But the old pupils acted just as though nothing had ever happened and Virginia welcomed Sally, whom she had not chanced to meet since her arrival, in her friendliest manner.
“Shall we begin the review at once?” the older girl asked. “Oh, dear me, no!” Betsy protested. “If this is going to be a club, let’s elect officers and frame rules, if that’s what it’s called, and choose a motto an’ everything.”
“I choose to be committee on refreshments,” Babs sang out.
“I choose to be club detective,” Betsy put in.
“I vote for Virginia for president,” Margaret said.
“Second it! Third it! Fourth it!” came a succession of merry voices.
“Winona you may be secretary and I’ll be treasurer if there is to be anything to treasure.” Margaret happened to glance at the slight girl who sat somewhat in the shadow.
“Draw your chair into the firelight, Sallykins,” she called pleasantly. “How can you expect to be elected to an office if you’re out of sight.” The youngest member drew her chair forward, and when the flood of light from the student lamp fell upon her doll pretty face and her long yellow curls that hung to her waist, Virginia, for the first time, had a real opportunity to observe her.
“Poor girl!” she thought. “She has been too much petted and pampered by a rich mother, I guess, to develop any real character. How pretty she would be, with those dark blue eyes and long curling lashes, if her face wasn’t so weak. Perhaps the club will be able to help her.”
Virginia’s meditations were interrupted by Margaret, who was asking, “Every one of us is holding an office except Sally. What can she be?”