“Who is it?” demanded Maude, eagerly.
“Why, Maude! who could it be?” drawled Molly, wickedly. “There was never but one girl of us that really had a chance from the start.”
Maude’s complacent and conscious expression was delightful.
“Of course, I knew——” she began, with a toss of her head, when Molly interposed with:
“We all knew! Hail to the chieftainess! Beth! get up and bow. You’re elected.”
“What?” shrieked Maude.
“How horrid!” exclaimed Laura Hedden, loyally.
A general laugh went around the table. “Speech! Speech!” clamored the girls.
Beth got up, flushing, and bowed with mock solemnity. “I am overpowered,” she said. “You must excuse me. Besides, I am hungry.”
“Well! if that isn’t the very meanest thing!” hissed Maude Grimshaw. “That pauper has no more right to the place than—than——”