"Because you don't! Well, now, you see, my dear, that is just no reason at all, so Ruth can be a member, as far as you're concerned."
"No, she can't! I won't have her in!"
"Why?"
"Because I don't like her!"
"Ah, now we're getting at it. And suppose any of the club shouldn't like you; then you couldn't be a member, could you?"
"They do like me!" declared Hester.
"Like you! like you! A girl that flies into rages, and says unkind things? Oh, no, nobody could like a girl like that! Now, I'll fix it. You, Hester, won't have Ruth in the club, you say. Well, then if you're not in the club yourself, of course Ruth could come in. So, the rest of the club can choose which of you two girls they'd rather have, as it seems impossible to have you both. King, as the oldest, I'll ask you first. Will you choose to have Hester or Ruth in this club?"
"Ruth," said King, promptly. "She doesn't quarrel all the time."
"Next, Tom. Which do you choose?"
"Ruth," replied Tom.