.</p> +<p class="pnext">At last it dropped slowly only to rise again +and again.</p> +<p class="pnext">“What a beautiful Juliet she would make!” +Miss Hull said, and Miss Slocum nodded.</p> +<p class="pnext">The last picture was hardly worth showing. +Helen Jenkins, dressed in man’s clothes, sat at +the spinnet and tried to look as though she were +composing a masterpiece, but everybody was too +full of Daphne to look at her.</p> +<p class="pnext">The curtain dropped, the lights came on, and +the girls came from behind the scenes in their +costumes to join in the dance that followed. +Phyllis and Daphne made a beautiful picture as +they walked arm in arm through the room, for +Phyllis, with her hair over her shoulders and +the soft ivory folds of her robe falling about +her graceful body was very beautiful. They were +almost rivalled in loveliness by Sally and Janet, +for they made dashing boys and they swaggered +about in fine style.</p> +<p class="pnext">Miss Hull’s usually remote disposition was +touched by the nature of the surprise. She loved +the history of her house, and she was delighted +to see the genuine feeling the girls put into their +impersonations, and she did not stint her praise +as she said good night to each girl in turn.</p> +<p class="pnext">It was a sleepy but very happy school that +sought their beds as the grandfather clocks +throughout the house struck eleven.</p> +<p class="pnext">“I told you it wouldn’t be hard to stay here +for the hols, and it hasn’t been, has it?”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Certainly not.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“How about the trip to New York, Prus?”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Oh, bother New York!” Prue replied, and +the evening ended as the day had begun, with +laughter.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="chapter-xviiithe-elections"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref pginternal" href="#id19">CHAPTER XVIII—The Elections</a></h2> +<p class="pfirst">The low-ceilinged white-washed gym at +Hilltop had originally been the store-room +and the dairy. The rooms were +thrown into one, and made an excellent +gymnasium. A balcony ran around the sides +for spectators, and the walls were lined with +racks for dumb bells and other apparatus. Basket +ball posts stood at either end, and hooked up +to the ceiling were trapezes and bars.</p> +<p class="pnext">Hilltop preferred to take its exercise out-of-doors, +but the gym was a very good substitute +in bad weather.</p> +<p class="pnext">It was nearing the Christmas holidays, the +most exciting time of the year. Teams were +chosen and new members were elected to the various +clubs.</p> +<p class="pnext">Because of the unusually cold and rainy +weather, the archery target had been brought in +and put up in the gym. A soft, small mesh curtain +hung behind it to catch stray arrows. The +bows were piled up along the wall, and the arrows +kept a neat pile beside them.</p> +<p class="pnext">“It looks stuffy to me,” Sally complained. “I +never shot indoors and I don’t think I’m going +to like it.”</p> +<p class="pnext">Janet eyed the arrangements critically.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Oh, well, it will have the same effect on +everybody,” she said. “And seriously, Sally, +you know we haven’t a chance. There are loads +of girls up for election.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“I know and we’re only Sophs,” Sally agreed. +“Still I can’t give up hope.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“But Sally, there are only ten to be chosen, six +regulars and four subs,” Janet reminded her. +“Why, we haven’t a chance. There’s always +next year though, and the blessed year after. +You’ll be captain of sports then.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“I will not, you will be. I decided that ages +ago. Phil is to be president of the Dramatics, +and Daphne of the class.”</p> +<p class="pnext">Janet eyed her affectionately. “And what are +you going to be when you have disposed of the +rest of us?”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Oh, guide, philosopher and friend to you +all,” Sally laughed. “Then I can have my finger +in every pie.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“That’s the way our four does things anyway,” +Janet laughed. They always spoke of themselves +as “our four” since Daphne had happily +thought of the name. The rest of the girls, old +and young, looked on in approval. A school is +apt to be proud of its close friendships.</p> +<p class="pnext">Ann, Prue and Gladys, in imitation, called +themselves “We and Co.,” and the school smiled +and approved again.</p> +<p class="pnext">The Red Twins came in and put an end to +further discussion. They had recovered long +since from their attack of measles and they had +returned from the Infirmary very chastened in +spirit—as Sally said, “the spirit of Hilltop was +beginning to work.” They were still too serious +about every competition they entered, and they +had not grown any fonder of each other during +their illness.</p> +<p class="pnext">It was the rules of the contest that everyone +must use the regulation bows. The Twins had +their own special make that they practiced with, +preferring them in a superior way to the ones +the school supplied.</p> +<p class="pnext">They had them with them now and Sally and +Janet stopped to admire them.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Don’t you think it mean we can’t use them in +the contest?” Bess asked in aggrieved tones.</p> +<p class="pnext">“No, I don’t, it would hardly be fair. You +wouldn’t want an advantage, would you?” Sally +replied.</p> +<p class="pnext">“I don’t see why not,” May said sulkily. “If +we can have them, then we’re lucky and we +ought to benefit by our luck.”</p> +<p class="pnext">Janet and Sally did not bother to reply. They +left the gym and climbed the steep back stairs.</p> +<p class="pnext">“The more I see of those girls, the more I detest +them,” Janet said with feeling.</p> +<p class="pnext">“I know,” Sally agreed. “I begin to think +they are possible and improving, and then they +say a thing like that.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Hopeless,” Janet announced, and the Red +Twins were discarded as unfit for further conversation.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Hello, you two!” Daphne called from the +door of the library as they passed. They went +in and found Phyllis with her nose in a copy of +the <em class="italics">Merchant of Venice</em>.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Down looking at your miniature, Taffy?” +Sally teased.</p> +<p class="pnext">“I am not, indeed; I’m trying to learn Little +Ellie by Mrs. Browning,” Daphne protested. +“It is a lovely thing,” she added, turning to +Janet.</p> +<p class="pnext">“I knew you’d love it,” Janet’s eyes glowed +with enthusiasm. “I wanted Phyllis to learn it +but she stuck to ‘the Quality of Mercy Is Not +Strained,’ and I don’t know that I blame her, +it’s so beautiful.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“And short,” Phyllis added, putting down the +book. Sally went over and sat beside her and +she slipped her arm about her neck.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Tell us again, Sally, just what happens this +afternoon,” she said.</p> +<p class="pnext">“At two o’clock the gong sounds,” Sally began, +“and everybody troops to the gym. There’s +a game of basket ball first. Every girl who is +eligible gets a chance to play. After that comes +the archery practice. We shoot, the same as we +did on Archery Day, that is, all the eligible +girls. Then there’s the jumping and pole vaulting +and the drill. Then cold tubs, supper, and +the Dramatic Club girls recite in the evening. +After that a dance and refreshments.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“But when do we know?” Phyllis insisted.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Tonight when we go to our rooms. If we are +the lucky ones we find notes under our pillows.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“My, I mean your Aunt Jane’s Poll-parrot!” +Janet exclaimed, “I wish it were over.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“So do I. The suspense is awful. Of course +we all have a chance, but it’s such a little one.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“My hand is so shakey now that I’ll never be +able even to lift my bow, let alone string it,” +Janet complained laughingly.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Well, never mind, darling, your twin will +probably get up and forget every line she ever +knew,” Phyllis comforted.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Let’s go out for a walk, and don’t let’s talk +about it,” Daphne suggested suddenly. “I had +a letter from mother today,” she began, and until +lunch time they discussed home plans, for this +was the last Saturday before the holidays.</p> +<p class="pnext">At two o’clock they went to the gym.</p> +<p class="pnext">The basket ball game was long and uninteresting. +The New Wing supplied most of the +players, and it looked as if they would be the +final winners of the cup.</p> +<p class="pnext">Then came the Archery Contest. Once more +Janet beat the Red Twins. The change of bows +hurt their form. It was never necessary to do it +again. Sally’s luck held, and she made a very +good score, but there were so many girls, Juniors +and Seniors competing, that neither Janet nor +Sally felt at all hopeful.</p> +<p class="pnext">At dinner there was a quiet lull over the dining-room. +Hilltop insisted that her girls be +good losers above everything else, and there was +very little grumbling, but every girl tonight was +busy with her own thoughts.</p> +<p class="pnext">At last the recitations came. Girl after girl +stood on the stage in the ballroom and recited +lines from Shakespeare.</p> +<p class="pnext">Not until Phyllis stood quietly before them, +were they conscious of a personality. She said +Portia’s famous speech simply, but with understanding. +She made the girls listen, and when +she finished they gave her her just dues.</p> +<p class="pnext">Daphne followed her, and as she told the story +of Little Ellie, Janet felt again the spell of the +Enchanted Kingdom.</p> +<p class="pnext">Daphne’s beauty always called forth instant +appreciation from her school-mates, and tonight +they were more than generous in their applause.</p> +<p class="pnext">Dancing ended the evening, but tonight there +was no lingering after sweet dreams had chimed +out bed-time.</p> +<p class="pnext">The girls hurried to their rooms.</p> +<p class="pnext">Janet and Phyllis stood and looked at each +other, and then dived under their pillows.</p> +<p class="pnext">Only Janet found a note. She opened it listlessly. +What was the fun if Phyllis had missed +out? She read that she was duly elected to the +Archery Team.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Oh, Phil!” she whispered, as she dropped +her note carelessly, but she did not have time to +finish, before Sally and Daphne rushed in, both +flourishing notes. They stopped aghast at the +sight of the Twins.</p> +<p class="pnext">Phyllis managed a very little smile.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Congratulations,” she said.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Phil, do you mean?” Daphne demanded and +poor Phyllis nodded.</p> +<p class="pnext">Ann and Prue and Gladys came dancing in. +Gladys had made the Archery Team as a substitute.</p> +<p class="pnext">They stopped, too shocked and surprised at +the news of Phyllis’s failure.</p> +<p class="pnext">“But you deserved it, Phil,” Ann insisted.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Nonsense, I did no such thing. You don’t +deserve things just because you want them,” +Phyllis replied. “Goodness me, I’ve enough joy +in your good luck to last me a life-time. So do +forget about me.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“What’s that?” Gladys demanded, and she +swooped down under the bed and stood up with +a note for Phyllis in her hand.</p> +<p class="pnext">“It just fell down,” she cried. “Read it, Phil, +quick!”</p> +<p class="pnext">Phyllis read. She was a member of the Dramatic +Club.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Oh—oh, Jane!” was all she could find to say.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="chapter-xixthe-tennis-games"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref pginternal" href="#id20">CHAPTER XIX—The Tennis Games</a></h2> +<p class="pfirst">Christmas came, and with it the joys +of long holidays and home. The Twins +had a particularly good time, for Auntie +Mogs, Mrs. Ladd, and Mrs. Hillis all +entertained for them, and Mr. Keith, Donald’s +father, gave them a marvelous party.</p> +<p class="pnext">They found Chuck very much changed and +inclined to be superior, but it was not long before +he was back on his old footing with the +Twins, showing a marked preference as always +for Phyllis.</p> +<p class="pnext">The last four days of the vacation were spent +at Major Harrison’s, Ann’s uncle, who had surpassed +all expectations by inviting Gladys and +Prue, the Twins, and Daphne and Sally to stay +with his niece for the entire three weeks.</p> +<p class="pnext">They had all accepted for the last four days, +and glorious days they had been. There were +horses to ride, dogs to play with, and for Janet +the library of her dreams.</p> +<p class="pnext">Major Harrison, a taciturn old gentleman, +had been very gruff at first, but towards the end +of their visit he had sought out their companionship, +and seemed to enjoy their good times as +much as they did.</p> +<p class="pnext">Janet was his especial pet. He rode with her, +and together they visited the kennels each morning; +and when Janet showed her skill in caring +for a sick puppy, he had been so pleased that he +had given the little brown-and-white ball to her. +She had accepted the gift delightedly, but it was +understood that the dog should stay at Glenside, +for her own Boru would not welcome a rival in +New York, and she could not keep him at Hilltop.</p> +<p class="pnext">They had great fun at the christening, when +the puppy was duly named Janet and recorded +in the club annals.</p> +<p class="pnext">After Christmas came the long term at school. +But Easter was early, and thanks to the beautiful +weather that came soon after the first of the +year, the girls did not feel the usual mid-year +strain.</p> +<p class="pnext">When this chapter opens, Spring was in full +sway at Hilltop. The great bushes of lilac that +fringed the lawn were ready to blossom, and +everywhere spring flowers added their brilliance +to the deep blue and white of the sky.</p> +<p class="pnext">Sports Week was in progress. Basket Ball +Day had come and gone, leaving a victory to the +new wing. The relay races had been run the +day before, another victory for them.</p> +<p class="pnext">Only Archery and Tennis remained, and unless +the old wing won both they would be beaten +at sports.</p> +<p class="pnext">“I don’t care as much about tennis as I do +about archery,” called Sally as they dressed that +morning. All the doors were open and the remarks +floated from room to room.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Oh, I do, as a point, if nothing else,” Ann +called back from the end of the hall.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Do me up, somebody,” she added, as she +struggled with a refractory button at the back +of her white linen dress.</p> +<p class="pnext">“If the new wing wins points in sports this +year, I am not coming back,” Gladys announced. +“Here, Ann, turn ’round and stand still, I’ll do +you up. Think how awful it would be to have +the Red Twins gloating all next term,” she +added. “I simply couldn’t stand it.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Who plays them in the finals in doubles?” +Prue asked.</p> +<p class="pnext">“We do,” Phyllis answered. “We played off +yesterday, and, and of course they had to beat +Poppy and Helen.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Cheeky of them, I call it,” Gladys commented.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Oh, well, if you are up against them, we +don’t need to worry. How’s your game?” Prue +had never held a racket in her hand, but she always +spoke in tennis terms.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Very bad, thank you, Prue,” Janet informed +her. “I twisted my wrist yesterday, playing +against Kitty and Louise, and Phyl hurt her +foot.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“I suppose the Red Twins are in high feather +then. How they love an advantage!” Sally said +crossly.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Well, they don’t happen to know about this +one?” Janet replied. “I have kept mighty still +about it. My hand goes behind my back when +I see any of the faculty, so they won’t notice the +adhesive plaster on my wrist.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Is it as bad a sprain as that?” Daphne inquired.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Yes, it’s terrifically painful,” Janet replied. +“I can’t see how I am going to manage,” she +added in a much louder voice than was necessary +to carry across the hall.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Who was that?” Gladys exclaimed suddenly. +She was dressing in the corridor as well as in +her own room.</p> +<p class="pnext">Janet went to her door, and stood smiling after +a retreating figure that was hurrying softly down +the stairs.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Hush, Glad, don’t spoil my party,” she said +laughing. “That was Ethel Rivers, over scouting +for the Red Twins. I saw her reflection in +my mirror, so I gave her what news I could.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“But why tell her how sore your arm is? The +Red Twins will gloat,” Prue protested.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Wait and see,” Janet replied.</p> +<p class="pnext">And the Red Twins did gloat. They even +asked the Twins if they would like a handicap. +Janet did the refusing in such a way, that it +left them perfectly sure that she would have +gladly taken it, had it been possible.</p> +<p class="pnext">“What are you up to, Janet dear?” demanded +Daphne, who had heard the conversation.</p> +<p class="pnext">“A rather mean trick, Taffy,” Janet admitted, +“but I can’t help it. They are so funny when +they are sure of themselves. Do look at May +condescending to Phyl. On my word I do believe +she is giving her points.”</p> +<p class="pnext">Daphne took her by the shoulders and shook +her. “Jan, tell me the truth. How much of a +chance have the Red Twins?” she demanded.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Not a chance in the world,” Janet replied +calmly.</p> +<p class="pnext">And Daphne went back to the eager group of +girls who were crowding for places near the +court, and smiled her sweet dreamy smile in response +to all the new wing girls’ boasts.</p> +<p class="pnext">The match began. Gwen and Stella Richardson +played off the finals in singles, and after a +hard fought fight, Gwen won.</p> +<p class="pnext">“She has a back hand stroke that is a perfect +whiz,” Phyllis exclaimed admiringly. “Wish I +could get it!”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Oh, well played, Gwen, well played!” Janet +called as flushed but triumphant Gwen left the +court.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Well fought!” Sally called as Stella followed +her. She was smiling broadly.</p> +<p class="pnext">“I’d hate to be beaten by any other girl, but +it’s a positive honor to be beaten by Gwen,” she +said good-naturedly.</p> +<p class="pnext">“All right, you girls, already for the finals +in doubles.” Gwen blew her silver whistle. She +was once more captain of sports.</p> +<p class="pnext">The two sets of twins took their places.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Awfully sorry about your arm!” Bess said +with patronizing kindness as she passed Janet.</p> +<p class="pnext">Janet nodded her thanks. Her arm did hurt, +in spite of the way she had joked about it, and +she could not help thinking of the Archery contest +next day. She looked ruefully at her bandaged +wrist as she took her place.</p> +<p class="pnext">The Red Twins served first. Bess sent a tricky +drop to Phyllis but her racket was waiting for +it and she sent it back, just dribbling it over +the net.</p> +<p class="pnext">The old wing shouted with delight, and Bess +stormed.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Why don’t you stand into the net? You +know that’s one of her tricks,” she said angrily.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Oh, keep still,” May muttered.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Love—15,” Gwen called.</p> +<p class="pnext">With more feeling of assurance, Bess served +again. This time to Janet. She chanced the +first ball and tried a new cut. It fell the wrong +side of the net, but she tossed up the second +undaunted.</p> +<p class="pnext">Janet ran forward to meet it, and sent it back +easily, to the extreme right hand corner of the +court.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Oh, pretty place!” Sally applauded from the +side lines.</p> +<p class="pnext">The Red Twins lost the first game of their +serve and the second fell before Phyllis’ smashing +delivery. They won the third and fourth.</p> +<p class="pnext">The twins had an easy time with the fifth and +sixth. Bess and May were quarreling so that +they were easy victims before Phyllis and Janet’s +perfect team-work.</p> +<p class="pnext">After the first set, the result of the match was +a certainty. They stopped after the fourth game +and were received with salvos of applause.</p> +<p class="pnext">Janet swayed a little as she walked off the +court. Her wrist was sending blinding pains up +her arm and she could not wait to tear off the +strip of adhesive plaster that bound it so cruelly.</p> +<p class="pnext">Sally and Daphne noticed her pallor and went +to her.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Get me a drink, will you, Taffy?” Janet said, +weakly sitting down on the bench in a sudden +fit of awful weakness.</p> +<p class="pnext">She pulled off the bandage and disclosed an +angry red swelling.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Oh, Jane, and we thought your wrist was all +a joke!” Sally exclaimed. “How awful, and +archery—”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Don’t,” Janet said swiftly. “If you remind +me of it, I’ll weep.”</p> +<p class="pnext">Phyllis meanwhile was talking to the Red +Twins.</p> +<p class="pnext">“I can’t see why we lost,” Bess said stubbornly. +“We are better players than you are, and +you know it.”</p> +<div class="align-center auto-scaled figure" style="margin-left: 26%; width: 47%" id="figure-10"> +<img style="display: block; width: 100%" alt="She pulled off the bandage and disclosed an angry red swelling" src="images/illus-207.jpg" width="100%"/> +<div class="caption italics"> +She pulled off the bandage and disclosed an angry red swelling</div> +</div> +<p class="pfirst">“Of course you are,” Phyllis agreed, “much +better, but you have no notion of team-work. +You both want to do it all, and get all the credit. +I can’t see why you are twins. The way Jan +and I feel, it amounts to the same thing, as long +as <em class="italics">we</em> do it. That’s because we are twins, I suppose.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Well, it’s because <em class="italics">we</em> are twins that we can’t +get along together,” May explained. “We don’t +want the other one to get ahead, and it’s natural +that we shouldn’t,” she added in justification.</p> +<p class="pnext">“It’s not natural,” Phyllis contradicted; “and +let me tell you this, until you learn to work together, +you will never be any earthly good to +each other or to Hilltop.”</p> +<p class="pnext">Having given them this little thought to think +over during the summer, Phyllis turned her back +on them and went over to Janet.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="chapter-xxthe-dramatic-club"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref pginternal" href="#id21">CHAPTER XX—The Dramatic Club</a></h2> +<p class="pfirst">Archery Day was a dismal one for +Janet. She had to give up her place to +Gladys, for her arm was so swollen +that she could not even string her bow.</p> +<p class="pnext">The old wing won, however, and it was Sally +who had her name engraved on the cup as the +winner of the highest score.</p> +<p class="pnext">It was an exciting day, but the most thrilling +thing happened in the evening. All preparations +had been made for the play to be given on the +night before Commencement. The Dramatic +Club had decided on <em class="italics">Romeo and Juliet</em>. Daphne +was to play Juliet, and Poppy Romeo.</p> +<p class="pnext">Phyllis had a small part as one of Romeo’s +friends. Rehearsals had been going on for the +past month, and the cast felt that they were word +perfect in their parts at least.</p> +<p class="pnext">Then the night before the performance Poppy +fell down stairs. She cut her face and bruised +her shoulders and was carried unconscious to the +infirmary.</p> +<p class="pnext">The Twins and Sally and Daphne heard the +news in horrified silence.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Who will play Romeo?” Daphne demanded.</p> +<p class="pnext">The question was settled for them by Helen +Jenkins. She knocked on the door and strode +in in her usual business-like way.</p> +<p class="pnext">She saw by their faces that they knew the +news, so she went straight to the point.</p> +<p class="pnext">“It’s the worst possible thing that could have +happened,” she said decidedly; and then without +a word of warning, added, “Phyllis, <em class="italics">you</em> +will have to play Romeo.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“I play Romeo—”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Phyl!”</p> +<p class="pnext">“How wonderful!”</p> +<p class="pnext">“But it’s tomorrow,” were some of the exclamations +that greeted Helen’s news.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Well, can you, or can’t you?” Helen demanded. +“I must hurry back to the Infirmary, +and put Poppy’s mind at rest. She is making +herself sicker by worrying.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Of course I’ll do it,” Phyllis answered +promptly though her knees trembled beneath +her.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Good girl!”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Tell Poppy that I will do my best, and now +everybody please get out, I’ve got to study lines.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Don’t worry about lines,” Janet said quietly.</p> +<p class="pnext">“But why not?”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Because I know the whole play backwards +and frontwards, and I will sit in the wings and +follow you with every letter,” Janet promised.</p> +<p class="pnext">Phyllis’s face relaxed. “Then that’s all right,” +she said. “I’ll brush up on them, for I know +them myself, of course, only I’m not sure of the +cues.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“I’ll give you those.”</p> +<p class="pnext">Sally and Daphne paused at the door.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Call me when you want to go over it with +me,” Daphne said. “And oh, Phyl! I didn’t +like to say it before Helen, but I am so thrilled +that I don’t know what to do.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Taffy, you’re a darling,” Phyllis replied. +“I’ll probably spoil all your nice scenes, too.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Oh, no you won’t,” Sally returned decidedly.</p> +<p class="pnext">“How do you know?” Phyllis asked laughing.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Aunt Jane’s Poll-parrot told me,” Sally replied +as the door closed on them.</p> +<p class="pnext">It was a busy twenty-four hours that followed. +Janet stayed with Phyllis every minute and gave +her of her own courage.</p> +<p class="pnext">The dress rehearsal was a decided failure, but +the old girls were not at all alarmed.</p> +<p class="pnext">“I’m hopeless,” Phyllis protested.</p> +<p class="pnext">“You are not,” Janet denied hotly.</p> +<p class="pnext">“How do you feel, honey?” Poppy inquired. +She was downstairs, but a sad sight indeed, with +her face covered with little pieces of gauze +slapped on with bits of adhesive plaster.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Terrified, Poppy,” Phyllis admitted.</p> +<p class="pnext">“That’s just right. I wouldn’t have you sure +of yourself for a second,” Poppy comforted.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Oh, dear, I must go and study some more,” +Phyllis sighed.</p> +<p class="pnext">“You are to do nothing of the kind. You are +to go out and take a walk, and then come in and +have a nice nap.”</p> +<p class="pnext">Phyllis laughed at the idea, but Poppy, with +the aid of Sally and Janet won her point, and +with Daphne, nearly as frightened as Phyllis, +they went for a long walk.</p> +<p class="pnext">When they got back they were glad enough +for a little nap.</p> +<p class="pnext">At last the evening came, and with it all the +attendant excitement of a performance. The old +girls were as calm as they could be. They were +used to it, but poor Daphne and Phyllis!</p> +<p class="pnext">They felt the difference in their ages and class, +and were conscious of a tiny feeling of resentment, +not in the girls of the Dramatic Club, but +in some of the Juniors who had not been elected.</p> +<p class="pnext">The curtain rose on time, at exactly eight +o’clock. The setting was charming and Phyllis, +sure of Janet’s support, accredited herself well.</p> +<p class="pnext">The ballroom was filled with strange faces, +for there were lots of guests, and after the first +terrified glance at them, Phyllis kept her eyes +on the stage.</p> +<p class="pnext">By the time the balcony scene came, she was +almost calm, and her voice floated clear and +mellow as she began—</p> +<blockquote><div> +<p class="pfirst">“He jests at scars who never felt a wound—”</p> +</div></blockquote> +<p class="pfirst">Daphne was a beautiful Juliet, with her soft +hair bound down by a fillet of pearls. When she +leaned from her balcony to ask—</p> +<blockquote><div> +<p class="pfirst">“What man art thou, who thus bescreened +in night so stumbleth on my council?”</p> +</div></blockquote> +<p class="pfirst">The guests caught their breaths from sheer wonder.</p> +<p class="pnext">Phyllis, perhaps under the witchery of +Daphne’s smile, forgot her self-consciousness, +and threw herself into the part with the result +that she wooed her Juliet with all the ardor of +old Verona.</p> +<p class="pnext">It was a triumph for the Dramatic Club, but +for Daphne and Phyllis in particular. They +went to their rooms that night with their pretty +heads buzzing with all the flattery they had received. +But, like the sensible children that they +were, they soon dismissed it as unimportant.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Aren’t you the happiest person in the whole +world?” Janet demanded. “You ought to be.”</p> +<p class="pnext">Phyllis shook her head. “No, I can’t be perfectly +happy, for every once in a while I remember +that this is our last night, and then I +could weep.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“I know, Taffy said the same thing,” Janet +agreed. “But, Phyl, think of next year. We’ll +be old girls then.”</p> +<p class="pnext">Phyllis gave a happy little sigh and snuggled +into her pillow.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Phyl,” Janet whispered after a minute, “I—I’m +awfully proud of you.”</p> +<p class="pnext">Phyllis leaned over and kissed her.</p> +<p class="pnext">“There!” she said, “that’s the only compliment +I have wanted all evening, and I didn’t +think I was going to get it.”</p> +<p class="pnext">They fell asleep almost simultaneously, and +the spirit of Hilltop watched their slumbers, +equally proud of them both.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="chapter-xxiand-last"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref pginternal" href="#id22">CHAPTER XXI—And Last</a></h2> +<p class="pfirst">The twins stood in the Hall waiting for +their carriage to come for them. Sally +and Daphne were with them.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Aunt Jane’s Poll-parrot, how I hate +to go!” Sally exclaimed.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Hasn’t it been a simply perfect year?” +Phyllis agreed.</p> +<p class="pnext">The rest nodded.</p> +<p class="pnext">“But next year will be even perfecter,” +Daphne said happily.</p> +<p class="pnext">“We didn’t make such a bad record,” Sally +remarked contentedly, knowing full well that no +Sophomore class had ever done as much.</p> +<p class="pnext">Their eyes traveled to the mantel. The big +tennis cup bore Gwen’s name, and under it “The +Page Twins.” Sally’s name glittered from the +smooth surface of the Archery cup, and on the +Dramatic Club’s, Phyllis and Daphne’s names +stood out.</p> +<p class="pnext">“How about this summer?” Janet inquired. +“You are both surely coming to Old Chester for +July aren’t you?”</p> +<p class="pnext">“We are,” Sally and Daphne replied together.</p> +<p class="pnext">The carriages arrived at that moment, and +singing and cheering Hilltop, all the school +drove off down the long hill, leaving the white +house that crowned it a little forlorn in the +drowsy sunshine.</p> +<p class="pnext">THE END</p> +<div class="vspace" style="height: 5em"> +</div> +<div>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 38834 ***</div> +</body> +</html> |