erday Miss
Foster spoke to me about her. She said we didn't seem to associate with
her much.

_Annette_. Miss Foster spoke to me too. She thought Alice was a good
girl, and only needed to be brought out.

[_Several of the girls speak at once, excitedly._]

_Helen_. Oh no, we don't want her.

_Christabel_. She would just spoil the Club.

_Sophia_. To me she is positively disagreeable.

_Felicia_. She dresses so plainly.

_Helen_. And does up her hair horridly.

_Christabel_. She is scared out of her wits if we just speak to her. I
asked her the other day where her home was, and she looked awfully
funny, and didn't answer a word.

_Morna_. I don't exactly like her face. I wouldn't trust her.

_Sophia_. That's it. I don't believe she is sincere.

_Annette_. And she hasn't had a box since she came.

_Blanche_. Order! You know Alice wouldn't be a bit congenial to me. But
we will take a vote. Somebody make a motion.

_Felicia_. I move that Alice Trowbridge be not admitted to this Club.

_Helen_. I second the motion.

_Blanche_. All in favor say aye.

_All_. Aye!

_Blanche_. There, that is settled. But, girls, I advise you to pay a
little attention to Alice outside of the Club, just so that the teachers
won't notice. Miss Foster is awfully sharp. She pries about a good deal
more than there's any call for her to. I shall ask Alice to walk with me
pretty soon.

_Agnes_. Noble, self-sacrificing president! I will follow your example.

_Lucille_. I too.

_Sophia_. Suppose we all walk with her. Then Miss Foster can't say
anything.

_Christabel_. I wish Miss Foster would mind her own business.

_Blanche_. Well, do not let's talk about this disagreeable subject any
more. We were to have a paper on "Summer." Is the member prepared?

_Morna_ (_rises and reads_). I must beg pardon for having no paper
prepared, but I have had so many headaches lately I have been warned by
Dr. Louise not to work so hard. Instead of a paper, I have a proposal.
The Doctor says we ought to live out-of-doors more than we do. Let us
have a summer _fete_--something that is quaint and original.

_Blanche_. It occurs to me that we might have a picnic and dress in
peasant costume.

_Lucille_. How would you like a mountain laurel party?

_Agnes_. Oh, Lucille! just the thing. Girls, we could ask for a
hall-holiday, and have a Queen, and cover her with lovely pink and white
blossoms.

_Blanche_. How many would like a laurel par