Part 23 (1/2)

”It has been regularly moved and seconded,” stated Muriel, ”that Veronica--”

”I rise to object.” Mignon La Salle leaped rather than rose from her chair, her face dark with protest. ”I object seriously to admitting a servant into members.h.i.+p of the Lookout Club.”

”And _I_ rise to object against the word 'servant' as applied to my friend Veronica Browning.” Marjorie was again on her feet, her lovely face set in stern lines. ”There is no disgrace in being a servant,” she gravely rebuked. ”It is the way in which the word has been spoken that makes it objectionable. The club owes a great deal to Veronica. All of you know how willingly she has offered us her services. We have gladly accepted them. It now becomes us to ask her to honor us by joining our club.”

”Honor!” sneered Mignon, tossing her black head in disdain. ”A very queer sort of _honor_. I should term it disgrace. I will not have this presuming kitchen maid in the club. Who knows what sort of parents she has, or where she came from. She is sharp enough to make Miss Archer and a few other persons believe that she is something wonderful, but she can't fool me. No doubt she came from some third-rate, stranded theatrical company. She has been very careful not to say a word about herself to anyone. Marjorie Dean ought to be ashamed to propose that we turn our club into a servants' hall.”

With every word, Mignon's voice had risen. Caution thrown to the winds she remembered nothing save her hatred against Veronica. Before she could continue a babble of angry voices a.s.sailed her from all sides. The dignified session of the Lookouts bade fair to end in an uproar of rebuke hurled in noisy entirety at Mignon.

”Order!” shrieked Muriel, wildly waving her arms. ”Stop it, girls. The Atwells will think we've gone crazy.”

Her energetic counsel brought the outraged belligerents into a knowledge of where they were. Gradually they subsided into threatening murmurs that ended in a much-needed but ominous quiet.

”Mignon, you are the one to be ashamed.” Muriel bent severe eyes on the storm-swept girl, who now sat with elbows propped upon the table, glaring sullenly at her equally sulky opponents. ”Veronica Browning is a sweet, delightful, well-bred girl. I'm sorry I can't say the same of you. If you don't care to be in the same club with her, you know what you can do. You've caused us all to disgrace ourselves for the moment by quarreling with you. I'm going to say what I started to say when you began this fuss. You will please not interrupt me again.”

”I will if I choose,” flung back Mignon. ”You'd be only too glad to have me resign from the club. Well, I don't intend to do it until I get ready. I've been a good treasurer and you can't complain of me. If you--”

Muriel turned a deliberate back on the irate speaker. With dignified composure she again stated: ”It has been regularly moved and seconded that Veronica Browning be admitted into members.h.i.+p of the Lookout Club.

Those in favor, please rise; contrary remain seated.”

Ten determined girls were on their feet before Muriel had finished.

”No, no, no!” objected Mignon at the top of her voice.

”Carried.” Muriel still kept an uncompromising back toward Mignon.

”I won't stand it!” Rising, Mignon seized her book and took a step or two toward the door. Of a sudden she paused, as though clutched by an invisible hand. Backing toward her chair she sat down, a curious expression of malevolent resolve in her elfish eyes. Somewhat ashamed of their own untimely outburst, her fellow members found themselves more inclined toward pity than resentment. Though they cherished no liking for their lawless companion, they were disposed to regard her display of temper as that of an obstreperous child, allowed too long to have its own way.

With the admission of Veronica to the club the business part of the meeting closed, greatly to the relief of all concerned. Immediately afterward, Mignon stalked haughtily from the living room, without a word to anyone. Darting up the stairs to the room which Muriel had reserved for her guests' use, she fairly flung herself into her coat and jammed her fur cap down upon her black curls. Down the stairs she sped and out of the house, announcing her departure by a reverberating slam of the front door.

Divining her intention, Susan Atwell had followed her to the stairs, determined to do her duty as hostess. When halfway up the flight, Mignon had reappeared at the head of the staircase, descending with a hurricane rush that precluded remark on Susan's part. Returning to the living room she asked Muriel crossly: ”What are we to do with her?”

”We'd better hold a second meeting and see,” replied Muriel. ”Girls,”

she raised her voice, ”please come to order again. I've something to say to you.”

Gathered together at one end of the room, the group of girls promptly obeyed. Resuming her position of authority, Muriel burst forth with, ”Something must be done about Mignon. I think she has forfeited her right to members.h.i.+p. After what's happened to-night we can't allow her to keep on being in the club. We must ask her to resign.”

Seven voices at once rose in hearty agreement. Only Marjorie, Irma, and Constance remained silent.

”With Mignon out of the club, Jerry will come back,” reminded Harriet Delaney eagerly. ”Irma ought to write Mignon to-night and mail the letter on the way home.”

”That's my opinion,” nodded Rita Talbot.

”Mine, too,” sounded a faithful chorus.

”Perhaps we'd better wait until after the next meeting before taking such action,” argued Marjorie soberly. ”Just now I feel sure that we ought to ask for Mignon's resignation. Later I may not see it in that light. My decision will depend largely on the way Mignon treats Veronica at our next meeting. Her temper got the better of her to-night. Perhaps we had better give her another chance.”

”That would be a good test. We mustn't be too hasty,” cautioned generous Irma. ”I believe with Marjorie that we should postpone our decision until after next Thursday night's meeting. Then if we are still of the same mind we shall feel that we have acted fairly.”