Meantime, Dotty had stayed behind with Bernice.
“You can do anything you please,” Dotty said, her eyes blazing with anger, “but I’m going to tell you what I think of you! The idea of letting Dolly Fayre do all she has done for you and then refusing to use your influence with your father for her just because you lost the election! You ought to be ashamed of yourself!”
“It isn’t only that, but Dolly said she would make me one of the most popular girls in town and she hasn’t done it. A bargain is a—”
“Don’t say that over again! You make me so mad. I know a bargain is a bargain, but of course all Dolly could do, was to try to make you popular, and she has done that. If she couldn’t succeed, it’s your fault, not hers!”
“But I’ve tried too, Dotty.”
At this speech muttered in an humble voice, Dotty looked up in astonishment. Had she struck a right chord at last?
“Have you, Bernie?” she said gently. “Perhaps if we all tried again, we might yet win out. Not the presidency, that’s settled, but there are other sorts of popularity.”
“I know. I don’t care so much about the election, but it shows that nobody likes me.”
“No, it doesn’t. It shows that you’re very nearly as popular as Molly Mooney. For there was only a majority of three.”
“Only three! Why, you didn’t tell me that! Why, Dotty, if that’s all the difference there was in the count, it’s almost as good as being elected! Only three!”