Later, when the two Glenwood clubs, the Knickerbockers, or “Nicks,” representing the faction from New York way, and the Pilgrims, or “Pills” standing for the New England girls, met in the Assembly room to have the annual initiation of new pupils into the clubs, the candidates included Miette de Pleau.
She, like the others to be initiated, were hidden in a corner all under one sheet, and the first “number of the programme” was The Sheet Test. This was not funny, but, according to the committee that had designed the feature, it was “tragic.”
There were four girls under the sheet. Each “head” was marked with a red cross, and the idea was that the sheet should remain absolutely still during the period of five minutes. Now, as the girls under the cover were on their knees, and in a bent posture, that “act” was not so easily carried out. Should a head move, of course, the committee could tell to whom the offending member belonged by the particular cross that stirred.
Miette happened to be the shortest of all four candidates, and so she had some advantage. The other girls were Wanda Volk, a jolly German “machen,” Lily Sayre, a “real aristocrat,” according to Glenwood opinion, and Minna Brown, “the blackest Brown that ever happened,” Tavia declared, for she had coal-black hair and eyes like “hot tar.”
The sheet test had also to be carried on while all sorts of things were said against the candidates, in fun, of course.
To keep from laughing while Cologne discussed an imaginary visit to Wanda Volk, telling of the most luxurious surroundings that schoolgirl tongue could make words for, was not easy.
This was thought to be very simple, for Wanda was known to laugh every time she met the letter “J” just because it stood for joke. But now Wanda did not titter, neither did she giggle; in fact, she seemed to be “praying” under the sheet. Finally Tavia, as Ranger, called out:
“The Chief has raised her finger!”
At this Wanda moved, then trembled, and finally broke into a lively laugh, and had to be led in “disgrace” from her corner.
“The idea,” she exclaimed, as she laughed louder and louder, “of thinking I must laugh every time one raises her finger.”