Betty Lee, Sophomore Part 19

Betty's little chuckle went over the wires to Carolyn.

"I am putting off telling you till the last minute, you see, _because_ of what you are saying about Peggy and Lucia and how you may feel yourself about it. Please don't be influenced by what I do or don't do.

That sounds conceited, doesn't it? But really I'm not a bit about it.

You just consulted me and seemed to care what I thought about it, you know!"

"For pity's sake, Betty, don't apologize! And I can't wait a minute longer to know!"

"All right, then," said Betty, with no chuckle this time. "I knew when I woke up that I wasn't going to join. All the reasons against it win, Carolyn."

"Well, I just about knew how you would decide. I've got to think it over between now and the time I get to school. I didn't know at all when I woke up what I was going to do. Peggy's enthusiasm last night shook me."

"Why shouldn't it? You've known Peggy for a long time. And don't think that your belonging to any sorority will make me think any less of you.

That will be just _one little organization_ that we aren't in together.

There are plenty of societies in Lyon High, Carolyn."

"Yes. All right, Betty. I've got to think it out myself, just like you.

See you at lunch."

Receivers were hung up. The discussion was over. Now Betty was to think of her own relation to these girls, particularly of what she should say to Marcella. It was not likely that Carolyn would mention her knowledge of Betty's decision.

But Betty was glad to put off the evil hour and when she met Kathryn as she descended from the street car and walked up to the school entrance with her, she knew that she was safe, though she saw Marcella in the hall, gave her a smiling bow and saw Marcella thoughtfully regard her and Kathryn. But the Kappa Upsilons were having quite a time with their "pledges." It wasn't possible to invite all of any little group of friends.

It must be said that Betty's thoughts outside of lessons that day were more concerned with basketball than with sorority. Carolyn's ideas started that line of thought. But Mathilde would work against her--oh well, things would turn out as they would.

It was after school when Marcella Waite spoke again to Betty. "Just a minute, Betty Lee. Are you rushing off to catch a car this time?"

"No, indeed. I've all the time in the world--not even anything of the G.

A. A. this afternoon."

"Then perhaps you can come along with me and some of the other girls and have dinner down town. Lucia is going, and perhaps we can get Carolyn and Peggy."

"I couldn't do that, Marcella, but thank you so much for asking me. I have to go home."

"Oh, I could take you home to dress. The car is out here this time. But I'll not urge you if you have other things on hand for tonight. I think you know what I want to see you about. You said something sweet about Kappa Upsilon yesterday, so I've been hoping that you would be quite ready to say yes about joining us. What do you think?"

"Do you mean that you are asking me to join?"

"Just that."

"It is so good of you, Marcella. I did think about it for I thought that you would scarcely have said that to me if you hadn't meant something of the kind. And it would look so good to be in anything that you are in.

I've enjoyed knowing you so much!" Betty was sober and earnest, with her eyes somewhat troubled as she looked straight at Marcella, standing aside from the walk a little, away from the hurrying pupils.

"But when it comes to joining any high school sorority you know that there are a lot of things to think about."

"Not so important as you think. It is just a lot of fun for the most part."

"I know, and that part of it is lovely. But I decided this morning that it wasn't best and if I _should_ be asked by any of them not to do it."

"That is final, then?" asked Marcella, more business-like than offended.

"Yes. It has to be, though I can't tell you how I appreciate it to be chosen by the Kappa Upsilons."

"That is all right, Betty Lee. I'm sorry, though, and I think you'll regret it--not that we'll do anything to make you regret it, you understand."

"My, no! I can't imagine _your_ doing anything mean, Marcella."

"Thanks for your good opinion. By the way, my brother was home the other day and asked what had become of the little girl that was t.i.tania at my Hallowe'en party."

"Did I meet him? Your brother?"

"Why, of course, but--that's so--perhaps you didn't know who he was. He had to make a train and could not stay for the unmasking or the refreshments, except to eat something back in the kitchen! He was the 'Pirate of Penzance.'"

"Oh!" exclaimed Betty, rather overwhelmed. She certainly did remember the "Pirate of Penzance!" What a pity that she had not known before! No, her decision would have been the same!

"Doesn't your brother live at home?" she asked.

"Oh yes; but he is at college in the East. He just happened to be at home, unexpectedly, so I worked him in to help out and I thought he looked splendid in that costume I got up for him."

"He surely did."

"It was a pity you shouldn't have seen him unmasked, though. He's quite handsome at times, though I'm probably prejudiced."

"I don't think you should say that. Besides, it's a good thing to be proud of your brothers and sisters."

"I have two brothers," said Marcella, "and this one is the younger one.

He's a soph.o.m.ore this year. Well, Betty, I'm sorry. But don't feel uncomfortable about it. I see that you do, and sororities don't like to be turned down, either. But it isn't so bad if you have just decided against high school sororities. I suppose your parents have had some influence against them most likely--I must run!"

Marcella hurried away, to Betty's relief this time. She had meant to make it easy for Betty, though, and Betty was grateful. Marcella was a fine girl. And oh, the Pirate of Penzance, whose memories had some glamour of romance, was her brother! How silly it had been of her not to find that out before.

But Betty Lee, while not lacking in initiative, was timid about some things. She had not wanted to seem curious or too much interested in any boy. She had asked, indeed, if Carolyn knew who the Pirate of Penzance could have been, but Carolyn had not known. Kathryn had joked her about his choosing her for a partner, but Kathryn had wondered who he was, and to ask Marcella was a thing Betty would not do.

So it happened that until this moment Betty had no least idea of whom she had met in that dark "hole in the wall." So it was a pity that she had not seen him unmasked? Very vividly that smiling face in the mirror, lit only by the dim candle-light, kept Betty company in her thoughts on the way home.

Evening was not quite so good a time for courage as morning. Betty suffered the natural reaction from a decision which definitely cut off any prospect of being in tempting sorority atmosphere, so heralded by girls of some schools; and any secret society has fascinations of its own.

She knew that she had been sensible, but she had no word from Carolyn and felt a sinking at her heart when she thought that Carolyn, influenced by Peggy's joining and the sweet urging of Marcella, had probably gone into the Kappa Upsilon sorority. When she thought of Mathilde, however, she had a different feeling. Imagine being intimate with a girl like that! Mathilde was not only spoiled but rough at times, physically, if not in language, in spite of all her airs and superior a.s.sumptions. But Kappa Upsilons might not find that out.

It did make more of a difference than she thought it would about Carolyn, but--oh well--it was done. She would probably do the same thing if she still had to decide.

Her father asked her to play with Doris a simple melody arranged for the violin, whose piano accompaniment Doris managed very nicely, Betty thought; and with the violin tucked under her chin she felt comforted.

There were "lots of happy times" that had nothing to do with school or sororities or being on teams or keeping on the honor roll--even!

But Doris, who, like the rest of the junior high girls, was interested in Lyon High doings and heard plenty of gossip about sorority affairs and the rushing recently done, asked Betty outright if she had been asked to join any of the sororities.

Betty hesitated, as she looked through some sheet music and put something new before Doris to try. "We don't talk about those things, Doris," she said.

"Why not?"