CHAPTER XVIII--The Elections
The low-ceilinged white-washed gym at Hilltop had originally been thestore-room and the dairy. The rooms were thrown into one, and made anexcellent gymnasium. A balcony ran around the sides for spectators, andthe walls were lined with racks for dumb bells and other apparatus.Basket ball posts stood at either end, and hooked up to the ceiling weretrapezes and bars.
Hilltop preferred to take its exercise out-of-doors, but the gym was avery good substitute in bad weather.
It was nearing the Christmas holidays, the most exciting time of theyear. Teams were chosen and new members were elected to the variousclubs.
Because of the unusually cold and rainy weather, the archery target hadbeen brought in and put up in the gym. A soft, small mesh curtain hungbehind it to catch stray arrows. The bows were piled up along the wall,and the arrows kept a neat pile beside them.
"It looks stuffy to me," Sally complained. "I never shot indoors and Idon't think I'm going to like it."
Janet eyed the arrangements critically.
"Oh, well, it will have the same effect on everybody," she said. "Andseriously, Sally, you know we haven't a chance. There are loads of girlsup for election."
"I know and we're only Sophs," Sally agreed. "Still I can't give uphope."
"But Sally, there are only ten to be chosen, six regulars and foursubs," Janet reminded her. "Why, we haven't a chance. There's alwaysnext year though, and the blessed year after. You'll be captain ofsports then."
"I will not, you will be. I decided that ages ago. Phil is to bepresident of the Dramatics, and Daphne of the class."
Janet eyed her affectionately. "And what are you going to be when youhave disposed of the rest of us?"
"Oh, guide, philosopher and friend to you all," Sally laughed. "Then Ican have my finger in every pie."
"That's the way our four does things anyway," Janet laughed. They alwaysspoke of themselves as "our four" since Daphne had happily thought ofthe name. The rest of the girls, old and young, looked on in approval. Aschool is apt to be proud of its close friendships.
Ann, Prue and Gladys, in imitation, called themselves "We and Co.," andthe school smiled and approved again.
The Red Twins came in and put an end to further discussion. They hadrecovered long since from their attack of measles and they had returnedfrom the Infirmary very chastened in spirit--as Sally said, "the spiritof Hilltop was beginning to work." They were still too serious aboutevery competition they entered, and they had not grown any fonder ofeach other during their illness.
It was the rules of the contest that everyone must use the regulationbows. The Twins had their own special make that they practiced with,preferring them in a superior way to the ones the school supplied.
They had them with them now and Sally and Janet stopped to admire them.
"Don't you think it mean we can't use them in the contest?" Bess askedin aggrieved tones.
"No, I don't, it would hardly be fair. You wouldn't want an advantage,would you?" Sally replied.
"I don't see why not," May said sulkily. "If we can have them, thenwe're lucky and we ought to benefit by our luck."
Janet and Sally did not bother to reply. They left the gym and climbedthe steep back stairs.
"The more I see of those girls, the more I detest them," Janet said withfeeling.
"I know," Sally agreed. "I begin to think they are possible andimproving, and then they say a thing like that."
"Hopeless," Janet announced, and the Red Twins were discarded as unfitfor further conversation.
"Hello, you two!" Daphne called from the door of the library as theypassed. They went in and found Phyllis with her nose in a copy of the_Merchant of Venice_.
"Down looking at your miniature, Taffy?" Sally teased.
"I am not, indeed; I'm trying to learn Little Ellie by Mrs. Browning,"Daphne protested. "It is a lovely thing," she added, turning to Janet.
"I knew you'd love it," Janet's eyes glowed with enthusiasm. "I wantedPhyllis to learn it but she stuck to 'the Quality of Mercy Is NotStrained,' and I don't know that I blame her, it's so beautiful."
"And short," Phyllis added, putting down the book. Sally went over andsat beside her and she slipped her arm about her neck.
"Tell us again, Sally, just what happens this afternoon," she said.
"At two o'clock the gong sounds," Sally began, "and everybody troops tothe gym. There's a game of basket ball first. Every girl who is eligiblegets 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. Thenthere's the jumping and pole vaulting and the drill. Then cold tubs,supper, and the Dramatic Club girls recite in the evening. After that adance and refreshments."
"But when do we know?" Phyllis insisted.
"Tonight when we go to our rooms. If we are the lucky ones we find notesunder our pillows."
"My, I mean your Aunt Jane's Poll-parrot!" Janet exclaimed, "I wish itwere over."
"So do I. The suspense is awful. Of course we all have a chance, butit's such a little one."
"My hand is so shakey now that I'll never be able even to lift my bow,let alone string it," Janet complained laughingly.
"Well, never mind, darling, your twin will probably get up and forgetevery line she ever knew," Phyllis comforted.
"Let's go out for a walk, and don't let's talk about it," Daphnesuggested suddenly. "I had a letter from mother today," she began, anduntil lunch time they discussed home plans, for this was the lastSaturday before the holidays.
At two o'clock they went to the gym.
The basket ball game was long and uninteresting. The New Wing suppliedmost of the players, and it looked as if they would be the final winnersof the cup.
Then came the Archery Contest. Once more Janet beat the Red Twins. Thechange 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 somany girls, Juniors and Seniors competing, that neither Janet nor Sallyfelt at all hopeful.
At dinner there was a quiet lull over the dining-room. Hilltop insistedthat her girls be good losers above everything else, and there was verylittle grumbling, but every girl tonight was busy with her own thoughts.
At last the recitations came. Girl after girl stood on the stage in theballroom and recited lines from Shakespeare.
Not until Phyllis stood quietly before them, were they conscious of apersonality. She said Portia's famous speech simply, but withunderstanding. She made the girls listen, and when she finished theygave her her just dues.
Daphne followed her, and as she told the story of Little Ellie, Janetfelt again the spell of the Enchanted Kingdom.
Daphne's beauty always called forth instant appreciation from herschool-mates, and tonight they were more than generous in theirapplause.
Dancing ended the evening, but tonight there was no lingering aftersweet dreams had chimed out bed-time.
The girls hurried to their rooms.
Janet and Phyllis stood and looked at each other, and then dived undertheir pillows.
Only Janet found a note. She opened it listlessly. What was the fun ifPhyllis had missed out? She read that she was duly elected to theArchery Team.
"Oh, Phil!" she whispered, as she dropped her note carelessly, but shedid not have time to finish, before Sally and Daphne rushed in, bothflourishing notes. 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 ArcheryTeam as a substitute.
They stopped, too shocked and surprised at the news of Phyllis'sfailure.
"But you deserved it, Phil," Ann insisted.
"Nonsense, I did no such thing. You don't deserve things just becauseyou want them," Phyllis replied. "Goodness me, I've enough joy in yourgood luck to last me a l
ife-time. So do forget about me."
"What's that?" Gladys demanded, and she swooped down under the bed andstood up with a note for Phyllis in her hand.
"It just fell down," she cried. "Read it, Phil, quick!"
Phyllis read. She was a member of the Dramatic Club.
"Oh--oh, Jane!" was all she could find to say.
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