“I’m going to forgive you, too, Maude,” said Betty; “but it will take me a little while. I am afraid it will be half an hour before I can feel toward you as if you hadn’t done this.” “I don’t wonder,” said Maude, contritely; “but, Betty, I didn’t know Martha as you did, and it _did_ look queer.” “Yes, that’s so,” conceded Betty. “I think I’ll get over it in a _quarter_ of an hour.” She did, and when it was time for the May party, the late unpleasantness was ignored by all, if not entirely forgotten. Mr. Halstead gave Maude a five-dollar bill to replace the one his son had spoiled, and he then also presented her with the green paper doll, as a reminder not to trust too much to appearances. VIII THE CHAPLET OF HONOR As soon as June had fairly dawned upon the calendar, the girls of Miss Whittier’s school began to prepare for closing day. It was customary to give an evening entertainment, in which all the pupils took part. “This year,” Miss Whittier announced to the class, “I have a very delightful plan, of which I will now tell you. It is not exactly a play, but a little staged allegory which I am sure you will all think very attractive.” Betty listened eagerly, for “staged allegory” sounded rather dry and poky, and yet it might turn out to be fun after all. “Sounds like ‘Pilgrim’s Progress,’” whispered Dorothy, who sat next her, and Betty’s imagination immediately saw all the girls with packs on their backs, climbing the Hill of Difficulty. But Miss Whittier went on to reveal her plan. “It is called ‘Honor Chaplet,’” she said, “and it represents all the women who have done praiseworthy deeds presenting their claims for the Chaplet of Honor, which is to be awarded to the one who best merits it. Of course the characters represent women of all time who have become famous for great deeds or noble efforts.” Betty’s head gave a nod of satisfaction. The whole plan appealed to her, for it meant “dressing up,” and she dearly loved to wear fancy costumes. “We will have a pretty stage,” said Miss Whittier, who on occasions like this talked sociably with her pupils, “and I’m sure you will all be willing to help with the work of decorating it.” “Yes, indeed,” and “We will,” said the girls, and then Constance Harper asked: “Who are the characters, Miss Whittier? Will you tell us now?” Reading from some papers she held, Miss Whittier named about thirty celebrated women, including Cleopatra, Queen Elizabeth, Pocahontas, Grace Darling, Florence Nightingale, Isabella of Spain, Joan of Arc, Queen Victoria, Barbara Frietchie, Rosa Bonheur, and many others well known to history or tradition. “I think,” she went on, “you may each select the character you prefer. If, by chance, two choose the same one, we can easily adjust matters afterward. I will distribute papers, and you may each write your own name, followed by the character you choose.”