_Felicia_. She dresses so plainly. _Helen_. And does up her hair horridly. _Christabel_. She is scared out of her wits if we just speak to her. I asked her the other day where her home was, and she looked awfully funny, and didn't answer a word. _Morna_. I don't exactly like her face. I wouldn't trust her. _Sophia_. That's it. I don't believe she is sincere. _Annette_. And she hasn't had a box since she came. _Blanche_. Order! You know Alice wouldn't be a bit congenial to me. But we will take a vote. Somebody make a motion. _Felicia_. I move that Alice Trowbridge be not admitted to this Club. _Helen_. I second the motion. _Blanche_. All in favor say aye. _All_. Aye! _Blanche_. There, that is settled. But, girls, I advise you to pay a little attention to Alice outside of the Club, just so that the teachers won't notice. Miss Foster is awfully sharp. She pries about a good deal more than there's any call for her to. I shall ask Alice to walk with me pretty soon. _Agnes_. Noble, self-sacrificing president! I will follow your example. _Lucille_. I too. _Sophia_. Suppose we all walk with her. Then Miss Foster can't say anything. _Christabel_. I wish Miss Foster would mind her own business. _Blanche_. Well, do not let's talk about this disagreeable subject any more. We were to have a paper on "Summer." Is the member prepared? _Morna_ (_rises and reads_). I must beg pardon for having no paper prepared, but I have had so many headaches lately I have been warned by Dr. Louise not to work so hard. Instead of a paper, I have a proposal. The Doctor says we ought to live out-of-doors more than we do. Let us have a summer _fête_--something that is quaint and original. _Blanche_. It occurs to me that we might have a picnic and dress in peasant costume. _Lucille_. How would you like a mountain laurel party? _Agnes_. Oh, Lucille! just the thing. Girls, we could ask for a hall-holiday, and have a Queen, and cover her with lovely pink and white blossoms. _Blanche_. How many would like a laurel party? Raise your hands. [_All raise their hands._] _Sophia_. Let's appoint a committee to get it up. _Christabel_. Do you suppose we could let Alice in on that? _Annette_. Oh, bother that tiresome girl! No, we can't. [_A knock on the door. All hush, and sit up very straight._ Helen _unlocks and opens the door. An_ Old Woman _enters. She stoops, leans heavily on a cane, and limps. She has on a long black cloak, and wears a large poke bonnet. Adjusting glasses on her nose, she scans the club members, then hobbles up to the_ President.] _Old Woman_. Good-afternoon. Might I sit down and visit you a few minutes? (Helen _places a chair_.) Thank you, dearie. You see, it's hard for me to stand. I'm pretty lame. But I can get about very well. Oh yes; very well, considering. You don't know me, I suppose? _Blanche_. I think not. Perhaps you have got into the wrong place? _Old Woman_. Isn't this the Ninepin Club?