"What is the highest mountain in the world?" he asked, perfunctorily now.
But, to his amazement, she rose, and, looking out of the window up to the mountain to the skirts of which the town clung, she answered:
"Mount Davidson."
Sissy's savage joy followed so quickly upon her horror at her own sister's defection that the closing of school left her in a trembling storm of emotions. In the dressing-room, where the girls were putting on their hats, she marched up to Irene, followed by her wrathful adherents and feeling like an avenging Brutus.
"You're a sneak, Split Madigan! You're a coward, and—and a stupid coward. You don't know enough to betray your class and get the benefit of it, but you'd rather be mean than get credits, anyway. Nobody can count on you. Changeable Silk, that's what you are—changing color all the time, never standing firm! I hate you! Changeable Silk! Changeable Silk!"
"Changeable Silk! Changeable Silk!" chanted her following.
The little dressing-room rang with the cry of the mob, so filled with significance by the tone in which it was uttered that Irene paled and shrank.
But only for a moment. The Madigans never lacked courage long. That fierce internecine strife waged by the clan in the old house high on the side of the hill made a Madigan quick and resolute.
"Stupid yourself, Sissy! My answer made him madder than your not answering."
Sissy looked at her searchingly. "But—did you—" she wavered.