Ten members were present.
Mary Silver and Louisa were two; and Rose's crony, Esther Dearborn, another.
The remaining four were Sally Alsop and Amy Erskine; Alice Gibbons, one of the new scholars, whom they all liked, but did not know very well; and Ellen Gray, a pale, quiet girl, with droll blue eyes, a comical twist to her mouth, and a trick of saying funny things in such a demure way that half the people who listened never found out that they were funny.
All Rose's chairs had been borrowed for the occasion.
Three girls sat on the bed, and three on the floor.
With a little squeezing, there was plenty of room for everybody.
Katy was chosen President, and requested to take the rocking-chair as a sign of office.
This she did with much dignity, and proceeded to read the Constitution and By-Laws of the Society, which had been drawn up by Rose Red, and copied on an immense sheet of blue paper.
They ran thus:—
CONSTITUTION FOR THE SOCIETY FOR THE SUPPRESSION OF UNLADYLIKE CONDUCT, KNOWN TO THE UNINITIATED AS THE S. S. U. C.
ARTICLE I.
The object of this Society is twofold: it combines having a good time with the Pursuit of VIRTUE.
ARTICLE II.
The good time is to take place once a week in No. 6 Quaker Row, between the hours of four and six P. M.
ARTICLE III.
The nature of the good time is to be decided upon by a Committee to be appointed each Saturday by the members of the Society.
ARTICLE IV.
VIRTUE is to be pursued at all times and in all seasons, by the members of the Society setting their faces against the practice of bowing and speaking to young gentlemen who are not acquaintances; waving of pocket handkerchiefs, signals from windows, and any species of conduct which would be thought unladylike by nice people anywhere, and especially by the mammas of the Society.
ARTICLE V.
The members of the Society pledge themselves to use their influence against these practices, both by precept and example.
In witness whereof we sign.
Katherine Carr, President.
Rosamond Redding, Secretary.
Clover E.
Carr.
Mary L.
Silver.
Esther Dearborn.
Sally P.
Alsop.
Amy W.
Erskine.
Alice Gibbons.
Ellen Whitworth Gray.
Next followed the By-Laws.
Katy had not been able to see the necessity of having any By-Laws, but Rose had insisted. She had never heard of a Society without them, she said, and she didn't think it would be "legal" to leave them out.
It had cost her some trouble to invent them, but at last they stood thus:—
BY-LAW NO. 1.
The members of the S. S. U. C. will observe the following signals:—
1st.
The Grip.—This is given by inserting the first and middle finger of the right hand between the thumb and fourth finger of the respondent's left, and describing a rotatory motion in the air with the little finger.
N. B.
Much practice is necessary to enable members to exchange this signal in such a manner as not to attract attention.
2nd.
The Signal of Danger.—This signal is for use when Miss Jane, or any other foe-woman, heaves into sight.
It consists in rubbing the nose violently, and at the same time giving three stamps on the floor with the left foot.
It must be done with an air of unconsciousness.
3rd.
The Signal for Consultation.—This signal is for use when immediate communication is requisite between members of the Society.
It consists of a pinch on the back of the right hand, accompanied by the word