This is what happened on the day after the exciting experience in Boulder Lane, and all because Wilhelmina Campbell, true to her old friends, the “Blue Birds,” after being formally invited, had positively declined to join the “Mystic Seven.”
“I am sorry,” she said, trying her best to be cordial, “but, you see, the others had first claim on me because I have known them a long time and I have already promised to become a Blue Bird.”
“We asked you first,” exclaimed Belle, in a preternaturally quiet tone of voice.
“I don’t see why that should make any difference,” answered Billie, feeling very uncomfortable.
“It makes a great deal of difference,” answered Belle, who was always gifted with a flow of words in the moments of her greatest anger. “You are probably not familiar with the ways of schools and school societies. I understand you have never been to school before.”
“Oh, yes, I have. I went to school in Paris for three months and to another in Dresden for a whole winter.”
“This is America,” went on Belle, in a slow, even tone, taking no other notice of the interruption, “and if you decline the honor we have paid you in the sophomore year, you will not only be blackballed in our societies the other two years, but you will not receive any invitations from me and my friends to our parties now or ever, and you will be obliged to associate with the commonest and most ordinary girls in West Haven. The children of cooks——”
“Mary Price,” thought Billie. Mrs. Price had a tea room.
“The daughters of seamen——”
“Nancy!” said Billie out loud. Nancy’s father was a sea captain.