Part 17 (2/2)
”'RULE I.--Each girl who is a member of the Specialities gives perfect confidence to her fellow-members, keeps no secret to herself which those members ought to know, is ready to consider each member as though she were her own sister, to help her in time of trouble, and to rejoice with her in periods of joy.'
”That is Rule I., and I need not say, Betty, that it is a very important rule.”
Betty's eyes were now lowered, so that only her very black lashes were seen as they rested against her pale cheeks.
”Rule II. is this:
”'RULE II.--That the Specialities read each day, for one quarter of an hour, a book of great thoughts.'
”The books are generally selected at the beginning of term, and each member is expected to read the same amount and from the same book. This term, for instance, we occupy one quarter of an hour daily in reading Jeremy Taylor's 'Holy Living.' It is not very long, but there's a vast amount of thought in it. If we feel puzzled about anything in this wonderful book we discuss it with each other at the next meeting of the Specialities, and if, after such a discussion, the whole matter does not seem quite clear, we ask Mr. Fairfax to help us. He is most kind, although of course he is not in the secret of our club.
”Rule III. is quite different. It is this:
”'RULE III.--Each day we give ourselves up, every one of us, to real, genuine fun--to having what may be called a jolly time.'
”We never miss this part of the Speciality life. We get our fun either by chatting gaily to each other, or by enjoying the society of a favorite schoolfellow.
”Rule IV. does not come into every day life; nevertheless it is important:
”'RULE IV.--We meet once a week in one of our bedrooms; but four times during the term we all subscribe together, and get up as big a party as ever we can of girls who are not Specialities. These girls have supper with us, and afterwards we have round games or music or anything that gives us pleasure.'
”Rule V. is this:
”'RULE V.--That whoever else we are cross with, we are always very careful to show respect to our teachers, and, if possible, to love them. We also try to shut our eyes to their faults, even if we see them.'
”Rule VI. is perhaps the most difficult of all to follow completely. It is the old, old rule, Betty Vivian, of forgetting ourselves and living for others. It is a rule that makes the secret of happiness. It is impossible to keep it in its fullness in this world; but our aim is to have a good try for it, and I think, on the whole, we succeed.
”Now, these are the six rules. When you read them over, you will see that they are comprehensive, that they mean a vast lot. They are, every one of them, rules which tend to discipline--the sort of discipline that will help us when we leave the school and enter into the big school of the world. Betty, do you feel inclined to join the club or not?”
”I don't know,” replied Betty. ”It is impossible to answer your question on the spur of the moment. But I should greatly like to see a copy of the rules.”
”I will have them copied and sent to your bedroom, Betty. Then if you decide to join, you will be admitted formally this day week, and will receive the badge of the Specialities--a little true-lovers' knot made of silver--which you will wear when the Specialities give their entertainments, and which will remind you that we are bound together in one sisterhood of love for our fellow-creatures.”
Betty got up somewhat nervously. ”I must think a great deal; and if I may come to whichever room the Specialities are to meet in this day week, I will let you know what I have decided.”
”Very well, dear,” said Margaret, shutting the book and completely altering her tone. ”That is all, I think to-night. Now, you must sit down and enjoy yourself. Which girl would you like to sit close to? We are going to have some round games, and they are quite amusing.”
”I should like to sit close to you, Margaret, if I may.”
”You certainly may, Betty; and there is a seat near mine, just by that large bowl of white chrysanthemums.”
Betty took the seat; and now all the girls began to chat, each of them talking lovingly and kindly to the other. There was a tone about their conversation which was as different from the way they spoke in their ordinary life as though they were girls in a nunnery who had made solemn vows to forsake the world. Even f.a.n.n.y's face looked wonderfully kind and softened. She did not even glance at Betty; but Betty looked at her once or twice, and was astonished at the expression that f.a.n.n.y wore.
”Just one minute, girls, before we begin our fun,” said Margaret.
”Martha West is most anxious to join the Specialities. Betty, of course, has no vote, as she is not yet a member. But the rest of us know Martha well, and I think we would all like her to join. Those who are opposed to her, will they keep down their hands? Those who wish for her as a member, will they hold them up?”
All hands were held up on this occasion, and f.a.n.n.y held hers the straightest and highest of all.
”Three cheers for Martha West!” said Susie Rushworth.
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