Carolyn rode home in the Gwynne car with Betty, but they talked of other
things, especially the coming season of basketball. Betty declared that
she did not play a good game and Carolyn said that she played as well as
the other sophomores and that moreover she was swift and graceful about
everything just as she was in swimming. "Go in for it, Betty; please
do."
"I'll think about it," promised Betty. "It's so that most of our hockey
team want to play basketball, too."
Taffies, no matter how toothsome, are not the best preparation for a
sound night's sleep; but Betty was too sleepy to give sororities any
further thought that night and the only effect of the taffy was in
giving her a dream in which she and Carolyn were being initiated into
Kappa Upsilon, while Kathryn stood by watching them.
In the morning she woke with a pretty good idea of what she was going to
do. It was not necessary to marshal the arguments for and against. "I'm
not going into a thing that leaves out a lot of my special friends," she
said to herself as she dressed. "Lyon High is too big for it to make any
difference to me. The question of sororities in college can wait. I may
go away to school or be in the University here. Carolyn's so sweet it
won't make any difference if she does go into it; and I like Kathryn so
much; and if Peggy changes, I can't help it."
Peggy, however, was a big pull toward the sorority for Carolyn, she
knew. She almost wished she did not have to call up Carolyn. She didn't
want to use any influence with her. It wouldn't be fair. Perhaps by this
time Carolyn wanted awfully to do it and her decision would be a sort of
wet blanket. Still, she had promised to tell her before they went to
school.
Betty hurried with her dressing and breakfast, helping a little as usual
and to her relief, while she was still at the table, the telephone rang.
Carolyn was calling her, she thought.
Doris answered it this time, but she called Betty. "It's Carolyn," she
said. "It must be something important for her to call you at breakfast
time."
Betty only smiled as she hopped up and ran to the front hall. "Yes,
Carolyn?"
"Betty, Peggy called up last night and she is going to join and is crazy
to have me do it!"
"Well, Carolyn, why not, if you want to?"
"I told old Peggy that I was trying to make up my mind but I didn't
mention you at all. I thought you'd rather not. She did, though, and
said they wanted to have you. Lucia, too, had asked them if they had
asked you, with the idea that it would be a lot more attractive to her
if they did!"
"That was very nice of Lucia."
"Well, Betty--have you decided?"
"Yes, Carolyn."
"That doesn't sound as if you were going to do it. If I know you, you
would have said something enthusiastic about Peggy and Lucia. Dare I ask
you _what_ you have decided?"
Betty's little chuckle went over the wires to Carolyn.
"I am putting off telling you till the last minute, you see, _because_
of what you are saying about Peggy and Lucia and how you may feel
yourself about it. Please don't be influenced by what I do or don't do.
That sounds conceited, doesn't it? But really I'm not a bit about it.
You just consulted me and seemed to care what I thought about it, you
know!"
"For pity's sake, Betty, don't apologize! And I can't wait a minute
longer to know!"
"All right, then," said Betty, with no chuckle this time. "I knew when I
woke up that I wasn't going to join. All the reasons against it win,
Carolyn."
"Well, I just about knew how you would decide. I've got to think it over
between now and the time I get to school. I didn't know at all when I
woke up what I was going to do. Peggy's enthusiasm last night shook me."
"Why shouldn't it? You've known Peggy for a long time. And don't think
that your belonging to any sorority will make me think any less of you.
That will be just _one little organization_ that we aren't in together.
There are plenty of societies in Lyon High, Carolyn."
"Yes. All right, Betty. I've got to think it out myself, just like you.
See you at lunch."
Receivers were hung up. The discussion was over. Now Betty was to think
of her own relation to these girls, particularly of what she should say
to Marcella. It was not likely that Carolyn would mention her knowledge
of Betty's decision.
But Betty was glad to put off the evil hour and when she met Kathryn as
she descended from the street car and walked up to the school entrance
with her, she knew that she was safe, though she saw Marcella in the
hall, gave her a smiling bow and saw Marcella thoughtfully regard her
and Kathryn. But the Kappa Upsilons were having quite a time with their
"pledges." It wasn't possible to invite all of any little group of
friends.
It must be said that Betty's thoughts outside of lessons that day were
more concerned with basketball than with sorority. Carolyn's ideas
started that line of thought. But Mathilde would work against her--oh
well, things would turn out as they would.
It was after school when Marcella Waite spoke again to Betty. "Just a
minute, Betty Lee. Are you rushing off to catch a car this time?"
"No, indeed. I've all the time in the world--not even anything of the G.
A. A. this afternoon."
"Then perhaps you can come along with me and some of the other girls and
have dinner down town. Lucia is going, and perhaps we can get Carolyn
and Peggy."
"I couldn't do that, Marcella, but thank you so much for asking me. I
have to go home."
"Oh, I could take you home to dress. The car is out here this time. But
I'll not urge you if you have other things on hand for tonight. I think
you know what I want to see you about. You said something sweet about
Kappa Upsilon yesterday, so I've been hoping that you would be quite
ready to say yes about joining us. What do you think?"
"Do you mean that you are asking me to join?"
"Just that."
"It is so good of you, Marcella. I did think about it for I thought that
you would scarcely have said that to me if you hadn't meant something of
the kind. And it would look so good to be in anything that you are in.
I've enjoyed knowing you so much!" Betty was sober and earnest, with her
eyes somewhat troubled as she looked straight at Marcella, standing
aside from the walk a little, away from the hurrying pupils.
"But when it comes to joining any high school sorority you know that
there are a lot of things to think about."
"Not so important as you think. It is just a lot of fun for the most
part."
"I know, and that part of it is lovely. But I decided this morning that
it wasn't best and if I _should_ be asked by any of them not to do it."
"That is final, then?" asked Marcella, more business-like than offended.
"Yes. It has to be, though I can't tell you how I appreciate it to be
chosen by the Kappa Upsilons."
"That is all right, Betty Lee. I'm sorry, though, and I think you'll
regret it--not that we'll do anything to make you regret it, you
understand."
"My, no! I can't imagine _your_ doing anything mean, Marcella."
"Thanks for your good opinion. By the way, my brother was home the other
day and asked what had become of the little girl that was Titania at my
Hallowe'en party."
"Did I meet him? Your brother?"
"Why, of course, but--that's so--perhaps you didn't know who he was. He
had to make a train and could not stay for the unmasking or the
refreshments, except to eat something back in the kitchen! He was the
'Pirate of Penzance.'"
"Oh!" exclaimed Betty, rather overwhelmed. She certainly did remember
the "Pirate of Penzance!" What a pity that she had not known before! No,
her decision would have been the same!
"Doesn't your brother live at home?" she asked.
"Oh yes; but he is at college in the East. He just happened to be at
home, unexpectedly, so I worked him in to help out and I thought he
looked splendid in that costume I got up for him."
"He surely did."
"It was a pity you shouldn't have seen him unmasked, though. He's quite
handsome at times, though I'm probably prejudiced."
"I don't think you should say that. Besides, it's a good thing to be
proud of your brothers and sisters."
"I have two brothers," said Marcella, "and this one is the younger one.
He's a sophomore this year. Well, Betty, I'm sorry. But don't feel
uncomfortable about it. I see that you do, and sororities don't like to
be turned down, either. But it isn't so bad if you have just decided
against high school sororities. I suppose your parents have had some
influence against them most likely--I must run!"
Marcella hurried away, to Betty's relief this time. She had meant to
make it easy for Betty, though, and Betty was grateful. Marcella was a
fine girl. And oh, the Pirate of Penzance, whose memories had some
glamour of romance, was her brother! How silly it had been of her not to
find that out before.
But Betty Lee, while not lacking in initiative, was timid about some
things. She had not wanted to seem curious or too much interested in any
boy. She had asked, indeed, if Carolyn knew who the Pirate of Penzance
could have been, but Carolyn had not known. Kathryn had joked her about
his choosing her for a partner, but Kathryn had wondered who he was, and
to ask Marcella was a thing Betty would not do.
So it happened that until this moment Betty had no least idea of whom
she had met in that dark "hole in the wall." So it was a pity that she
had not seen him unmasked? Very vividly that smiling face in the mirror,
lit only by the dim candle-light, kept Betty company in her thoughts on
the way home.
Evening was not quite so good a time for courage as morning. Betty
suffered the natural reaction from a decision which definitely cut off
any prospect of being in tempting sorority atmosphere, so heralded by
girls of some schools; and any secret society has fascinations of its
own.
She knew that she had been sensible, but she had no word from Carolyn
and felt a sinking at her heart when she thought that Carolyn,
influenced by Peggy's joining and the sweet urging of Marcella, had
probably gone into the Kappa Upsilon sorority. When she thought of
Mathilde, however, she had a different feeling. Imagine being intimate
with a girl like that! Mathilde was not only spoiled but rough at times,
physically, if not in language, in spite of all her airs and superior
assumptions. But Kappa Upsilons might not find that out.
It did make more of a difference than she thought it would about
Carolyn, but--oh well--it was done. She would probably do the same thing
if she still had to decide.
Her father asked her to play with Doris a simple melody arranged for the
violin, whose piano accompaniment Doris managed very nicely, Betty
thought; and with the violin tucked under her chin she felt comforted.
There were "lots of happy times" that had nothing to do with school or
sororities or being on teams or keeping on the honor roll--even!
But Doris, who, like the rest of the junior high girls, was interested
in Lyon High doings and heard plenty of gossip about sorority affairs
and the rushing recently done, asked Betty outright if she had been
asked to join any of the sororities.
Betty hesitated, as she looked through some sheet music and put
something new before Doris to try. "We don't talk about those things,
Doris," she said.
"Why not?"
"Just--because."
"You could tell at home, if you'd been asked and were going to join."
"If I were going to join," repeated Betty, soberly.
"What is this?" asked their father. "The high school students are not
allowed to have sororities, Doris."
"They have 'em just the same, Papa. I'm going to join one, that is if I
get asked."
"Indeed?" and Mr. Lee lifted his brows.
"You're not likely to be asked," said Betty, "if you're that frank about
wanting to get in."
Doris paid no attention to Betty's remark, but addressed her father.
"Oh, now, Papa, they get around it all right! I've heard all about it."
"How you know more than I did is a wonder, Doris," said Betty. "There
must be some one of your friends that knows the ins and outs."
"There is. She has a sister who is a senior."
"How about it, Betty?" asked Mr. Lee, interested. "Have you been
approached on the subject?"
"Yes, sir. I was asked to join a good one, nice girls anyhow, but I
decided not to go into any. I'll wait till I get into college, if I go,
and if anybody wants me."
Mr. Lee gave a nod of satisfaction and turned back to his book. "There
is a reason for there being no sororities in high schools," said he. "In
the smaller schools particularly it makes trouble."
But Doris was at once alive with interest. "_Tell_ me, Betty! Which
one?"
"Really, Dorry, I'd like to tell you; but it wouldn't be nice to do it
now. You might forget and say something about it. Will you be satisfied
if I say that I will tell you some time?"
"I suppose I'll have to be."
"Aw, she'd be saying, 'My sister was asked to join one of the
sororities!'" Dick's tone was as much like a girl's as a boy whose voice
was beginning to change could manage.
"I _will not_!" vehemently Doris asserted.
"That will do, children," said Mrs. Lee. "This is Betty's affair. She
probably feels uncomfortable enough to refuse an attractive invitation."
Mother knew, bless her! Perhaps she had been through the same thing.
Then there came a ring at the telephone and Betty flew. "Somebody's
calling up Betty!" said Doris, rather pettishly, though she did not
close her ears to Betty's side of the conversation.
"Oh, Carolyn!" said Betty, and then there was a silence on her part for
a little.
"You 'almost did?' Maybe you should have done it, Carolyn. Sure you'll
be happy over it?"
Another long silence on Betty's part.
"It is good of you to tell me all about it. Yes, Marcella is the
greatest attraction. I hope--what is that? Yes."
"Marcella Waite, Dick," said Doris in a low tone. "It's the Kappa
Upsilons! I knew it!"
"Doris," said Mrs. Lee, pleasantly but firmly, "whatever you may know or
guess, I trust your sense of what is fitting to keep your ideas to
yourself."
"All right, Mamma--but I can't help hearing what the other kids talk
about."
"The other children, you mean."
"Yes'm."
Mrs. Lee sighed, laying aside some mending for a magazine. This
school-grounds language! But perhaps, if they heard correct and cultured
speech at home it would do some good.