human
O, Polly, do come on up. I've a little more to do and we might just as well talk while I'm at it. Have you called the Boat Club meeting?
gpt
Yes, she answered brightly.
human
I've called it at ten. It's almost that now. Tom can't come, of course; he's always so busy daytimes, but I think all the others will be there.
gpt
Hasn't Bert something to keep him?
human
Not just now, Polly laughed.
gpt
He substituted in the post-office last week, and the week before that in a hardware store, but just now he says nobody seems to need him, and he's reading law in private.
human
He's such a goose, and Catherine put two mated pillow-cases together with a little pat.
gpt
Inga never knows enough to put things in pairs, and Mother wouldn't dare begin to look them over. If she should do anything so domestic, half Winsted would break out with mumps or chickenpox. Where did you say we'd have the meeting?
human
At the boat house. We might as well use it, now we have it. But I didn't know you broke out with mumps.
gpt
That's only figurative. Polly, why have you gone back to braids and bows? You look very infantile for a real Wellesley sophomore.
human
I got tired of the bird-cages and puffs, and decided I'd go back to nature. Besides, playing around with Peter and Perdita you need something stationary. They work dreadful havoc with a stylish coiffure.
gpt
I wonder if I'd have to put my hair down just to teach them on Sundays? Mrs. Henley is going away, you know, and I've been asked to take her class.
human
O, I do hope you will, cried Polly.
gpt
You would have a civilising influence on Perdita, and she needs it. Peter keeps her in order so well she never _does_ anything very bad, but she is potentially a little terror.
human
She always seems very mild when I see her, commented Catherine, patting her piles into straight lines.
gpt
But you can't always tell about people by looking at them. I, for instance, have all my life been expected to be lady-like, just because when I was little I hadn't strength enough to be naughty. And many and many a time I have felt like doing something wild and shocking!
human
Why, Catherine Smith! exclaimed Polly in amazement.
gpt
You always seemed to me a sort of beautiful princess up here on the hill, and, good as any of the rest of us might try to be, we never could hope to be as good as you. Have you honestly ever wanted to be bad?
human
I honestly have--not wicked you know, but--well, reckless! And I never had the courage to do anything very startling till last year at college.
gpt
Tell me, Polly insisted.
human
I'll never tell. What did you do? Was it fun? Tell me!
gpt
I made up my mind that it was my one chance, for no one there belonged to me, and my tiresome reputation for propriety hadn't had time to get started. So one day I got up late, and was late to breakfast, and cut a class, and-- She laughed so hard that Polly wanted to shake her.
human
O, Polly it was such a ridiculous thing to do! I talked slang and chewed gum!
gpt
Did you like it? What made you stop?
human
People. They were so astonished. And, besides, I hated the gum. Inez Dolliver used to chew it with such gusto that I thought it must be rather good. And the slang sounded so easy and,--O! lighthearted, you know, and friendly. When you and Hannah Eldred use it, it never seems offensive, just pleasant and gay. But everyone looked so worried and puzzled all day at me, that I decided to stop. And next day they seemed so relieved. I told Dy-the Allen later about it (she's the dearest thing!) and she was very philosophical. She told me it wasn't becoming to my general character, just as pink wasn't becoming to my hair. I told her I had always loved pink, and wanted to wear it, and she suggested that I wear it at night. It wouldn't show in the dark and it was an innocent desire; and perhaps if I did that, I'd not want to use slang or chew gum. I didn't, after I had tried once, anyhow! Polly Osgood, here we are sitting around and I'm telling you foolish stories about myself, when we ought to be discussing library matters.
gpt
The other was more interesting, sighed Polly.
human
I'm going to give up slang myself soon. I never did chew gum! But I've been terribly bored lately by some rather flip young creatures I've had to see more or less, and I decided to cut it out and talk plain English. What are you smiling at?
gpt
Isn't that a fright? I mean, isn't that startling? I didn't know I used it so much. Do you suppose I can cure myself and still have time and attention to give to starting the library? It's time we were down there now.
human
All right. I'm ready, as soon as I get my hat. Do you ever wear them at college?
gpt
Never. Now while we go along, tell me just what your idea is. What did the Hampton ladies say?
human
They advised having some club take it up, for a time at least, and they thought it would be nice to have it be the Boat Club instead of a literary one, because the literary ones often have a spirit of competition, and if one of them started the library the others might not feel inclined to use it.
gpt
I see, and the Boat Club, besides being unsectarian and interdenominational and non-partisan, has a lot of waste enthusiasm and energy that might just as well be put to work. Father says he is sure that when the thing is really running, the council will vote a tax and take it off our hands. You are sure Algernon can run it? I thought it took years of special training.
human
It does, Catherine answered gravely,
gpt
I've often thought I shouldn't be, if I knew anything about the subjects he talks about, confessed Polly.
human
There are Bertha and Agnes.