“‘We, the undersigned, on this 20th day of a sad January, do hereby announce in the sacred presence of each other, that we are Vigilantes of St. Helen’s. We are bound by our honor as friends and room-mates to secrecy, and to an earnest performance of our work as true Vigilantes. We deplore the evil influence of —— ——, and we promise to strive to off-set that influence especially in regard to —— —— and —— ——. We are going to try to stand at all times for fair play, and real friendship. We appoint —— —— as our trusted adviser. At present we are the sole members of the Vigilante Order. “‘Signed “‘Priscilla Alden Winthrop. ”‘Virginia Webster Hunter.’ “I put blanks instead of names,” explained Virginia, signing her name after Priscilla. “It seems more like an organization some way, and, besides, we understand. Now, we are real Vigilantes, Priscilla.” They shook hands solemnly. The paper was sealed with an extravagant amount of sealing wax, and stuffed with much secrecy into a rent of Virginia’s mattress. Then the two Vigilantes, feeling much revived in spirits, invited the disconsolate Vivian to join them, and went for a walk in the snow. CHAPTER XIII THE TEST OF CARVER STANDISH III “Don’t they hurt a bit, Jean?” “No, of course not.” “Don’t you feel at all sick either?” “No, just mad! What’s in that bag, Virginia?” “Pop-corn. Can you eat it?” “I should say I can. Haven’t had anything but disgusting cream toast for four days. Put it under the letters so no one will see. What’s that in the box, Priscilla?” “Peggy Norris’ white mice she bought down town. They’re only a loan for to-day. Open the box right off or they’ll smother.” “What do you do all day, Jean?” “Oh, learn things by heart mostly. Miss Wood won’t let me read, so I just glance and then recite. It’s a comfort. I’ve learned the Ninety-first Psalm and ‘Annabel Lee’ and ‘Drink to Me Only with Thine Eyes’ and the ‘Address at Gettysburg’ and ‘One Thought of Marcus Aurelius.’ I call that quite good.” “How do you know you’re going to have them anyway, Jean?” “Oh, you hate everybody for two days, and your eyes water the third. Is it all ready? Shall I pull? Be sure the mice are right side up. Here goes then!” The taller Blackmore twin in a red wrapper and a bandaged throat leaned out of her window and pulled on a rope, at the end of which dangled a waste-basket filled with bags, envelopes, and boxes. Below, in the snow, stood half a dozen sympathizers who had brought the “morning post” to their comrade, confined to her room with the German Measles.