human
Oh Fan! she said, running up to her on the afternoon of that same day,
gpt
Poor darling Betty indeed!
human
Oh, but don't you pity her? What can have happened to cause her to be no longer a member of the Specialities?
gpt
Now, Sibyl, you must be a little goose! Do you suppose for a moment it is within my power to enlighten you?
human
I suppose it isn't; but I am very unhappy about her, and so are we all. We are all fond of Betty. We think her wonderful.
gpt
I have something to say to you, Sibyl; but before I begin you must promise me most faithfully that you won't repeat anything I am going to say.
human
Of course not, said Sibyl.
gpt
As if I could!
human
I don't suppose you would dare. You see, I am one of the older girls of the school, and have been a Speciality for some little time, and it wouldn't be at all to your advantage if you did anything to annoy me. I should find out at once, for instance, if you whispered a syllable of this to Martha West, Margaret Grant, or any other member of the Speciality Club.
gpt
I won't! I won't! You may trust me, indeed you may,
human
I think I may, answered Fanny, looking down at Sibyl's poor little apology of a face.
gpt
I think you are the sort who would be faithful.
human
Betty was kind to me too, she said;
gpt
To tell you the truth, Sibyl, you were a figure of fun that night. Betty was laughing in her sleeve at you all the time.
human
Betty laughing at me! I don't believe it.
gpt
Of course she was, child. We all spoke of it afterwards. Why, you don't know what you looked like when you came into the room in that green dress, with that hideous wreath on your head.
human
I know, said Sibyl in a humble tone.
gpt
I couldn't make it look all right; but Betty took me behind a screen, and managed it in a twinkling, and put a white sash round my waist, and--oh, I felt nice anyhow!
human
I am glad you felt nice, said Fanny,
gpt
Oh Fanny, don't hurt me! You know I can't afford very pretty dresses like you. We are rather poor at home, and there are so many of us.
human
I don't want to hurt you, child; only, haven't you a grain of sense? Don't you know perfectly well why Betty wanted you to wear the wreath of marguerites?
gpt
Just because she was sweet, said Sibyl,
human
That is all you know! Now, recall something, Sibyl.
gpt
Yes?
human
Do you remember when you saw Betty stoop over that broken stump of the old oak and take something out?
gpt
Of course I do, said Sibyl.
human
It was a piece of wood. I found it the next day.
gpt
Well, it wasn't a piece of wood,
human
What can you mean? asked Sibyl. She stood perfectly still, staring at her companion. Then she burst into a sort of frightened laugh.
gpt
But it was a piece of wood, really, she added.
human
You are mistaken, Fanny. Of course you know a great deal, but even you can't know more than I have proved by my own eyesight. It looked in the distance like a small brown piece of wood; and I asked Betty if it was, and she admitted it.
gpt
Just like her! just like her!
human
Well, then, the very next day, continued Sibyl,
gpt
I don't see, replied Fanny.
human
And now, if you will allow me, Sibyl, and if you won't chatter quite so fast, I will tell you what I really do know about this matter. I don't think for a single moment--in fact, I am certain--that Betty Vivian did not trouble herself to poke amongst withered leaves in the stump of the old oak-tree in order to produce a piece of sodden wood. There was something else; and when you asked her if it was a piece of wood she told you--remember, Sibyl, this is in absolute confidence--an untruth. Oh, I am trying to put it mildly; but I must mention the fact--Betty told you an untruth. Did you observe, or did you not, that she was excited and looked slightly annoyed when you suddenly called to her and ran up to her side?
gpt
I--yes, I think she did look a little put out; but then she is very proud, is Betty, and I am not her special friend, although I love her so hard,
human
She walked with you afterwards, did she not?
gpt
Yes.
human
She went towards the house with you?
gpt
Of course. I have told you all that, Fanny.
human
When you both reached the gardens she suggested that you should wear the marguerites in your hair?
gpt
She did, Fanny; and I thought it was such a charming idea.
human
Did it not once occur to you that she wanted to get you out of the way, that she did not care one scrap how you looked at the Speciality entertainment?
gpt
That certainly did not occur to me, answered Sibyl; then she added stoutly, for she was a faithful little thing at heart,
human
Well, believe it or not as you please; I know it to have been a fact. And now I'll just tell you something. You must never, never repeat it; if you do, I sha'n't speak to you again. I know what I am saying to be a fact: I know the reason why Betty Vivian is no longer a Speciality.
gpt
Oh! oh!
human
No longer a Speciality, repeated Fanny;
gpt
A vacancy in the Specialities!
human
I could get you in if I liked, she said.
gpt
Would it suit you to be a Speciality?
human
Would it suit me? said Sibyl.
gpt
Oh Fanny, it sounds like heaven! I don't know what I wouldn't do--I don't know what I wouldn't do to become a member of that club.
human
And Martha West would second any suggestions I made, continued Fanny.
gpt
Of course I don't know that I could get you in; but I'd have a good try, provided you help me now.
human
Fanny, what is it you want me to do?
gpt
I want you, Sibyl, to use your intelligence; and I want you, all alone and without consulting any one, to find out where Betty Vivian has put the treasure which she told you was a piece of wood and which she hid in the old oak stump. You can manage it quite well if you like.
human
I don't understand!
gpt
If you repeat a word of this conversation I shall use my influence to have you boycotted in the school, said Fanny.
human
My power is great to help or to mar your career in the school. If you do what I want--well, my dear, all I can say is this, that I shall do my utmost to get you into the club. You cannot imagine how nice it is when you are a member. Think what poor Betty has lost, and think how you will feel when you are a Speciality and she is not.
gpt
I don't know that I shall feel anything, replied Sibyl.
human
Somehow or other, I don't like this thing you want me to do, Fanny.
gpt
Well, don't do it. I will get some one else.
human
And, in the second place, continued Sibyl,
gpt
You can watch her, said Fanny.
human
Now, if you have any gumption about you--and it is my strong belief that you have--you will be able to tell me this time to-morrow something about Betty Vivian and her movements. If by this time to-morrow you know nothing--why, I will relieve you of the task, and you will be as you were before. But if, on the other hand, you help me to save the honor of a great school--which is, I assure you, at the present moment in serious peril--I shall do my utmost to get you admitted to the Speciality Club. Now, I think that is all.