Pen and ink were found, and within fifteen minutes the composition of the organization was complete, Virginia being the Thomas Jefferson of the occasion.
“I’ll read it aloud,” said the author, “so that we can tell if it sounds right.
“‘We, the undersigned, on this 20th day of a sad January, do hereby announce in the sacred presence of each other, that we are Vigilantes of St. Helen’s. We are bound by our honor as friends and room-mates to secrecy, and to an earnest performance of our work as true Vigilantes. We deplore the evil influence of —— ——, and we promise to strive to off-set that influence especially in regard to —— —— and —— ——. We are going to try to stand at all times for fair play, and real friendship. We appoint —— —— as our trusted adviser. At present we are the sole members of the Vigilante Order.
“‘Signed
“‘Priscilla Alden Winthrop.
”‘Virginia Webster Hunter.’
“I put blanks instead of names,” explained Virginia, signing her name after Priscilla. “It seems more like an organization some way, and, besides, we understand. Now, we are real Vigilantes, Priscilla.”
They shook hands solemnly. The paper was sealed with an extravagant amount of sealing wax, and stuffed with much secrecy into a rent of Virginia’s mattress. Then the two Vigilantes, feeling much revived in spirits, invited the disconsolate Vivian to join them, and went for a walk in the snow.
CHAPTER XIII—THE TEST OF CARVER STANDISH III
“Don’t they hurt a bit, Jean?”
“No, of course not.”
“Don’t you feel at all sick either?”
“No, just mad! What’s in that bag, Virginia?”