Dorothy Whitehill

“ CHAPTER XII—Janet to the Rescue Daphne was the next up, after two more new wing girls had made creditable scores.
“She looks like Diana herself,” Miss Hull said, to the old gentleman who was sitting beside her, and indeed Daphne’s beauty never showed to such advantage, as when she stood beside her bow. But alas! looks are not everything. Although the beautiful curve of Daphne’s arm, covered by its sheer angel sleeve, was grace itself, the refractory arrows fell almost anywhere but on the target. ”

“ They stopped aghast at the sight of the Twins.
Phyllis managed a very little smile.
“Congratulations,” she said.
“Phil, do you mean?” Daphne demanded and poor Phyllis nodded.
Ann and Prue and Gladys came dancing in. Gladys had made the Archery Team as a substitute.
They stopped, too shocked and surprised at the news of Phyllis’s failure.
“But you deserved it, Phil,” Ann insisted.
“Nonsense, I did no such thing. You don’t deserve things just because you want them,” Phyllis replied. “Goodness me, I’ve enough joy in your good luck to last me a life-time. So do forget about me.” ”

“ Her name was Ann Lourie. She hardly spoke through the meal, but her quiet smile and the humor that lay at the back of her hazel eyes gave the twins the impression of a personality worth cultivating.
The teachers at the table were Miss Remsted and Miss Jenks. They were both young and full of fun, and the twins contrasted them with the teachers at Miss Harding’s, to the latter’s disadvantage.
When dinner was over Miss Hull stood up.
“You have nothing to do tonight, girls, but get acquainted; and I want you to do that thoroughly. Remember, every new girl must be made to feel at home at Hilltop.” ”

“ A muffled chuckle came from the depth of Janet’s pillow.
“What are you laughing at?” Phyllis demanded.
“The idea of the Red Twins being fussed by anything. Why those girls have got the assurance of Diana herself. I wish you could see them string their bows.”
“The responsibility of being the twins for the old wing is growing daily,” Phyllis laughed. “I’m worse than Prue when it comes to a straight eye, so I suppose we’re doomed for one defeat.” ”

“ Sally and Janet looked at each other in bewilderment. “How did they get down there? They aren’t Juniors or Seniors,” Sally protested.
“Can’t help it, Miss Slocum sent their names in to Poppy as shining lights in literature,” Ann replied. “And Poppy, of course, was tickled to death.”
“So was Helen Jenkins, by the way,” Prue added. “She’s really the brains of the club, while Poppy’s the looks.”
“And they’re both Old Wing Girls,” Gladys exulted. “Just imagine how they feel at the idea of letting in two Sophomores! ”

“ Poppy said consolingly, “and Miss Hull says we are to have a longer Christmas vacation to make up, besides no lessons for the four days now. You all must admit, that’s fair enough.”
“Of course, it’s fair,” Prue agreed readily; “but, well I had a very special engagement this Thanksgiving, and I hate to give it up.”
“I was going to visit Ann’s uncle,” Gladys said sadly, “and now, of course, I can’t.”
“Well, you will some other time,” Prue suddenly turned cheerful.
It is always so easy to make light of other people’s disappointments, particularly when you are comparing them with your own. ”

“ Phyllis laughed. “They’re in the new wing and we’re in the old. All that matters is that Daphne’s here, and we four are together again.”
Daphne gave a queer little laugh.
“It’s pretty wonderful,” she admitted, “to find you all just the same. I was afraid that perhaps Sally had found a new pal, and that perhaps you two have discovered some other girls. It rather worried me.”
The rest laughed, and Janet said:
“Taffy, my darling, you were growing an imagination. You kill it before it becomes dangerous.”
Snatches of a song came to them from the hall and Sally jumped up and ran to the door. ”

“ Prue asked.
“We do,” Phyllis answered. “We played off yesterday, and, and of course they had to beat Poppy and Helen.”
“Cheeky of them, I call it,” Gladys commented.
“Oh, well, if you are up against them, we don’t need to worry. How’s your game?” Prue had never held a racket in her hand, but she always spoke in tennis terms.
“Very bad, thank you, Prue,” Janet informed her. “I twisted my wrist yesterday, playing against Kitty and Louise, and Phyl hurt her foot.”
“I suppose the Red Twins are in high feather then. How they love an advantage!” Sally said crossly. ”

“ Forty girls were competing. You could pick them out from among the others by their eager expectant expression.
The faculty in the daintiest of gowns were making the guests, who had driven in from all around the countryside, as comfortable as possible in the grey wicker chairs that had been brought down from the school, and placed in a half circle back of the shooters. They came because they loved the pretty sight of the girls in their white dresses on the green lawn, with the old mansion as a background, rather than for any real interest in Archery. ”

“ Sally called back over her shoulder, and the twins were alone.
Two weeks had passed since the opening of school, but although Janet and Phyllis felt perfectly at home in their new surroundings, the life at Hilltop had never for a second become monotonous. Every day they had found some fresh interest, and they were beginning to understand that apart from lessons every girl had a big responsibility towards the school. ”

“ Their eyes traveled to the mantel. The big tennis cup bore Gwen’s name, and under it “The Page Twins.” Sally’s name glittered from the smooth surface of the Archery cup, and on the Dramatic Club’s, Phyllis and Daphne’s names stood out.
“How about this summer?” Janet inquired. “You are both surely coming to Old Chester for July aren’t you?”
“We are,” Sally and Daphne replied together. ”

“ Sally demanded with dignity.
“I want to find out if I’m going to make the Archery Contest tomorrow,” Gladys replied, “and I don’t know anybody but Aunt Jane’s Poll-parrot that can tell me.”
“You might ask her about the rest of us,” Prue suggested, and Gladys turned back to the window.
“How about Prue, Polly?” she inquired seriously.
“... Oh, is that so?”
“... Well, perhaps you’re right.”
“... Very well, I’ll tell her.” ”

“ Gladys made a dive for Janet, and they rolled together in a rough-and-tumble fight.
In the midst of it Poppy came in.
“What are you two young ones up to?” she demanded. “Do stop, or you’ll hurt yourselves and not be fit for the tableaux.”
“We’ve decided about the one for the little lady that fell off the balcony,” Gwen began. “We’re going to have it in two scenes.”
The girls could hardly keep their faces straight as they listened.
“Is Glad going to be the pretty lady?” Janet inquired innocently. ”

“ Then came the Archery Contest. Once more Janet beat the Red Twins. The change of bows hurt their form. It was never necessary to do it again. Sally’s luck held, and she made a very good score, but there were so many girls, Juniors and Seniors competing, that neither Janet nor Sally felt at all hopeful.
At dinner there was a quiet lull over the dining-room. Hilltop insisted that her girls be good losers above everything else, and there was very little grumbling, but every girl tonight was busy with her own thoughts. ”

“ Stella Richardson, one of the Seniors who lived in the new wing, spoke up. “There isn’t one of us who wouldn’t gladly drown the little wretch, and the trouble is, she’s gotten some of the new girls and talked to them until they feel it’s a positive virtue to be rude every time they see one of you.”
“Oh, it’s all too nonsensical,” Gwen exploded. “Good old wings, who dares to take our happy fight and make an ugly thing out of it?”
“My thumbs are down for anyone who dares,” Ruth Hall announced. She roomed in the new wing with Stella Richardson. ”

“ We were going to meet my brother John, he’s a freshman at Princeton, you know,” she added with pride. “And, oh dear, we were going to have a simply wonderful time, and now just because the Red Twins and that horrid little Ethel Rivers have the measles, I can’t go. John will be so disappointed.”
“Don’t worry about brother,” Gladys teased. “It’s my opinion that he will be quite relieved. Grown-up boys are never very crazy about their baby sisters, especially when their friends are around. ”

“ Daphne’s cool gaze rested on Janet, then she laughed her funny little laugh.
“Guess I’ll have to stay through the Christmas vacation to get even with you,” she drawled.
“You’ll do nothing of the kind,” Sally protested. “I just had a letter from mother today and she says she’s planning with Auntie Mogs Carter the most scrumptious Christmas Eve party, and I’d like to see you dare stay away from it.”
Gladys turned back to the window and her private conversation with Aunt Jane’s Poll-parrot.
“Why, Poll, you never told me that New York girls gave parties,” she complained. ”

“ Daphne’s read, “I excel with” and then a bow and arrow.
The tables were all decorated with baskets of fruit and nuts, and the snowy linen and shining silver gave the beautiful old hall a splendid aspect.
Everybody was very merry and happy. The old darkies who had waited on the tables at Hilltop since it started were immaculate and grinning in white aprons and red bandanas.
“And now for the surprise,” Miss Jenks said as they left the table after the nuts and fruit.
The girls hurried upstairs. Gwen came into the Twins’s room to help them, and Poppy stayed with Sally and Daphne. ”

“ Phyllis walked to the balcony and stood looking out over the lawn.
“Isn’t it funny the way people get jumbled up,” she said musingly. “We four haven’t paired off as we ought to. It almost looks as if we had changed partners. Just look at this afternoon. Jan and Sally were practicing with their ever-lasting bows and arrows, and you and I were sitting in all our glory in the midst of the Dramatic Club.”
“That’s what makes us such bully good friends,” Daphne explained. ”

“ Daphne and Phyllis hurried to the latter’s room as quickly as possible.
“Taffy, was there ever such luck?” Phyllis exclaimed, “wasn’t it adorable of them to let us be there!”
“Indeed it was,” Daphne agreed heartily. “And we’re only new girls, too, and that makes it all the nicer. But, Phil, what do you suppose they really mean?”
Phyllis shook her head and her brows puckered in a puzzled frown.
“I wish I knew, Taffy,” she replied slowly. “When I went in, Poppy squeezed my arm and Helen Jenkins asked me how I liked the Dramatic Club pin.” ”

“ Janet laughed. They always spoke of themselves as “our four” since Daphne had happily thought of the name. The rest of the girls, old and young, looked on in approval. A school is apt to be proud of its close friendships.
Ann, Prue and Gladys, in imitation, called themselves “We and Co.,” and the school smiled and approved again.
The Red Twins came in and put an end to further discussion. They had recovered long since from their attack of measles and they had returned from the Infirmary very chastened in spirit—as Sally said, “the spirit of Hilltop was beginning to work.” ”

“ Janet admitted, “but I can’t help it. They are so funny when they are sure of themselves. Do look at May condescending to Phyl. On my word I do believe she is giving her points.”
Daphne took her by the shoulders and shook her. “Jan, tell me the truth. How much of a chance have the Red Twins?” she demanded.
“Not a chance in the world,” Janet replied calmly.
And Daphne went back to the eager group of girls who were crowding for places near the court, and smiled her sweet dreamy smile in response to all the new wing girls’ boasts. ”

“ Notes are always welcome when one is in the Infirmary, aren’t they?” she turned to Poppy.
“Yes, Miss Hull, most anything is,” Poppy replied, a worried expression on her usually placid face. She was wondering whom she could persuade to write to the Red Twins and Ethel Rivers. Kitty Joyce and Louise Brown she knew would be well taken care of. Miss Hull had a way of making a suggestion, and then leaving it to the Seniors to see that it was carried out.
The same thought was reflected on the face of every Senior. Gwen and Poppy found their solution in the Sophomore class. ”

“ Louise admitted, and one of the other girls exclaimed:
“Long live the rivalry between the old and the new at Hilltop!”
“Well, anyway, now that you’re here, come on into my room, I’ve got a whale of a box of candy,” little Kitty Joyce invited.
When they were all seated in her dainty room, Phyllis said, shyly:
“I wish somebody would explain to me about this rivalry; I don’t understand.”
“I’ll explain!” Louise jumped up and stood in the middle of the floor, her hands behind her back.
“We are two distinct and separate wings,” she began, “and we represent the old and the new. ”

“ Gwen assured them. “Miss Hull will probably ask one of the classes to entertain.”
“You know it will be the Seniors,” Poppy replied reproachfully, “and what we will do at so short notice I’m sure I don’t know.” This in Poppy’s complaining tones made the girls all laugh.
“Cheer up, Poppy, we’ll all help you, no matter what,” Sally promised. “We might have a real old-fashioned pillow fight between the wings; that would liven us up a bit,” she suggested. “I admit I feel rather depressed myself.” ”

“ There’s a game of basket ball first. Every girl who is eligible gets a chance to play. After that comes the archery practice. We shoot, the same as we did on Archery Day, that is, all the eligible girls. Then there’s the jumping and pole vaulting and the drill. Then cold tubs, supper, and the Dramatic Club girls recite in the evening. After that a dance and refreshments.”
“But when do we know?” Phyllis insisted.
“Tonight when we go to our rooms. If we are the lucky ones we find notes under our pillows.”
“My, I mean your Aunt Jane’s Poll-parrot!” Janet exclaimed, “I wish it were over.” ”