Wild Kitty

  CHAPTER VII.

  ELMA.

  Kitty Malone was admitted to a low form at Middleton School, heracquirements being the reverse of distinguished. This fact did not giveher the smallest sense of discomfort. On the contrary, she was pleased;and although her fellow-scholars were all younger and smaller thanherself, she soon became a sort of queen among them, laughing and jokingwith them, and flying round the playground with half a dozen small girlsat her heels, feasting them with unlimited chocolate and telling themstories. She soon got through her somewhat easy lessons, and was wilderand more incorrigible than ever. The only sober moments she seemed toenjoy were when she was with Bessie; for Bessie Challoner took a sincereinterest in her, and was very anxious to get her into a higher form,where she would be with girls nearer her own age, and would thus beforced to submit to more discipline than she could enjoy with theyounger girls. Bessie also hoped great things from the Tug-of-warSociety, and soon told Kitty that she was to be asked to become amember.

  "I will certainly join when I am asked," answered Kitty. "I have not theleast idea what you are all driving at, but I'll become a member if it'sto be in the same society with you, my darling duck of a girl!"

  Bessie then read her a copy of the rules.

  "Why, then, you can't expect me to adhere to the first of them," wasKitty's answer. "It's no, it's no to that, Bessie. I wouldn't tell a liefor any earthly thing, and I could not drive myself to the head of thatclass. Why, I wouldn't take the place from sweet little Agnes Moore forall the world. Why it's tears I'd bring to the pretty eyes of thecreature. Oh, I couldn't get ahead of her. I'd just as lief be at thetail--just as lief."

  "But, Kitty, have you no ambition?"

  "Well, no, dear, I don't think I have. I never could see the fun oftaking a prize from another; it's no use I'll be in the society, not theleast bit."

  "Well, all the same it would do you good," said Bessie, "for you knowyou love your father, and you said you would try to acquire knowledge toplease him."

  "Oh, where's the good of reminding me of that," said Kitty, looking verythoughtful and somewhat pensive. "Why did you come out with it, Bessie,aroon; it's fretting the heart out of me you are. Dear old dad! there'snothing I wouldn't do for him."

  "I am glad I did remind you, Kitty, for you know you have come here tolearn."

  "Ah, dear, I'll shut my ears if you talk any more in that sort of way,"said Kitty. "If I must learn, I must; but don't be reminding me of it,there's a good creature--it's play out of school if it's work in."

  "Much work you do, Kitty! Why, I always see you laughing and winkingand twinkling your eyes, and pushing your feet about."

  "Pushing my feet about! And is it to keep them in a corner I would,pretty feet like mine! Why, they are meant to be seen. That's the onlyreason why I object to a long dress, because it does not show so much ofthe feet and ankles. Ah, sure it's dear little ankles I have, as neatand trim as you please."

  "Kitty, you are getting wilder than ever."

  "Well, darling, I'll cool down if you'll just let me give you one of mybig hugs."

  "I really can't; my ribs are quite sore. You must not do it to-day. Itold you, you might once a week, but no oftener."

  Kitty sank down on the nearest chair and looked comically miserable.

  "Go on with the next rule, Bessie," she said, after a moment. "I want tobelong to the Tug-of-war because it's close to you I'll be, darling.What's the next rule?"

  Bessie read it out to her.

  "Why, now, it's the pink of a lady I am myself," said Kitty. "I wasalways told I was; I don't mind that rule in the least. There won't bemuch of a tug-of-war there; if Kitty Malone is to be a lady, why, a ladyshe is. I wish you could hear Aunt Honora and Aunt Bridget talking aboutour ancient family and our long and royal descent. Go on, Bessie; that'snot so bad as taking the prize from poor little Agnes. What's RuleIII.?"

  Rule III. was read aloud to Kitty, who shook her head solemnly severaltimes.

  "Now, to be frank with you," she said, "there's only one bond betweenAlice and me, and that is we do make a froth of the things in ourdrawers; and if we are both to struggle against our besetting infirmity,it will go hard with us; but there, it will be fun to see her strugglingto be tidy and all to no purpose. I think I'll join on that account. Ishall like to see her fighting her drawers. I know if I'm put to it Ican keep mine twenty times tidier."

  "I am now coming to Rule IV.," said Bessie; this she read aloud withsome qualms, for she disliked it so very much herself. Kitty's eyesflashed with pleasure.

  "Now, that is after my own heart," she cried, "fashionable dresses arethey, and hair done up in style. Mavourneen! mavourneen! you will haveto wear a fringe!"

  Kitty burst into peals of laughter.

  "Oh, Bessie," she said, "I have just been longing to attack that head ofyours. I'll bring my little tongs along, and I'll curl up such a lovelyfringe on your great intellectual forehead."

  "You'll do nothing of the kind," said Bessie, clasping her hands overher head to protect her thick, long hair.

  "But you must, mavourneen, you must if you join the Tug-of-war Society.Oh, it's beautiful you'll look! And I tell you what it is, Bessie, I'lllend you the patterns of my new sleeves--those that are all crinkledfrom above the elbow down to the wrist, and puffed ever so much at thetop, with little tucks, and little insertions, and little--"

  "Kitty, I won't listen to you for another moment. I shall try to dressas neatly as I can, and perhaps I must twist my hair into a more stylishcoil at the back of my head, but beyond that I absolutely refuse to go."

  "Well, it's a delicious rule," said Kitty Malone, "and I hope I'll workyou round after a bit, Bessie. It seems but fair that if I yield to youwith regard to the other rules you ought to yield to me about Rule IV. Iam sure if I do take the prize from poor little Agnes Moore, and if Inever speak a word of slang, and if I keep my abominable drawers as neatas a new pin, and all my clothes in perfect order, that you on your partought to wear a good thick, heavy fringe, and have your hair pointed outever so far at the back in the way it is worn in the present day. I'dlove to do it; and you have magnificent hair, Bessie, aroon! so youhave."

  "I must ask you to leave me now, Kitty," was Bessie's answer. "You are avery funny girl, and there is a great deal that I like in you; but Icannot neglect my studies even for you."

  "Oh, bother your studies!" answered Kitty.

  Bessie, however, was quite in earnest, and Kitty had to leave her.

  The next day there was another meeting at Gwin Harley's house, and themembers of the Tug-of-war Society were formally initiated into themysteries of what they had undertaken. About ten girls joined in all,and it was decided to limit the number to these until the end of thepresent term. In addition to the four chief rules it was also clearlyunderstood that the members were all to be absolutely faithful the oneto the other, that no member of the Tug-of-war Society was to speakagainst another member; on the contrary, she was to uphold her throughthick and thin, to help her if possible, to aid her in moments ofdifficulty, and to rejoice with her in moments of triumph. Once a weekthe members were to meet at each other's houses. There they were to havetea together, to discuss the rules if necessary, but at any rate to havea pleasant time. As the summer advanced picnics were to be inauguratedon Saturdays, and fun of some sort or another was to be the vogue.

  Kitty, who had dressed herself for this auspicious occasion in a dressof the palest blue, with a silver sheen running in zigzag lines all overit, whose black hair was curled up on her forehead and coiledfantastically round the back of her head, whose eyes were shining andwreathing themselves in all sorts of smiles, could scarcely restrain herspirits while the rest of the girls were debating on the rules.

  Finally Gwin laid a little box on the table, and asked the new membersto subscribe their half-guinea each. Each girl dropped herhalf-sovereign and sixpence into the box with the exception of Elma,who, coloring a little, said she would bring it to Gwin the next day. Noone made any re
mark, as it was well known in the school that Elma wasanything but well off, and Gwin privately resolved to subscribe for herwithout saying anything about it.

  Then the girls had tea in Gwin's own private sitting-room, and afterwardthey wandered about the lawns, and returned home in the cool of theevening. On this occasion Elma found herself side by side with KittyMalone. Kitty was walking quietly; she had exhausted some of heremotions during the hours that she had played tennis, and laughed andchatted with the other members of the Tug-of-war Society, and when Elmaput her hand on her arm, and looked up at her half-timidly andhalf-beseechingly, Kitty stopped short, and said in her hearty, frankvoice:

  "And what may you be wanting with me, Elma? Is it a favor I can do you;because if it is I am sure you are welcome to it with all the pleasurein life."

  "You are a good-natured girl, Kitty," said Elma; "I always felt thatfrom the very first. Shall we drop a little behind the others? The factis I don't want every one to hear what I am going to say to you."

  "If it is a secret, darling, don't tell it to me," said Kitty, "for Icannot keep it. I always say so quite frankly. I say to each person whocomes to me with a private confidence, 'Confide nothing in Kitty Malone,for Kitty Malone is a sieve.'"

  "Oh, but it would never do for you to be that," said Elma, who wassomewhat alarmed and secretly greatly disgusted. "A girl is not worthher salt if she tells what is confided to her by another girl; and ofcourse, now that you have become a member of the Tug-of-war Society, ifyou are found blabbing any of our secrets at Middleton School I don'tknow what will happen!"

  "I wonder what would happen!" cried Kitty; "it would be quite nice tofind out. Do tell me, Elma."

  "How can I when you don't understand," said Elma. "You would be wantingin all honor; none of us ten girls would speak to you again."

  "Wouldn't Bessie Challoner, the darling?"

  "Certainly not. She could not; none of us could."

  "I shouldn't like that," said Kitty thoughtfully. "I did not know, whenI joined the Tug-of-war, that I was to be burdened with secrets. And amI not to explain to any of the other girls why I am moving heaven andearth to get to the very head of the class? Am I not to breathe the realreason, when I am taking poor little Agnes Moore's place, and breakingher heart, the pretty lamb? Is that so?"

  "You certainly are not," said Elma. "Dear me, Kitty, what a veryextraordinary specimen you are!"

  "Well, don't scold me, for pity's sake," said Kitty. "I am so sick ofevery one telling me that I am an extraordinary specimen. In Irelandthey think I am a very fine specimen; but here! oh, it's nothing butholding up of hands and rolling up of eyes, and 'Oh, dear, let us getout of her way!' and 'Oh, dear, how queer she looks in her grandclothes!' and--and----"

  "Do stop talking, Kitty. You are the most awful rattlepate----"

  "There, now, on you go," said poor Kitty. "I'm a rattlepate, am I? Itseems that I can never speak but I get into somebody's black books."

  "You don't get into mine, I am sure," said Elma. "But I think you oughtto be greatly obliged to me for telling you what is your plain duty withregard to the Tug-of-war Society. It is just like a secret society; ourrules are our own, and not a soul who is not a member must know anythingabout them."

  "Well, I won't tell," said Kitty. "When I say a thing I stick to it. Iwon't split--there I that's flat and I suppose I am obliged to you,Elma."

  "Yon ought to be," answered Elma. "Why, what a terrible scrape you wouldhave got into. And now, then, Kitty, I have something else to tell you."

  "Well, and what is it?" asked Kitty.

  "First, are you not pleased that you are a member of the Tug-of-warSociety?"

  "To be sure I am. I think it is awfully nice of all you girls to ask meto join."

  "It is a great distinction," continued Elma; "a new girl like you, onewho is not known a bit in the school! Out of the whole school we haveonly selected ten, including the founders, and you are one. You ought tothink yourself in rare luck."

  "So I do."

  "And you ought to be very grateful."

  "So I am."

  "But do you know whom you ought to be grateful to?"

  "Well, I suppose to Bessie."

  "Not a bit of it; it is to me you ought to be grateful. But for me youwould not be a member of the Tug-of-war Society."

  "But for you, Elma?"

  "No."

  "Was it you who got me asked to join?"

  "I was the one who insisted on your being asked to join us. I put itplainly to Bessie and to Gwin, and they quite agreed with me. Alice wasthe only one who voted against you."

  "Oh, just like her, spiteful thing!" said Kitty, coloring withannoyance. "Well, I am sure, Elma, I am obliged to you, and if there'sanything I can do--"

  "I am coming to that," said Elma; "it's not much, but if you could--"

  "Could what? Why, I'll do anything. Is it one of my gowns you want toborrow?"

  "No, no. What extraordinary ideas you hare!"

  "Oh, there you begin again," said Kitty. "I never can speak right. Well,what can I do for you, Elma?"

  "If you could--just until next Monday--if you could lend me some--somemoney," said Elma, coloring as she spoke, her voice faltering, and hereyes seeking the ground.