"And I've broken all my resolutions already."

"We'll have to remember that we are the Merriweather Girls and have
something to live up to. That's the trouble with having a club with
ambitions and aims and all the rest of it. We have to make good." It
was Shirley's quiet counsel.

"Lady Betty would never have danced in school, I'm sure of it!" Joy
kissed her finger tips to the portrait.

Bet and Kit both glanced up at the smiling face on the wall and it
almost seemed as if the lips twitched with amusement.

"I'm not so sure about that, Joy. Anyone with as much gaiety and
spirit as she had must have gotten into plenty of trouble in school,"
laughed Bet.

"Then I'm sure she tried not to," smiled Shirley, trying to encourage
Joy in her resolution. She was always unhappy when any of the girls
got into trouble.

"Is Miss Elder as sweet as she was last year?" asked Bet.

"Oh, she's sweeter than ever," exclaimed Joy.

"And Edith?"

"Oh that girl is always with us, to keep us from enjoying life too
much. Why don't they send her away to Boarding School or something?
She has already gotten two people into trouble by tattling."

"That girl's a pest!" Bet frowned with indignation.

"Lady Betty Merriweather would have won her friendship and changed her
whole character," said Kit, gazing into the smiling eyes.

Joy laughed. "You wait until you know Edith Whalen. Then you will see
if there is anything that can change her character."

"I must say I feel a little discouraged myself," said Bet, shaking her
head.

CHAPTER VIII

THE THORN IN THE FLESH

School had been in session for two weeks before Bet and Kit were
allowed to go. Although Kit was a year and a half older than her
friends, she was in the same grade. The little mountain school which
she had attended in Arizona, had not been of the best. Her friendship
for her chums made up to her for the fact that she was taller than any
other girl in the class and for that reason had to bear many taunts
from spiteful and thoughtless schoolmates. Kit became a favorite with
most of the class, her quaint sayings amused them. But Edith Whalen
took a violent dislike to her, as she was apt to do when she saw
another girl made much of.

"Isn't she terribly crude!" exclaimed Edith with curled lips. "I don't
see why she had to be in our class. I know mother wouldn't want me to
associate with her."

"Bet Baxter seems to like her," said Vivian Long, who w