"If it is a secret, darling, don't tell it to me," said Kitty, "for I cannot keep it. I always say so quite frankly. I say to each person who comes to me with a private confidence, 'Confide nothing in Kitty Malone, for Kitty Malone is a sieve.'" "Oh, but it would never do for you to be that," said Elma, who was somewhat alarmed and secretly greatly disgusted. "A girl is not worth her salt if she tells what is confided to her by another girl; and of course, now that you have become a member of the Tug-of-war Society, if you are found blabbing any of our secrets at Middleton School I don't know what will happen!" "I wonder what would happen!" cried Kitty; "it would be quite nice to find out. Do tell me, Elma." "How can I when you don't understand," said Elma. "You would be wanting in all honor; none of us ten girls would speak to you again." "Wouldn't Bessie Challoner, the darling?" "Certainly not. She could not; none of us could." "I shouldn't like that," said Kitty thoughtfully. "I did not know, when I joined the Tug-of-war, that I was to be burdened with secrets. And am I not to explain to any of the other girls why I am moving heaven and earth to get to the very head of the class? Am I not to breathe the real reason, when I am taking poor little Agnes Moore's place, and breaking her heart, the pretty lamb? Is that so?" "You certainly are not," said Elma. "Dear me, Kitty, what a very extraordinary specimen you are!" "Well, don't scold me, for pity's sake," said Kitty. "I am so sick of every one telling me that I am an extraordinary specimen. In Ireland they think I am a very fine specimen; but here! oh, it's nothing but holding up of hands and rolling up of eyes, and 'Oh, dear, let us get out of her way!' and 'Oh, dear, how queer she looks in her grand clothes!' and--and----" "Do stop talking, Kitty. You are the most awful rattlepate----" "There, now, on you go," said poor Kitty. "I'm a rattlepate, am I? It seems that I can never speak but I get into somebody's black books." "You don't get into mine, I am sure," said Elma. "But I think you ought to be greatly obliged to me for telling you what is your plain duty with regard to the Tug-of-war Society. It is just like a secret society; our rules are our own, and not a soul who is not a member must know anything about them." "Well, I won't tell," said Kitty. "When I say a thing I stick to it. I won't split--there I that's flat and I suppose I am obliged to you, Elma." "Yon ought to be," answered Elma. "Why, what a terrible scrape you would have got into. And now, then, Kitty, I have something else to tell you." "Well, and what is it?" asked Kitty. "First, are you not pleased that you are a member of the Tug-of-war Society?" "To be sure I am. I think it is awfully nice of all you girls to ask me to join."