“Why, of course we can.” This protestingly from Margaret.
“Whizzle, what a kweestion? A bottomless well couldn’t be more secretive than I am if I give my word.” Betsy held up her right hand as though taking a vow.
“It won’t be hard for me to keep it if I can talk it over with you girls,” Barbara told them. To the surprise of the others Sally rose.
“I’d rather not try,” she said, speaking more seriously than usual. “If it leaks out, you’d be sure to think I told, so, if you’ll excuse me, I’d rather not know it.”
Virginia rose and placing an arm about the slender girl who had her hand on the door knob, she led her back to the group. “Sally,” she said kindly, “I am sure that you will keep this secret.”
The pretty face of the youngest girl glowed with happiness and pride. It was the first time since she had been in that seminary that someone had expressed faith in her. Many a time she had seen groups of girls stop their chattering when she neared and she had felt left out. “They think I’d tell what they’re saying, I suppose,” had been her unhappy conclusion, as she wandered away by herself feeling so alone and unwanted. But this wonderful girl, who was not only president of this little club but also editor of The Manuscript Magazine, actually wanted her to stay and share a real secret. Sally vowed within herself that Virginia would find her worthy of the trust.
“We’re all bristling with curiosity, as a porcupine was heard to remark,” Betsy said. “What kind of a secret is it?”
Virginia smiled at the mischievous would-be detective, as she replied: “It isn’t anything that will interest you greatly. Yesterday Mrs. Martin sent for me and asked if we girls from the West knew someone who would appreciate a term at Vine Haven as guest. Now that Gwendolyn Laureat has gone, the Tower Room is vacant. I do not know of anyone, but I said that I would ask my closest friends if she wished. Mrs. Martin agreed, but requested that we tell no one else as she never wished the identity of the guest pupil to be generally known.”
The girls were silent for a moment thinking over their friends and acquaintances but finally they shook their heads. “It’s just too bad,” Margaret said, “I’m ever so sure there must be some talented girl who would love to have the advantages that this school offers and—”
“Such as the refining influence of the members of The Adventure Club,” put in Betsy with a twinkle. “I’ll undertake teaching her up-to-the-minute slang.”