Phyllis stood up. She was taller than the other girl, and she looked straight down into her pale blue eyes.
“Pardon me,” she said, “but there is no fight on at all. As a new girl, neither I nor my twin would presume to act as you advise.” She sat down again, with her back towards Ethel.
Janet did not bother to stand when she said what she had to say.
“We saw the sign you put up on the green door, and as new girls we are thoroughly disgusted with you. If we banded together, it would be to show you your proper place.” Janet did not raise her voice as she spoke, and when she had finished she looked out over the green lawns as though the sight gave her pleasure after Ethel’s sour face.
“It might be well for you to remember,” Phyllis spoke as though her thoughts came from a long distance, “that though we are two separate wings, we are both a part of Hilltop, and though we each give the best that is in us, it is that Hilltop may soar the higher—not as you seem to think it is, for any individual and mean advantage.”
The girls on the balcony looked at one another, speechless with admiration and delight.
“Oh, well said!” Alice whispered.
Gwen and Stella hugged each other and Gladys danced a little jig.
“I declare, I love those children!” Poppy exclaimed.
“They’re my twins, I’d have you remember,” Sally exulted.