“All right, then. It’s Martha Taylor, too.”
It was not often that Betty asserted herself so strongly, but when she did the others generally yielded the point. Martha Taylor was not a favorite; although a member of the girls’ class, none of them liked her, and she had no chum and almost no friend. There was no especial reason for this, for Martha was not ill-natured or disagreeable; but she was heavy and uninteresting, and never seemed to understand the others’ jokes and fun.
But Betty felt sorry for her, and, seeing she was neglected by the other girls, she stood up for her and insisted on having her for a member of the club.
“Well, you’ll have to look after her,” said Lena. “I never know what to say to her. She only says ‘Yes,’ or ‘No,’ or ‘I don’t care,’ when you ask her anything.”
“Well, she won’t make any trouble in the club, anyhow,” observed Jeanette. “I don’t see why Betty wants her, but if we have to have her, we have to, I suppose.”
“Yes, we have to,” said Betty; “and I’m going to telephone her now, and ask her if she wants to come.”
Whatever they may have thought, no one objected outwardly, and Betty called up Martha on the telephone and invited her over.
Needless to say, the invitation was accepted, and soon Martha appeared, looking greatly pleased.
“Hello, Martha,” said Betty, most cordially, and made a place for the new-comer by her side.
The others spoke pleasantly enough, but without enthusiasm, and then the business meeting was begun.