CHAPTER XII
INITIATED
It was the next afternoon after Blue Bonnet's interview with Joy Crossthat she ran up to Carita's room to chat a moment during visiting hour.
"Whew!" Mary Boyd said, blowing into the room breezily and tossing anarmful of books into the middle of her bed, "what's up? There's been aFaculty meeting. The seats of the mighty were filled to overflowing. Ijust saw every teacher in the building filing out. You should have seenFraulein! She had Madam de Cartier buttonholed in the hall talking toher like mad. She dropped her voice as I passed, so I couldn't get aword."
"Mary!" Carita exclaimed, "you wouldn't have listened, would you?"
"Oh, I don't know. Yes, I think I should if I'd had the chance. I'd liketo know what's the matter--there's something, all right."
"Mary, you're so curious," remarked Peggy Austin from the couch. "It wasa regular meeting, wasn't it?"
"Indeed it wasn't. Faculty's met on Tuesday since time began. Guess Iought to know. I've just escaped being up before it twice."
Blue Bonnet was silent. She could have enlightened Mary; but she guardedthe secret of Joy Cross's trouble. Blue Bonnet had been called to MissNorth's office just before Faculty convened, but not a word as to theoutcome of Joy's difficulty had been mentioned. Miss North had merelytold her what she already knew; that Joy had put the book in the drawerand that Blue Bonnet was exonerated from all blame. Miss Northcomplimented her on her patience, as well as her silence. She wished thematter to be kept as quiet as possible.
Blue Bonnet had gone out of the office with a lighter heart than she hadknown in some days--and yet she was troubled for Joy. She hoped Joywould not be sent home--hoped it with all her heart; and once while MissNorth was talking, she had almost ventured to speak with her about it;but it seemed rather presumptuous--as if Miss North might not quiteunderstand her own business.
She was wondering as Mary spoke how it would all end, and a little frownwrinkled her brow.
"What's the matter with you, Blue Bonnet?" Mary asked. "You're as soberas a judge. They weren't discussing you in the meeting, were they?"
Blue Bonnet started. Mary had come so close to the truth that it broughtthe color to her cheeks.
"Oh, I just wager they were! Look how she's blushing."
Carita was indignant.
"The very idea, Mary. What's Blue Bonnet done? You are the worst--"
"I know what's the matter with Blue Bonnet," Peggy Austin said. "She's_scared_ pink! She had better be, too. She's going to be initiated intothe Lambs to-night. They won't do a thing to her! Why, when they tookAngela Dare in, she had hysterics. They had to get a doctor for her. Itnearly broke up their club. Miss North said it came near endingsororities for all time in the school."
"Oh, pooh," Mary scoffed. "Angela has no business in one anyhow. She'stoo emotional. One never knows what she's going to do. She has highstrikes over exams--and just anything. Angela's only half human. She'slike that Mrs. Harriet Beecher Stowe--or somebody who was so frail inbody--"
"Mrs. Stowe!" Blue Bonnet exclaimed.
"She means Mrs. Browning," Peggy said loftily. "English isn't Mary'slong suit."
"No, but I can add two and two," Mary returned sharply.
Peggy was as weak in mathematics as Mary was in English.
Blue Bonnet finished her visit with Carita and went back to her room.She opened her desk and getting out an invitation looked it overcarefully. At the top of the note-paper reposed a tiny golden lamb, andunderneath, the letters A. O. O. L. formed a monogram in blue and gold.A skull and cross-bones had been drawn in ink and a message followed:
"The presence of Miss Blue Bonnet Ashe is demanded at twelve o'clock to-night, February the nineteenth, at number fifteen Fifth Avenue: the said Miss Ashe to appear in a winding sheet, noiseless shoes and a bath-robe. Miss Ashe has the privilege of bringing refreshments with her if inclined; the committee suggesting that they be in keeping with the shades of night: skeleton salad, ghost sandwiches, assorted spooks or witches' delight. A roasted hobgoblin will be served soon after the meeting opens. Please be on time, and hold your honorable body in readiness for this or any other sacrifice that may be demanded by the Order.
"Fraternally yours, "COMMITTEE ON INITIATION."
Blue Bonnet laughed as she folded up the invitation and put it back inthe desk. Her mind reverted to the time, a day or two back, when SueHemphill had fastened a little enameled sprig of mint--the pin of theOrder--on her dress with the remark:
"This means that you are now pledged to our Order. Mint is our emblem.You'll get the roast at the initiation."
She stood for a moment looking out the window, her thoughts on the eventbefore her. She wondered about the little golden lamb at the top of thenote-paper--what its significance was. In regard to the refreshments shewished she had known about those sooner. If she could have had a day'snotice, Huyler's could have prepared a witches' delight--ghostsandwiches that the girls would not have forgotten in a week. Sheremembered some April fool's candy Kitty Clark once got--the mostdelectable looking stuff imaginable--but, ugh! Her mouth burned yet whenshe thought of it.
She ran across the hall and knocked softly at Annabel's door. Annabelwas some time in answering. When she did, she poked her head out thetiniest bit, and Blue Bonnet saw a flash of white sheets which seemed,from her brief glance, to cover the room.
"Sorry to be inhospitable, Blue Bonnet, but I can't let you in. You seeyou aren't expected until to-night. At twelve, remember; and, forgoodness' sake, take a look down the hall before you venture out. Wedon't want Fraulein to spoil things. I reckon Sue had better fix upyour pillow before you come."
"Fix up my pillow!" Blue Bonnet said, a bit mystified.
"Yes. She'll show you. She's an artist at it."
Blue Bonnet's amazement deepened and Annabel explained.
"She'll get some of Wee Watts' hair. She's got a Jane, and a switch,too--it's about the color of yours--and she'll pin it on yourpillow--fix it up so that if Fraulein suspects anything and takes a peekin your room she'll swear you're sleeping like a baby."
Blue Bonnet fairly gasped.
"Oh, we haven't been here three years for nothing, let me tell you,"Annabel confessed. "You need all your wits."
"How am I going to wake up?" Blue Bonnet asked. "I know I never canwithout an alarm of some kind. I'm an awfully good sleeper."
"That's easy. Tie a string round your wrist and put the string outsidethe transom--let it hang down the wall. Nobody will see it after thelights are out. Some of us will pull it and waken you about a quarter totwelve. Don't wake Joy. She might go to Miss North, or do something."
"No, she wouldn't. Joy isn't so bad as we all thought, Annabel. I wantto tell you about her sometime. We must try to be nicer to her if shestays here."
"Oh, she'll stay, never fear. They aren't expelling anygraduates--especially a student like Joy Cross. She's made a wonderfulrecord. Miss North's got to admit that, whatever else Joy's done.Good-by. See you later. I'm in an awful hurry. You'll excuse me, won'tyou?"
About five minutes before time for the lights to be put out, there was agentle knock at Blue Bonnet's door. Sue Hemphill put her head in andglanced round.
"Where's Joy?" she asked, drawing something in after her.
"In the bathroom."
"Good! Here, turn down your bed quick, Blue Bonnet."
Blue Bonnet complied, and Sue swiftly deposited a pillow underneath thesheet, leaving only a brown head gracefully exposed to view.
Blue Bonnet clapped her hand over her mouth to prevent a shriek. Thething so resembled a human head that it convulsed her for a moment.
"Sue! How ever did you do it? Why, from the back it looks just like me.I always braid my hair that way at night. It's wonderful!"
"Practice makes perfect. Get in on the other side and don't disturb it.Cover it up a bit more till Joy gets to bed. Don't forget the string onyour arm, and, whatever you do, don't get scared and s
cream when I yankit. Remember! Good night."
She was off before Blue Bonnet could say a word, even ask a question.
Blue Bonnet got out her night-dress and threw it over the brown head onthe pillow, loitering about her undressing. Joy finished her toilet andgot into bed quickly. A moment more and the lights were off.
Blue Bonnet tied the string to her arm, but she had to wait until Joyfell asleep before she could put it through the transom, and Joy wasunusually wakeful. Blue Bonnet heard her tumble and toss upon her bedwhile she tried to ward off sleep herself. She gave up in despairfinally. It would never do to get up on a chair and put the stringthrough with Joy awake. She fell into a doze thinking what she shoulddo, and the next thing she knew she was being shaken rudely while avoice in her ear whispered:
"Get up, quickly! You're late. We couldn't find the string anywhere."
Blue Bonnet got into the sheet and bath-robe and sped across the hall tonumber fifteen.
Number fifteen presented a weird appearance. Heavy black cloth had beentacked over the transom to shut out all light and two or three candlesburned about the room dimly. On the wide couch six ghostly figuresrocked back and forth mumbling an incantation.
"Is the candidate ready for initiation?" a voice from the couch asked."If so, let her speak."
Blue Bonnet nodded.
"The master of ceremonies will then conduct her to the middle of theroom and blindfold her."
The ghost in the centre of the group rose, and stretching out her arms,gave forth an edict of some kind in a stage whisper. Blue Bonnetcouldn't catch it all--it was purposely jumbled--but it began:
"Oh, spirits of all departed lambs, attend! attend! Hear me call! Hear me call!"
When the last note of the incantation had faded into silence, a strangestillness settled upon the room. This lasted for several minutes. BlueBonnet stood quietly, wondering what was to happen next. She had notlong to wait. A slender little ghost slid from the couch and patteringabout the room softly, extinguished each light. Then came a command.
"Conductor, advance the candidate. Let her extend the hand of fellowshipto her sister lambs."
Blue Bonnet was marched forward a few steps. She extended her hand. Thething that met hers caused her to drop it instantly, and the cold chillspassed up and down her spine. If she had only known that it was but arubber glove filled with cold water, she could have breathed moreeasily. She stifled a cry.
"THE GHOST IN THE CENTRE OF THE GROUP ROSE."]
"The candidate is warned not to scream," came a stern voice from outthe darkness, and Blue Bonnet struggled for better self control.Something soft and woolly was next thrust into her arms--something thatsaid "bah-bah" a bit mechanically, and Blue Bonnet cuddled it warmly. Itwas suspiciously like the old Teddy bear that she used to take to bedwith her on lonely nights at the ranch. Somebody proclaimed it a mascot.
Then followed a succession of pranks numerous and frivolous; and whenthe fun grew too riotous for discretion the master of ceremoniesrequested order.
"Is the candidate now ready to take the oath of allegiance?" was askedthe conductor, who stood guard over Blue Bonnet.
"She is ready," the guard answered.
It would hardly be fair to go too deeply into the ritual of a secretorganization. It is sufficient, therefore, to say that during the nextfifteen minutes Blue Bonnet learned more of the character and habits ofthe girls she had chosen as friends than she had dreamed of in twomonths' association. She learned, among other things, that the lambwhich they had chosen as their emblem, signified sacrifice: that thesegirls gave one-tenth of their allowances monthly for settlement work.She found a new meaning in friendship; a new impetus for service.
It was after the serious part of the ceremony that the real fun began.The bandage, which had been removed for a little time, was again boundabout Blue Bonnet's eyes securely, and she stumbled forth into thedarkness, upheld by two ghosts who shook with suppressed mirth as theyguided her uncertain footsteps. Blue Bonnet had a suspicion that she wasbeing led over the same ground times without number as the journeyprogressed, but she went forward without a murmur. When they had at lastreached the sky parlor, where the feast was to be held, the bandage wasonce more removed and congratulations were in order, Annabel was thefirst to extend them.
"Welcome, sister lamb," she said, squeezing Blue Bonnet's hand. "You'regame, my dear. Our hats are off to you. You didn't balk once."
The sheets were quickly changed for heavy bath-robes, for the sky parlorwas cold and draughty. Japanese fashion the girls sat on the flooraround the food, which had been gathered from different quarters forseveral days. Deborah Watts' suitcase had, as usual, played an importantpart. Delicious cake, home-made bread, generous slices of ham forsandwiches, testified gloriously to her mother's housekeeping. The othergirls had added their full quota. One might have imagined that Huyler'sand Pierce's had been raided, from the candies and other delicaciesthat greeted the eye; but the initiation of the Lambs was always an"Occasion."
"Remember the time the Proctortoise caught us up here?" Sue Hemphillasked, helping herself to her sixth sandwich. "Proctortoise" was one ofFraulein's many appellations. "I never was so scared in my life. Thatwas my first midnight feast, and I thought for some time it would be mylast."
"I reckon I do remember," Annabel said. "I lost my privileges for amonth because I owned I got it up. It was the time Mother sent me thathuge box of good things on my birthday. Wasn't that the grandest box,Wee? Remember how sick you got from eating so much of Mammy Jane's fruitcake and mince pie?" Mammy Jane was Annabel's old nurse, who regardedAnnabel as the apple of her eye.
Wee rolled her eyes heavenward and laid her hand on her stomachtenderly.
"Remember! Well, I guess I do. I've never touched a piece of fruit cakesince."
"I'm the same way about lemon pie," Sue admitted. "I ate a whole one uphere at a feast once, and I've never been able to stand the sight of onesince."
"This old room could tell some great tales if it could speak, couldn'tit?" Patty Paine said, looking about. "It's a barren hole, but I adoreit. I've had some great times here. Remember the night we thought weheard some one coming and we got into the trunks? That was the timeAngela fell down-stairs and had hysterics. It was initiation night, too,wasn't it? My, but wasn't Miss North furious! I thought she'd freezeinto an icicle. It took her weeks to thaw out."
"Had you a suspicion that she _had_ thawed out?" Ruth inquired.
"Oh, she isn't so bad, Ruth," Patty defended. "I've got a right softspot in my heart for Miss North--"
"Girls! what was that noise?" Angela Dare interrupted in a whisper. "I'msure I heard some one walking."
A hush fell over the room. The girls strained their ears.
"Oh, Angela! You're always hearing things. Your imagination is worsethan your conscience. They're both ingrowing," Ruth declared. "I don'tthink you heard a blessed thing!"
"Yes, she did, Ruth," Blue Bonnet insisted. "I heard it, too."
"You did?"
"Yes--shh--there! You heard it then, didn't you?"
All admitted that they did hear some sort of a sound and sat with batedbreath.
"It's a rat or a mouse! Oh, see--there it goes--look, behind that bigbrown trunk!"
The appearance of Fraulein accompanied by Miss North could scarcely havecaused greater confusion. The girls scattered in every direction. WeeWatts made an attempt to climb the wall in her anxiety to escape,turning over an old chair that fell with dreadful clatter.
"Wee Watts," Annabel said sternly, "stop acting so silly. Get down offthat old box instantly. It's going to break with you. We'll every one becaught here in another minute. Exercise some sense!"
But Wee, her limbs shaking with fright, clung helplessly to the roughbeams in the old attic wall, beseeching the girls to let her alone.
"I'll faint if it comes near me--I know I shall," she wailed, her teethchattering. "Oh--oh--there it goes again--oh, oh, don't scare it thisway--don't--don't, Annabel
! Please--please--"
Blue Bonnet climbed up beside Wee and put her hand over her mouth.
"Hush!" she said. "Do you want to get us all in trouble? I thought youhad such courage--met big things so well--"
"Oh, I do, Blue Bonnet--I really do--but this is a little thing--such ahorrid little thing--oh, oh--it's under this box--oh--" A piercingscream rent the air.
At the same instant seven girls darted for the door. They tumbled overeach other in a mad effort to escape. Blue Bonnet found herself alone ina dark hall not knowing which way to turn. She stood still a moment, herheart beating violently. It was not a pleasant situation. The othergirls knew the building perfectly--every nook and cranny--just where togo. She felt against the wall and a knob met her fingers. A second latershe was in a room lit by a dim moon. Feeling her way along the wall tothe window she threw up the blind. In the nearest corner a form huddled.
"Who is in this room?" Blue Bonnet whispered.
"Oh, Blue Bonnet," came the answer, "is it you? I was going back to findyou. I thought you'd be scared to death. Isn't this the worst ever? Whowould have thought Wee could have been such a fool! Take hold of myhand; I know every step of the way."
"Do you think any of the girls have been caught, Annabel?"
"I don't know. If they haven't it's good luck, not good management. Lookout--there ought to be a step here--yes, there is, walk carefully. Nosprained ankles to-night."
Just how they reached their rooms Blue Bonnet never quite knew. Shetrusted Annabel and followed meekly as a newly born lamb should. Whenthey parted at Blue Bonnet's door Annabel gave Blue Bonnet a swift hug.
"You're game clear through," she said. "I think everything is allright. I can't hear a sound anywhere."
Somewhere down the length of the hall a clock struck. Annabel and BlueBonnet both counted: one--two--three!
"Three o'clock and all is well!" Annabel said. "Good night. Don'tworry."
* * * * *
It was at breakfast the next morning that Madam de Cartier remarked toone of the girls at the French table:
"I fancied I heard a scream last night--or this morning, rather. Itsounded down Commonwealth Avenue. A piercing scream, as though some onewere in great distress. Did any one else hear it?"
"Yes, Madam de Cartier," Sue Hemphill said, equal to the occasion. "Itwas dreadful, wasn't it? As if some one were horribly frightened. It wasabout three o'clock, I think. I was awake and heard the clock strikingon the lower corridor. What could it have been?"
"I really don't know, Miss Hemphill, though I have a theory. I may bequite wrong, however. It seems strange, doesn't it? This street is soeminently respectable and quiet."
Sue met Madam de Cartier's eye unflinchingly. There was an unfathomabletwinkle in Madam's that meant much or little. Madam was naturallymerry. Nevertheless, Sue, for all her bravado, was worried. She changedthe subject immediately.
"Sue's perfectly furious at Deborah," Annabel said, catching up withBlue Bonnet on the way to chapel. "She won't speak to her this morning.I ran in to borrow a tie a minute before breakfast, and Wee had beencrying. Poor old Wee! I feel sorry for her. She's such a good sportgenerally. I reckon she can't help being afraid of mice. Some peopleare, you know--awfully!"
"Do you think anybody knows about what happened?" Blue Bonnet asked.
Annabel laughed.
"I don't know. Miss North acted awfully queer this morning. One of thegirls asked if anybody heard that scream in the night, and the funniestlook came over Miss North's face. To tell the truth, I think theteachers know all about it and the joke's on us. I haven't been soscared in an age. It's pretty risky for a Senior to be up to such highjinks."
"Will Miss North do anything about it, do you think?"
"No--I hardly think so. She's pretty lenient to the 'Lambs.' We helpsupport her pet charity. She's terribly interested in settlement work.Anyway, I don't believe she half minds a little innocent fun; but, ofcourse, she couldn't sanction it openly." Annabel stifled a yawn. "I'mso sleepy I don't know how I'm ever going to get through this day. Iscarcely slept a wink all night. I got to worrying about that candle weleft burning in the sky parlor; and finally, after numerous and painfulvisions of the building burning down at my own personal expense, I gotup, felt my way along those dark halls, and put it out."
"You went back alone!" Blue Bonnet gasped.
"I did. I think myself I deserve a medal--don't you?"
"You deserve several, Annabel. It was too plucky for anything. Whydidn't Ruth go with you?"
"Oh, Ruth was asleep. It seemed a pity to wake her. I didn't mind much.I never was afraid of the dark."
* * * * *
It was late in the afternoon that Sue Hemphill, coming into her room,found the following note pinned to her pincushion with her best hatpin:
"DEAR OLD ROOMY:
"Please forgive me for being such a silly goose last night. I couldn't help it--truly I couldn't, Sue. I have always gotten perfectly panicky over those little beasts ever since I can remember. I can't bear to have you angry with me. I know I feel worse than you do about it, for I must have seemed such an awful fool. It was all the worse because I had boasted about my courage the other day. I never will again. I am going to see if Miss North will let me take Mrs. White and the 'Lambs' to see Maude Adams next Saturday afternoon--my treat. I have a birthday check coming and I'd love to spend it that way.
"Your loving pal, "WEE."
"Dear old Wee," Sue said, as she read the note through twice and thencarefully pinned it in her memory book. "She's got the biggest heart.Nobody could stay angry at her two minutes--I can't anyway. And," sheadded, philosophically, "I suppose if she's afraid of mice, she's_afraid_--and that's all there is to it."