"I thank you all for this very great honor," she began, clearing her throat in the most professional manner. She had once attended a woman's club with Miss Clyde in Boston. "But owing to my absence from the city the coming winter I—"
There was a roar of protest from the Club members, en masse.
"I shall be leaving you about the first of January—"
This announcement prevented the further order of business. Cries of "What for? Where to? For how long?" assailed Blue Bonnet.
She made her plans and prospects clear to them.
At first the girls seemed stunned. Joy turned to lamentation. There arose a chorus of wails, plaintive and doleful. They kept it up for some time—in concert—with Sarah Blake looking on in awed silence, forlorn and tearful, as if a real tragedy had descended upon her.
Blue Bonnet took the tack hammer from Amanda's apathetic hand and rapped for order.
"I neglected to state," she said, "that I shall be at home for the week-ends—at least I hope to be. I see no reason why the Club can't go on. I'm sure Grandmother would love to let you have this room when I'm not here. Let's go on with the business. I nominate Sarah Blake for president. It takes brains and dignity to be the president of a Sorority. Sarah has both."
"Well, I like that!" Kitty exclaimed with some feeling. "I suppose the rest of us have neither."
"Now, don't get stuffy, Kitty. You know I'm never personal. I meant no reflection on anybody."