Part 38 (2/2)
”But what do you mean by 'our side' and 'the other side'?”
”Oh, Mrs Ward! you know--of course you know--that Aneta and Maggie divide the school”
”I know,” said Mrs Ward after a pause, ”that Aneta has considerable influence, and that Maggie also has influence”
”Those two girls divide the school,” said Kathleen, ”the rest of us follow them As a matter of fact, we only follow our leaders in the leisure hours; but as they coood deal can be done in that time, can't it?”
”Yes,” said Mrs Ward, and her tone was not exactly cheerful ”On which side are you, Kitty?”
”Oh, dear Mrs Ward, of course, on Maggie's! Do you think that a girl like me, with allup in ht to speak of any girls in the school by such an offensive terht not to have said it to you But they are stuck-ups; they really are”
”And what do you call yourself?”
”Oh, the live-and-let-live--that's our title But it's only quite aht not to have said it”
”I will never repeat what you have told me in confidence, dear But now for your request?”
”Well, we of Maggie's set want to invite the Aneta set to a sort of general party We should like it to be on the half-holiday, if possible We want to give theht royal entertainment in order to knock some of their stuck-upness out of them We wish for your leave in the matter”
”You must describe your entertainment a little more fully”
”I can't; for we haven't really and truly planned it all out yet But I tell you e'll do If you give us leave to have the party, ill ask Queen Aneta and her satellites if possible this very evening, and then we'll subramme to you Now, may we do this, or may we not?”
”Who sent you to me, Kathleen?”
”I came of my own very self, but of course the others approved We have no intention of doing shabby things in the dark, as they do in some schools That would be unfair to you”
Mrs Ward thought a little longer ”I will give you the required permission,” she said, ”on one condition”
”Oh, Mrs Ward, darling! what is that?”
”You can have your party on Saturday week, and I will give you from early in the afternoon until bedtielic!”
”Stop a minute You ot to say”
”What is it, dear Mrs Ward?”
”It is this: that you ask uests”
”Oh! oh!” said Kathleen Her expressive face changed froain Her eyes brihter, and then as suddenly filled with tears ”But would you--would you like it?”
”Yes, and I don't want to destroy your pleasure; but I presume you will have a sort of supper or an entertainment which will include refreshments Let me assist you with the expense of your supper, and uests? I will promise to leave soon after supper, and not to appear until supper Hoill that do?”