“Out with it, Olive Ralston. What on earth is it that you wish me to do that requires so much persuasion?”
And Olive, equally in earnest, likewise put her hands on Jean’s shoulders, so that the two girls made an unconscious picture illustrating the old proverb: “United we stand, divided we fall.”
“I want you, Jean, please not to be a goose,” Olive pleaded.
Gay laughter rang out in response. “I knew, Olive, from the first that you were going to ask me something I could not grant,” Jean returned plaintively. “Has any one in this world ever heard of a goose who chose to be one?”
Her listeners could not help smiling, but Olive’s mood was too intense for interruption. Without allowing Jean another opportunity for a moment’s speech she began her request, imploring her to join the Theta Society at once and not to put it off a day longer than necessary. “For how, dear, can you do me the least good by not belonging when the girls want you so much and when if you don’t you may lose your chance at the Junior election,” she ended.
“And who, Olive, has been telling you that I am not already a member of the Theta Society and that my chance for the presidency will be influenced if I am not?” Jean inquired angrily, although she did not glance toward any one for her answer save Olive.
But Gerry Ferrows was not in the least a coward, neither did she feel in any sense a traitor either to Jean or to Olive, so now she moved quietly forward.
“I told Olive, Jean,” she answered, “and you may be angry with me, but I have no intention of playing a sneak. For the life of me I cannot see how it will hurt Olive for you to join the Thetas without her and it will hurt you very much in your election if you don’t. Olive is not going to be invited to become a member if you stay out and you may lose the class presidency if you are so obstinate.”
Olive turned to Jessica Hunt. “Won’t you please tell Jean that Gerry is perfectly right and that there is no other way of looking at this matter?” she entreated. “She will just break my heart if she does not, and I can’t see a bit of sense in her position.”
“I can,” Jessica answered briefly, “but I would rather not say anything at all until I have heard just how Jean feels about this whole business.”