CHAPTER XVIIBOOMING BERNICE
Dollyhesitated about telling Bert of her plans. She wanted him to know the importance of the matter, and yet, she feared he would disapprove of the whole idea. So she put off telling him, and now the very day had arrived, and she had a feeling that he must know before he went to the party.
Dolly was dressed early. She had on her new frock, and a dainty, pretty affair it was. Made of white net, it was frilled with many little outstanding ruffles, edged with blue silk. Tiny garlands of blue forget-me-nots headed the flounces, and edged the round neck of the bodice. Her golden curls were caught back by a pearl barrette and a delicate wreath of forget-me-nots encircled her head. Dotty’s dress was just like Dolly’s, with pink rosebuds in place of the blue flowers.
Of course the quartette were to go together, but there was yet nearly half an hour before time to start. Dolly sat in her room, thinking it out, and at last decided to tell Bert.
She went to his room, and found him deeply absorbed in tying his necktie. She sat down and waited, silently, being too wise to interrupt the engrossing performance.
At last the bow was completed to the young man’s satisfaction.
“Hello, Dolls,” he said, to her reflection in his mirror. “Here for criticism or commendation?” and he looked leniently on the pretty new frock.
“Neither. And we’ve only a few minutes, so, listen, Bert, I want to tell you something.”
“Fire away,” and the preoccupied boy looked over a pile of handkerchiefs.
Dolly spoke quickly and to the point. She told him of her bargain with Bernice and all she hoped from it.
“You see, I couldn’t,—I justcouldn’tleave Berwick and Dot, so I tried this plan, and I hope,—oh,—I mostknowit will succeed!”
“Dorinda Fayre, you’re a hummer!” was Bert’s comment, and he sat down on the edge of his bed, and looked at his sister. “Whatdoyou s’pose dad would say if he knew?”
“Hemustn’tknow. But, it isn’t wrong, is it?”
“Why, no, I don’t say it’s wrong, exactly, but it’s—why, Doll, it’s crazy! That’s what it is, crazy!”
“I don’t care how crazy it is, if it works. Why, Bert, anybody can go to Buffalo as well as for us to go. And probably the other man wants to go, and father doesn’t. And I don’t, and Trudy doesn’t—”
“Does Trudy know of your stroke of state?”
“No, indeed. She’d tell, and dad and mother might put a stop to it. Now, Bert,you’llhelp me,won’tyou?”
Dolly had the whip hand, and she knew it. Bert was very proud of his pretty sister, and as she smiled winsomely, in all the bravery of her party array, he hadn’t the heart to refuse her. Moreover, though he was amazed at her daring project, it seemed to him possible, owing to Mr. Forbes’ indulgence of his daughter’s whims.
“Why, of course, Dollops, I’ll do whatever I can—”
“Oh, youdearold Bert! I wassoafraid you wouldn’t! You can do such heaps, you know! Now, let’s start, and you must just remember every minute at the party, that you’re booming Bernice. Get the boys to show her attentions, butdon’tfor goodness’ sake, let them know what you’re up to!”
“Dollydoodle! Do you think I’m a ninny! Don’t tellmehow to conduct this publicity campaign! Give me credit for a grain of sense,—and leave all to me!”
Bert waved his hand with a lordly air, and Dolly felt a great weight lifted from her shoulders. If Bert took the initiative like that, he was sure to succeed.
“Does Bob know?” he asked.
“No, I don’t want to tell Bob, if we can help it. Dotty promised not to tell anybody. Can’t we manage without letting any more know, than do know?”
“I ’spect so, Kiddy. Run along, and get your bonnet and shawl and let’s get at this world-beating game.”
Dolly ran away for her wraps with a light heart. What adearBert was, to be sure!
Trudy helped her on with her pretty party cape, and adjusted a chiffon scarf over the curly head. Then she kissed her good-bye, and the brother and sister started forth. They stopped next door for the Roses, and all went to the Forbes house together.
They were the first arrivals, which suited Dolly’s plans.
The house looked very beautiful, decorated as it was with flowers and palms. In the music room they could hear a harp and violin being tuned, and then Bernice herself came smiling, to greet them, arrayed in a stunning gown of gold-coloured crêpe, embroidered with poppies.
It was over elaborate for so young a girl, but it suited Bernice’s dark hair and clear, olive skin.
Mr. Forbes stood by, pleasant and amiable, but with a natural stiffness of manner, which he found it hard to overcome. Mrs. Forbes had been dead for many years, and Bernice had had little, if any company, so that Mr. Forbes had drawn more and more into himself, and had become a sort of hermit. But this evening, he tried to be sociable, even jovial, and he succeeded fairly well.
The two lived alone, save for a small army of servants. It was Mr. Forbes’ theory that an American girl is capable of looking after herself, and he desired no governess or companion for his daughter.
So Bernice had grown up, with no other mentor than her own sweet will, for her father never interfered or advised in household matters. There was a housekeeper, but she merely ordered the kitchen department, and had no supervision over Bernice.
The party would have been far more elaborate, had Bernice had her own way. But Dolly, not wanting her protégée to be criticised by the mothers of the Berwick young people, had persuaded her to keep it simpler in details than she wanted to.
“What’s the use of having plenty of money if you don’t spend it?” Bernice had demanded.
And Dolly had not attempted to answer her, but had merely reminded her that she had promised to do her part to reach their mutual goal, and that to abide by Dolly’s decisions would favour their cause.
So there were only three pieces of music instead of a full orchestra. Only a simple, though fine and bountiful supper, instead of the gorgeous repast Bernice would have preferred. And only a proper amount of floral decoration, instead of a city florist’s extreme effort.
But the house looked lovely, and the dining-room, as Dolly flew out to snatch a glance at it, was tastefully arranged.
“Awfully good of you, Mr. Forbes,” said Dolly, smiling at the rather bewildered-looking man, “to let us have this pleasure.”
“Not at all, not at all,” said the railroad magnate, rubbing his hands. “Might just as well have had more. More music, more people, more fal-lals. I said to Bernie, ‘If you’re doing it, why not do it up brown?’ But she said—”
“She said, ‘Thisisbrown,’ ” said Dolly, laughing. “And it is, Mr. Forbes. You know yourself, Bernie is too young for a real live ball, and that’s what it would be, if she had it much more grand than this. How beautiful your house is,” and Dolly looked around admiringly.
“Glad you think so. Hasn’t been re-decorated or fixed up since my wife died. Guess I’ll have to furbish it up a little if Bernie is going to be in gay society.”
“She surely is. You can’t keep such a pretty girl all to yourself always, Mr. Forbes.”
“No, I s’pose not—I s’pose not. Well, I want her to enjoy herself. She’s like her mother. Her mother was a great one for gaiety. Run along, now, Miss Dolly, and join your young friends. You mustn’t be wasting time on an old man like me.”
Dolly smiled at him, and then went over to the group already forming around Bernice.
But she had a new bee in her bonnet. Nothing more nor less than to make friends with Mr. Forbes himself, and if need be, plead with him for her father’s stay in Berwick. Dolly’s was a single-minded nature. She had set her heart and mind to this plan of hers and she bent everything toward her aim. Buoyed up with hope, she came laughingly toward the young people.
“Ah, there, Dolly Fayre,” sang out Tad Brown, “thought you had deserted us.”
“No, indeed! I’m helping Bernice receive,—that’s why I spend my time talking to her father,” and Dolly laughed whimsically.
Gay as a butterfly, she smiled and chatted with everybody, but also kept a strict watch over her helpers in the game. Nor was she disappointed. In a moment, she heard Bert and Bob both pleading with Bernice for the first dance.
“Youmustgive it to me,” said Bert, “ ’cause I’m Dolly’s pet brother.”
“But I’m Dotty’s ditto,” urged Bob. “And besides, I’m a much better dancer than Bert Fayre.”
“Then give it to me out of charity,” said Bert. “Have pity on a poor hobble-de-hoy!”
Unaccustomed to this flattering style of conversation, Bernice blushed with pleasure, and grew coquettish.
“Maybe I won’t give it to either of you,” she smiled. “Maybe it’s already engaged.”
“Oh, say not so!” and Bert assumed a tragic pose. “But if it be, tell me the miscreant who dares aspire, and let me at him!”
“Me too,” chimed in Bob. “Oh, surely, certainly me, too! Let usbothat him!”
The boys were so ridiculous that Bernice burst into laughter, and Mr. Forbes drew nearer to see what it was all about. Others did too, and the result was that Bernice was the centre of a jolly group.
She finally settled the matter by dividing the first dance and giving half to each of her suppliants.
And each claimed two more dances later on; and others flocked around asking Bernice for her dance card, until very shortly, her card was filled, with several down for extras.
Bernice was supremely happy. Only a girl who has been a wall-flower frequently, can appreciate the pleasure she felt in being besought for dances.
Dolly was satisfied with the behaviour of her colleagues. Not only the boys were doing their part nobly, but the girls were now and then chatting cordially with Bernice, and acting as if she were one of them.
“All serene, Dolly?” asked Bob, as he came up to claim one of his dances with her.
“Yes, indeed,” and Dolly’s eyes shone. “You’re a trump, Bob! I thank you a thousand bushels.”
“Oh, it isn’t so hard. Bernie has improved a lot since last we met. She isn’t nearly so pettish and stickery as she used to be. And she’s mighty pretty, beside.”
“Yes, isn’t she! And that dress is stunning on her.”
“Rather grown-uppish, isn’t it? I like yours and Dot’s better. But I’m not much on parties, anyhow. These dance affairs bore me stiff.”
“Why, I thought you liked them. A college boy ought to be crazy about dances.”
“Oh, I s’pose they’re good enough, but I like better a rollicking picnic, or something outdoorsy.”
“Silly! You can’t have picnics in winter!”
“Well, you can have outdoor sports. There ought to be skating to-morrow, I think. It’s getting awfully cold.”
“I wish there would be, I love to skate.”
“So do I. If there is any to-morrow, will you go?”
“Will I! Well, I just guess I will!”
“But hold on. Say, Dolly, if we go skating, have we got to lug the Bernice person along?”
“Bob, I’m ashamed of you! Just when I think I’ve got you well trained, you act up like that! Why, ofcoursewe have. She’s my chum; and what you do for her, you do for me.”
“Oh, jiminetty! I do hate outsiders. You and Dot and Bert and Yours Truly make such a jolly four. Why drag in others?”
“Got to be done. Now, don’t whine over it, just make up your mind to it. Let’s make a skating party for to-morrow afternoon, of about eight, and then afterward go back to Treasure House and make fudge or something like that.”
“All right on the fudge. But instead of eight, say four.”
“No, sir! Eight it is, andI’lldo the inviting!”
Dolly had found out that Bob’s bark was worse than his bite. He might growl at the things she asked him to do, but he did them and did them well. As for Bert, he was putting things through with a dash. He not only danced with Bernice, but he sought her out between dances, and joked and laughed as he passed her on the dancing floor, and many times brought her to the attention of others in a way to win admiration for her.
At supper time the “crowd” got together in a corner of the big dining-room.
“Whata table!” exclaimed Tod Brown. “Oh, what a feast for the gods!”
“Make believe we’re little tin gods, and get us some of it,” suggested Bert, who was seated by Bernice. “I daren’t leave my seat. It might be snatched by a less worthy occupant. You do the foraging act, Tad,—and get some little helpers.”
There were waiters, but the “crowd” often thought it preferable to have some of their “own boys” secure viands for them.
So Tad and Clayton Rawlins and Lollie and Joe started, and soon returned with what Joe called “the pick of the lot.”
“What gorgeous foods!” cried Dolly. “And I’m starving with hunger.”
“So’m I,” declared Grace. “May I have a tiny sandwich?”
“A tiny sandwich doesn’t seem to match Grace Rawlins!” chaffed Joe. “Here’s a plateful, my girl!”
“None too many,” said Grace, good-naturedly. “Have some of mine, Bernice?”
Almost beside herself with joy at being really in the crowd, Bernice smiled and joked with the rest, and in their hearts most of them decided she “wasn’t half-bad after all.”
Celia Ferris was not so willing as the others to accept Bernice as one of them, and she stood a little aloof.
“I must go for Celia,” thought Dolly, as she looked the group over, and found most of them acting in accordance with her orders.
So finding opportunity, she said to Celia, “Bernice makes a good hostess, doesn’t she?”
“Good nothing!” exclaimed Celia, in a whisper. “What’s the matter with everybody to rave over her, all of a sudden?”
“Well, I think she’s worth raving over,” Dolly defended. “Don’t you?”
“ ’Deed I don’t! And I, for one, won’t toady to her just ’cause she’s rich and lives in a big house—”
“Oh, Celia,” and Dolly laughed outright; “how ridiculous!Doyou s’pose, for a minute, that Bert and Bob are nice to Bernice for any such reasons? You know better!”
“I don’t know as they are,—but you and Dotty Rose are.”
“No, we’re not. I like Bernice for far other reasons than that. And you’d better, too, unless you want to be in the minority.”
And with this, Dolly turned on her heel and left the astonished Celia with something to think about.
CHAPTER XVIIIBERT AND THE BARGAIN
Theday after Bernice’s party everybody went skating. A lake on the outskirts of Berwick obligingly froze itself over with a sufficient thickness of ice to be entirely safe. So the whole of the younger population put itself on runners.
The Fayres and Roses arrived early in the afternoon. Encased in warm sweaters and knit caps, they braved the cold, and were soon swaying along the glassy surface.
Dolly and Dotty had decided not to call it a skating party, but after they tired of the ice, to ask half a dozen or so to go back with them to Treasure House.
Later Bernice came, alone. She wore a new skating suit of green cloth, fur-trimmed, and a jaunty green cap with a red feather.
“There’s Bernice,” said Dolly quickly to Bert. “You must go and skate with her.”
“Won’t do it. I did my duty last night, and I’m tired of the game. Get somebody else.” Bert laughed good-naturedly, and skated off with Maisie May, who had not heard the colloquy of the brother and sister.
Now Bernice, by reason of her good time the night before, seemed to take it for granted that her star was in the ascendant. “Here I am!” she cried, gaily. “Who bids for the honour of the first skate with me?”
She couldn’t have chosen a worse speech. It was full of arrogance, and her condescending smile as she swung her skates in her hand, did not attract the boys who were present.
“Come on, Dotty,” said Joe Collins, “let’s skate off. I don’t want any Forbes in mine this afternoon.”
Dotty hesitated, for she had promised Dolly to help her, but Joe urged her away and the two skated off.
Dolly went straight to Bernice, and said in a low tone: “Don’t talk that way, Bernie! You scare them all off. They won’t stand your putting on airs.”
“Airs, nothing!” cried Bernice. “Don’t tellmehow to behave, Dolly Fayre! Hello, there, Tad Brown. Put on my skates for me, won’t you?”
Thus summoned, Tad had to obey, and after the skates were adjusted, Bernice said, “Now, for a glide,” and perforce Tad skated with her. But he made a grimace over his shoulder at Dolly, and Bernice saw it.
“I won’t go with you, you rude thing!” she exclaimed. “I saw you wink at Dolly Fayre!”
“Well,” Tad exclaimed, “haven’t I a right to wink if I want to?”
“But I know what you meant, you meant you didn’t want to skate with me. Come, now, didn’t you?”
“If I did, I wouldn’t tell you so,” said Tad, half-laughing at Bernice’s angry face. And this so enraged her, that she turned and left him, and skated off alone.
Dolly was in despair. Was all her plan to fall through because Bernice herself couldn’t make good?
“What matter, Dollsie?” said Lollie Henry, just arriving, and seeing the woebegone face.
“Oh, Lollie, you’re my friend!Dohelp me out!Pleasego and skate with Bernice, and be awfully nice to her, no matterwhatshe says. Won’t you, Lollie, please?”
“Sure!” said Lollie, looking into the pleading blue eyes. “What you say, goes. Me to the Bernie!”
He skated after Bernice, overtook her, and holding out his hands said, “You’re a dandy skater, catch on!”
Gladly Bernice joined hands, and in a moment they were gaily skating among the others. Dolly, delighted at the sight, looked about for somebody to skate with, herself.
A laughing face peeped from behind a tree, and Reggie Stuart came cautiously forth. “Hid from the other one,” he explained. “Thought you’d never get her fixed up. Why areyouin charge of her goings and comings, Dolly?”
“ ’Cause I want to be. Now, you be good, Reg. If you’re my friend, you’ve got to be Bernice’s, too. Come on, let’s skate. I’m bothered in my head and perhaps it will tangle up my feet, but we’ll try.”
It didn’t; on the contrary, the delightful exercise soothed Dolly’s wrought-up nerves, and with every stroke she became more her own gay, merry self.
“Look out for yourself!” she cried, as Reggie nearly tripped over a chunk of ice.
“Yes, Iama tangle-footed jay! Always getting in the way!”
“Nonsense! You’re a fine skater! Let’s catch up to Dot and Joe.”
As the afternoon wore on, Dolly saw several times that Bernice was standing alone and neglected. Several of the boys, at Dolly’s insistence, or at Dotty’s request, had skated with her, but only for short excursions, and somehow all the popularity that Bernice had enjoyed the night before seemed to be fading away.
“Oh, dear,” Dolly sighed to herself, “I’m going to fail, after all. Last night, it was at her house, so the boys and girlshadto be decent, but they won’t keep it up, and it’s all Bernie’s fault. I’ve done all I can. But Iwon’tgive up! Ican’t! I must succeed!”
In desperation she flew over to Bob Rose.
“Bob, please, for my sake,dogo and skate with Bernice!”
“Good gracious, Dolly! Why this heart-rending plea? I’ll do it, if I must, but I’d a lot rather skate with you. She’s so—so—dressy, you see.”
“Never mind, justgo! Andstay, and keep on skating with her till somebody else asks her.”
“Whew! That’ll be till—well, off I go!”
Off Bob went, and was so pleasantly polite and courteous that Bernice had no suspicion that he had been asked to come.
“Hello,” he said, cordially. “May I have the honour of a glide with the girl in green?”
Bernice smiled, and consented gladly. She was a good skater, and they glided evenly along.
“Great little old lake, isn’t it?” said Bob, as they flew on. “We haven’t such a good skating place at school. Only a skinny little river, that hardly ever freezes solid.”
But before Bernice could respond, they heard Bob’s name called by a loud voice on shore, and looking hack, they saw Mr. Rose in his motor-car, beckoning to Bob.
“ ’Scuse me just a minute,” said the boy and ran to see what his father wanted.
“Awfully sorry,” he said as he returned, “but I’ve got to go off with Dad. It’s a special matter, or I wouldn’t leave you. We must have another skate together, before I go back.”
With a wave of his cap, Bob ran off to join his father, and Bernice was alone again. Again Dolly came to the rescue.
This time she went for Bert, who was skating with Dotty.
“Bert Fayre,” she began, “you go straight and skate with Bernie, and you make her have a good time, and don’t let her know I sent you. Go right off, and don’t muff it! Do it upright. I’m about all in, and this game is going to be too much for me, unlesssomebodyhelps me and helps me right. Go on, now,—and Dot and I will skate together.”
Impressed by Dolly’s tense voice and harassed face, Bert obeyed.
“All right, little sister,” he said. “Trust big buddie to do it up to the queen’s taste. Tra-la-la!” with a flourishing bow. Bert left the two girls and skated over to where Bernice stood, looking pettish and sulky.
“Ah, there, Diana,” greeted Bert; “been waiting for a chance at you. What did you do with Bob?”
“His father came, and he had to go away.”
“Good boy to obey his daddy, and thereby let me have his place. Come for a whirl?”
“Do you want me to?” and Bernice looked coquettish.
“Sure! Been living all my life for this moment! Wow! You’re a peach of a skater! All crosspatch girls are.”
“What!” and Bernice stopped short, thinking she could not have heard aright.
“You heard me,” said Bert, carelessly. “Why? Didn’t you know you’re crosspatch? It’s written in every line of your expressive face.”
Bert was laughing so pleasantly, that Bernice was bewildered. Did he mean what he was saying? Was it a joke? Or what was the explanation?
“I know all about your bargain with my sister.”
“I know all about your bargain with my sister.”
“Needn’t get huffy,” Bert went on. “I s’pose you can’t help it. Pity, too, such a nice girl spoiled by bad temper! Well, I don’t mind; I like crosspatches myself.”
“I think you’re very rude!” and Bernice tried to draw her hand from his. “I don’t want to skate with you.”
“Oh, yes, you do, too. I’m one of the nicest boys here. And you’ve no reason to get mad. I’m only telling you the truth. And of course you want to be cross, or you wouldn’t be so.”
“I’mnotcross!”
“Oh,no! No! You’re our little ray o’ sunshine! Oh,yes!”
As a matter of fact, Bernice was in a towering rage. She had never before been spoken to like this, and she didn’t know what to make of it. But it was difficult to be angry at a boy who grinned in a most friendly manner, even while he said such impertinent things.
“Now, look here, Bernice Forbes,” Bert went on, as they skated smoothly along, “I know all about your bargain with my sister. I think it’s a crazy idea, but all the same, I think it’s a fair deal. And I want to help. But Dolly doesn’t need help,shecan do all she has set out to do. So, I want to help you. Mayn’t I?”
Bert’s frank, boyish face was very wheedlesome, and as he smiled at Bernice, she saw he was in earnest and in a kindly, whole-souled way meant just what he said.
“I think you’re the strangest boy I ever saw!” she exclaimed.
“All right, let it go at that. But let’s have this thing out. Are you willing to let me help you?”
“Help me what?”
“Don’t let’s pretend. You know what I mean, or,—if you want it in plain English,—help you to be one of the most popular girls in Berwick, which is what yououghtto be, andcanbe as well as not.”
“No, I can’t. I’ve tried—”
“Excuse me, you haven’t tried. At least, not in the right way.”
“What is the right way?”
“Ah, you ask that. Then, you are willing to let me help you?”
“Of course I am, if you can do it.”
“Then, first of all, you must remove that chip from your shoulder.”
Bert spoke so earnestly, that Bernice involuntarily glanced at her shoulder.
“Yes, it’s there,” said Bert gravely. “You see, Bernie, you think the world owes you a living, and the world is not sure that it does. So you’ve got to earn that living.”
“Earn my own living! Why, my father—”
“Oh, can’t you understand parables? I mean, you think Berwick owes you a liking, then, and really, you’ve got tomakeBerwick like you. Berwick, in this case, meaning the dozen or so boys and girls of our set.”
“Well, then, if you know so much, how am I to make them?”
“First, as I said, dislodge that very large and elegant chip that adorns your shoulder,—meaning, don’t feel grouchy toward people because they don’t run and fall on your neck as you approach.”
“Why, Bert Fayre, you’re awful!”
“ ’Course I’m awful, but I’ve simply got to put it to you straight. I know what Dolly’s after, and I know you can give it to her, and yet, it will all be of no use if you don’t play up yourself. You will, Bernice, won’t you?”
“Yes, I will. But I don’t know how.”
“Yes, youdoknow how, only you find it hard. All you have to do to make people like you and want to be with you, is to like them and be nice to them. You can’t just sit around accepting,—you must give.”
“Give what?”
“Smiles, kindliness, gaiety, fun, nonsense, real true understanding, and all the things that go to make a tiptop girl.”
“Like Dolly?”
“Yes, like my sister, and Dot Rose and Maisie May, and the Rawlins girls—”
“Everybody except me!”
“Well, if you see it that way, then act so you’ll put yourself in the bunch.”
“I’m going to try, Bert. You’ve given me a new idea.”
“I know; you thought Dolly could do it all, and you just sit back and take favours as they drop in your lap. Well, probably you can do that some day, but first, you’ve got to make good. See?”
Bernice had only a chance for an answering smile, when Dolly called to them to come on, as they were going home.
Bert and Bernice turned back, and joined the others, took off their skates and started homeward. The crowd separated to take their various ways, and the two D’s asked a few to go to Treasure House with them for a fudge feast.
“Better come,” said Bert to Bernice. “The girls make ripping fudge.”
And very gladly Bernice went along. Dolly had not meant to ask her, for she was wearied with her afternoon’s efforts and a little discouraged.
But she seconded Bert’s invitation, and with the two Browns and Lollie, they all went to Treasure House.
The boys built up a roaring log fire while the girls went to the kitchenette to make the cherished fudge.
“Let me help,” said Bernice in such a gay, sunshiny voice that Dotty looked up in surprise.
“All right, Bernie,” she said, meeting her half way. “You shave off this chocolate, and Doll and I will fix the other ingrejunts.”
All three worked with a will, and in the shortest possible time consistent with good fudge, the candy was ready.
“Sim-pul-ly delicious!” exclaimed Lollie, rolling his eyes up. “Who made it?”
“All of us,” said Bernice, “but mostly Dolly and Dotty. I only helped.”
“It’s the help part that tastes so good, then,” and Bert smiled at her, with a knowing nod.
This delighted Bernice, and expanding under the warmth of Bert’s approval, she tried her best to be entertaining, and in gayest mood she chaffed and joked until she was really the centre of attraction.
“Must go home now,” she said, at last. “I just hate to leave, but Dad gets home at six, and he always wants to see his little girl there waiting for him.”
“Good-bye, Bernie, if you must go,” said Dotty, and then all were surprised to hear Bert say, “I’ll walk around with you,—it’s sort of dusk.”
“Thank you,” said Bernice in the nicest kind of way, and they started off.
“Well,” said Dolly, as the other boys had gone too, “Bertisan old trump, after all. Bob was, too, only he was called off just at the wrong time.”
“He’ll do his part yet,” and Dotty wagged her head assuredly; “I’ll make him!”
“Do, Dot,” said Dolly.
CHAPTER XIXTHE ELECTION
Itcannot be denied that Dolly had a hard task before her in what she had undertaken. When Bert and Bob went back to school, she lost two very efficient helpers, and her own efforts seemed to be unavailing. Dotty was willing enough to help, but she was so quick-tempered herself, she could do little for or with Bernice.
And Bernice, herself, was most aggravating. Just as Dolly would get the girls and boys ready to do something nice for her, Bernice would break out in a pettish mood, or pick some silly quarrel, that interfered with all plans.
“There’s just this about it,” Dolly said to Dotty, one afternoon, as they sat in Treasure House, talking it over, “we’ve got to do something desperate to boom Bernie, or I’ve got to give it all up, and then she won’t ask her father to let us stay, and we’ll have to go away from Berwick.”
The tears flooded her blue eyes, and rolled down her cheeks. Dotty, overcome by the thought, burst into violent weeping.
“You shan’t go, Dollyrinda! I won’t let you! I can’t spare you!”
“But that’s nonsense, Dot. We’ve got to go, if my plan falls through. And it has about fallen.”
“You said you’d speak to Mr. Forbes, himself.”
“I know, but I can’t do that. I’ve thought it out, and I believe that would be wrong, because I know Dad wouldn’t like me to do it. But to bargain with Bernice is different. Just two girls, you know.”
“Well, let’s try some new plan. I’ll tell you, Doll, let’s make her Class President. We vote next week, you know. We’ll electioneer,—or whatever you call it,—and make the whole class vote for her.”
“Yes! Make the whole class vote for her! I think I see them doing that!”
“Well, we can get a majority, anyway. You and I can coax or bribe lots of the girls, and Tod and Tad will help round up the boys on our side.”
“Well,” and Dolly brightened a little, “maybe we could do that. Bernie is so uncertain, lately. One day she’s as sweet as pie, and then she’s queer as a spidereen! Celia won’t vote for her, I know that.”
“I bet I can make Celia vote for her. I know a way!” and Dotty wagged her head wisely.
Dolly was too busy thinking to ask what the way was. “You see,” she went on, “we mustn’t let Bernice know we’re getting votes for her, or she’ll get mad.”
“No, she needn’t know it, but we ought to get right at it, Doll.”
“Yes; let’s go to see the Rawlins now.”
It was uphill work from the beginning. The two D’s canvassed the whole class, and found the tide of prejudice strongly against Bernice for President. This was no more than they had expected, and they set bravely to work to induce individual members to change their minds.
Moreover the Brown boys declined to help. They were good chums of the two D’s, and they rather liked Bernice, at times, but they didn’t want her for Class President. They were nice about it, but very decided.
So Lollie Henry was the only boy whom they could depend on for assistance. But he was willing to do anything, and expressed an intention of punching the heads of the fellows who refused to do as he advised them.
“Oh, don’t do that, Lollie,” said Dolly, laughing to think what means were being proposed to aid her to gain her point. “Never mind using such strong measures,—just persuade them by argument.”
“You don’t know the fellows as I do, Dolly. They won’t listen to argument, and you justhaveto punch them. But I’ll do it gently, if you say so.”
“Bribe them,” advised Dotty. “I got Minnie Dorlon over by giving her my fountain pen.”
“Bribery and corruption!” exclaimed Lollie. “That is much worse then punching heads!”
“Oh, all ways are all right, if they work,” Dolly declared. “The little bribes we offer won’t hurt anybody. I’m going to get Celia Ferris’s vote by means of my portfolio.”
“Dotty!” cried Dolly, “your new leather portfolio?”
“Yep. Celia is just daffy over it, and says she’ll vote for Bernice if I give her that, and on no other condition. Oh, I don’t mind. And it’s no harm to bribe in a little election like this. If the girls want these things, they might as well have ’em, and then we get their votes.”
“Not a bad idea,” said Lollie, musingly. “I bet Jim Lee would vote for anybody, if I gave him my last year’s skates. And I don’t want them.”
“That’s it,” said Dotty. “Try every means, Lollie, and then wemustget the election.”
Bernice knew that she was a candidate for the Presidency, but she did not know how Dolly and Dotty were working for her election. She remarked to Dolly, that if she should be made President of the class she should consider it a mark of popularity more than almost anything else.
“And you’ll remember our bargain,” said Dolly, eagerly.
“Yes, I will. If I’m President, it’ll be because the class likes me, of course, and I’m quite ready to admit that I owe that liking in great part to you.”
“And you’ll do what you promised?”
“Of course I will. I can easily make father arrange for your father to stay here. I sounded him, and I found out he’ll do it if I say so.”
“Oh, Bernice, then I think you might do it, whether you get elected or not! For I’ve done everything I could for you, and I can’t help the result.”
“No,” and Bernice shut her lips tightly together; “I won’t speak to father about it at all, if I’m not made President. A bargain is a bargain.”
So Dolly redoubled her efforts. But the trouble was, the opposing candidate was a favourite of all, Molly Mooney, a girl who lived over on the other side of town, was not in the Two D’s set, but she was a merry, good-natured girl, whom everybody liked. And so, many of the class declared their intention of voting for Molly Mooney, and couldn’t be persuaded to alter their decision.
It was a very trying situation, for Dolly couldn’t explainwhyshe was so desperately anxious to have Bernice elected; and many of her best friends laughingly refused to listen when she urged them to vote on her side.
The contest promised to be a close one. Up to the very day of the election, Dolly and Dotty never ceased trying to turn the tide in their favour.
The two girls felt sure they would win, but Lollie said he was doubtful. He had persuaded Joe Collins to help him in his electioneering, and Joe was doing it for the fun of the thing.
“I don’t care a red cent,” Joe said, “who is President. It’s only a figurehead position anyway, when a girl holds it. The Committee decides everything. But if you two girls want Bernice so terribly, why I’ll help all I can. She is in our set, and Molly Mooney isn’t. Though Molly is an awful nice girl.”
So Joe hustled around, and announced the day of the election, that he had secured two more votes that morning. “But some are backing out,” he added. “The fellows promise, and they go back on their word. Awful mean, but they do, all the same. Now, Hy Landon, he told me yesterday he’d vote for Bernice, and to-day he told Lollie he didn’t intend to at all! So you can’t tell.”
The election was to take place directly after school was out in the afternoon. All day, Dolly and Dotty were in a state of nervous excitement. Usually most exemplary of conduct in school hours, this day found them writing notes and whispering in the class rooms, and so preoccupied were they with the one idea, that each missed a lesson.
“But,” poor Dolly thought to herself, “it doesn’t matter if I do miss my lessons, if I’ve got to move away from Berwick!” and then the tears would force themselves to her eyes, and she had to dab furtively with her handkerchief.
After school, the two candidates went home. It was not the custom for them to stay to the election.
Molly Mooney went off, laughing, and calling back to her friends to stand by her, and elect her.
Bernice, on the other hand, walked off without a word; her head tossing haughtily, as if she had no concern in the matter.
“The worst thing she could do!” fumed Dotty. “The ones ‘on the fence’ will be put out at her manner, and will vote for Molly!”
Some other business was transacted and then the election began.
Even at the last minute a note was thrust into Dotty’s hand. It was from Tod Brown and it said:
“If I vote for Bernice, will you give me all the dances at the High School Christmas Dance?”
“How perfectly ridiculous!” exclaimed Dotty to herself. And looking over at Tod, she said a noiseless but unmistakable “No!”
“All right,” Tod signalled back, “then I vote for Molly.”
“Oh, goodness!” thought the distracted Dotty, “what shall I do? It would be idiotic to dance every dance with him, and yet—if it means the casting vote—”
She hastily scribbled a note which said, “I’ll give you half.”
“Honest?” asked Tod, from across the room. “Cross your heart?”
Hastily Dotty “crossed her heart” and Tod signified assent to voting for her candidate.
“For,” Dotty reasoned, “if Bernice isn’t elected and Dolly goes away, I shan’t go to the dance. And if Dolly stays, I’ll be so glad I won’t carewhoI dance with!”
The votes were taken and the tellers went into another room to count up.
Breathlessly the Two D’s awaited the result. It seemed as if the word would never come. At last, the door opened and the tellers came back. As soon as she saw their jubilant faces, Dolly knew her doom. They all wanted Molly, and it must be that Molly was elected judging from their smiling looks.
And sure enough, the result, as stated, was that Molly Mooney was elected Class President by a majority of three.
“How awfully close!” said everybody, and there was general rejoicing, for many of those who had promised to vote for Bernice and who did vote for her, really preferred Molly.
Dolly said no word, but went to the cloakroom for her wraps. Dotty followed and two more gloomy, sad little countenances you never saw. They started homeward, alone, for they had hastened out before the others who went their way.
“Where you going?” said Dotty, as Dolly turned a corner.
“To see Bernice. I told her I’d come and tell her the result.”
“Want me to go with you?”
“Yes, of course. Oh, Dot, she’ll be awful mad.”
“I know it, but we did our best.”
“That doesn’t matter. She’ll be mad at me, all the same.”
And Bernice was. When the girls told her that Molly was Class President, she turned on Dolly like a little termagant. “I knew you couldn’t run that thing, Dolly Fayre! You think yourself so smart, bossing everybody around, but you couldn’t do just that one little thing!”
“Don’t you talk like that, Bernice,” said Dotty, herself quite as angry. “Dolly worked like everything, and so did I. If you aren’t the most popular girl in the class, we can’t help it!”
“I know you can’t,” said Bernice, dully, “but Dollysaidshe could. That’s what makes me mad; she said she’d accomplish something and she didn’t do it.”
“No, I didn’t, Bernice,” admitted Dolly, “and I’m sorry. I suppose now you won’t ask your father—”
“Of course I won’t! A bargain is a bargain. I said if I won the election, didn’t I?”
“Yes, you did.”
“Well, I didn’t win it, did I?”
“No.”
“Then that’s all there is about it,Ithink.”
“And you’re not going to ask your father—”
“I’m not going to ask my father anything. You haven’t done what you said you would, for me, and I’m not bound to do anything for you!”
“All right, Bernice, good-bye,” and Dolly got up and left the room and went out of the house.
She was so blinded by her irrepressible tears, that she didn’t notice that Dotty wasn’t with her. She stumbled home, and going to her room, she flung herself on her bed and had her cry out.
Then she got up, bathed her eyes, and sat down to think it over. But there seemed to be nothing more to think of. She had tried her best and had failed. There was no other way to try, and no hope for remaining in Berwick now. To be sure she had said she would appeal to Mr. Forbes for her father’s retention in his present position, but that plan didn’t seem right, and she abandoned it.
Meantime, Dotty had stayed behind with Bernice.
“You can do anything you please,” Dotty said, her eyes blazing with anger, “but I’m going to tell you what I think of you! The idea of letting Dolly Fayre do all she has done for you and then refusing to use your influence with your father for her just because you lost the election! You ought to be ashamed of yourself!”
“It isn’t only that, but Dolly said she would make me one of the most popular girls in town and she hasn’t done it. A bargain is a—”
“Don’t say that over again! You make me so mad. Iknowa bargain is a bargain, but of course all Dolly could do, was totryto make you popular, and she has done that. If she couldn’t succeed, it’s your fault, not hers!”
“But I’ve tried too, Dotty.”
At this speech muttered in an humble voice, Dotty looked up in astonishment. Had she struck a right chord at last?
“Have you, Bernie?” she said gently. “Perhaps if wealltried again, we might yet win out. Not the presidency, that’s settled, but there are other sorts of popularity.”
“I know. I don’t care so much about the election, but it shows that nobody likes me.”
“No, it doesn’t. It shows that you’re very nearly as popular as Molly Mooney. For there was only a majority of three.”
“Only three! Why, you didn’t tell me that! Why, Dotty, if that’s all the difference there was in the count, it’s almost as good as being elected! Onlythree!”
“Yes, that’s all. I didn’t know you’d care what the count was, if you didn’t win.”
“Why, of course I care! Don’t you see that to come as close as that, shows that lots of them did want me?”
Dotty knew it didn’t show quite this, but still it was an indication of willingness to have Bernice, no matter for what reason. She followed up the advantage. “Then Bernice, if you realise that, don’t you see that next time it might be a winning vote for you?”
“Yes, it encourages me to keep on trying. Oh, Dotty, I have tried,—tried, I mean, to be so nice and gay and pleasant that they would like me.”
“I believe you have, Bernice. And I want you to promise me to keep on trying. Now, see here, give Dolly and me another chance. You bargained with her that she should have till the first of January to keep her part of the bargain. Now, here you’re turning her down in the middle of December!”
“That’s so. That isn’t fair.”
“No, it isn’t. And you’re always fair. Will you stick to your own bargain, and give her till the first of the New Year?”
“Of course I will. You tell her so. And, say, Dotty, I do want to do this thing right, you know. I want to be liked for myself, not because Dolly’s booming me. Don’t you think I can?”
“Of course you can, Bernie. You’ve only to be your own self,—your nicest self, you know,—and not give way to those stuck-up airs you used to show so much. Just be affable and willing to chum, and people will like you fast enough. Now, I must run. I want to tell Dolly what you’ve said, before she cries her eyes out. Good-bye, and thank you lots for this little talk,—we’ll have another some day soon.”