Consequently the club continued in existence, and to it were added many new members, while the interest extended and broadened. Miss Adams herself finally became president and directed the girls in such a helpful, delightful way that no event of the month was anticipated with more pleasure than the regular meeting of “the club.”
CHAPTER V.
AN ERROR OF JUDGMENT.
Despite the fact that Persis triumphed in such decided measure over the members of the club, as well as her sisters, she was not always wise in her judgments.
“Persis is so awfully set up because Annis Brown turned out to be a lady of quality, that there is no living with her,” Mellicent complained.
“She will be making all sorts of queer acquaintances after this, you see if she doesn’t,” remarked Lisa. “Now, I say that money and society bring certain refinements, and that we are bound to acknowledge it. But Persis pooh-poohs the whole thing, and is becoming a regular socialist.”
“Socialist yourself,” retorted Persis. “Mamma, I leave it to you if I am not a greater respecter of property than either Mell or Lisa. Why, mamma, they think nothing of helping themselves to my belongings, and half the time when I go to get a ribbon or a handkerchief I find that what I want has been taken. I think that it doesn’t make any difference if we are sisters, that we have our individual rights, and I never know what is really my own, for they use my things as if they were common property. I believe they look upon a loan as an actual gift, for they never think of returning anything they borrow.”
“I wouldn’t be so selfish,” Lisa retorted.
“I’m not selfish, I am perfectly willing to loan, or even to give you my things, but I do like to know what to depend upon; and you haven’t any right to possess yourself of my property without so much as a by your leave.”
“Persis is entirely right,” Mrs. Holmes asserted, after a moment’s reflection. “I think you, Lisa, and Mellicent too, do impose upon her generosity, and it is only fair that you should return her property promptly when you borrow it. It is a poor return, when she is kind enough to allow you the use of what is hers, for you to be ungracious in letting her have her own again. You should reflect that the obligation is on your side. I have seen you look as if Persis had offered you a personal injury when she asked you to return something of hers, when it was she who had a right to feel aggrieved by being deprived of the rightful use of her special possession.”