In the middle of the handle were a pair of silver doves, billing and cooing in the most affectionate way, over a tiny shield, on which were engraved Mrs. Florence's initials.
"I never saw one like it!"
"Doesn't it look heavy?" cried a chorus of voices, as Rose, highly gratified, held up the basket.
"Who shall present it?" asked Louisa Agnew.
"Rose Red," said some of the girls.
"No, indeed, I'm not tall enough," protested Rose, "it must be somebody who'd kind of sweep into the room and be impressive.
I vote for Katy."
"Oh, no!" said Katy, shrinking back,
"I shouldn't do it well at all.
Suppose we put it to a vote."
Ellen Gray cut some slips of paper, and each girl wrote a name and dropped it into the box.
When the votes were counted, Katy's name appeared on all but three.
"I propose that we make this vote unanimous," said Rose, highly delighted.
The girls agreed; and Rose, jumping on a chair, exclaimed, "Three cheers for Katy Carr! keep time, girls,—one, two, hip, hip, hurrah!"
The hurrahs were given with enthusiasm, for Katy, almost without knowing it, had become popular.
She was too much touched and pleased to speak at first.
When she did, it was to protest against her election.
"Esther would do it beautifully," she said, "and I think Mrs. Florence would like the basket better if she gave it.
You know ever since"— she stopped.
Even now she could not refer with composure to the affair of the note.
"Oh!" cried Louisa, "she's thinking of that ridiculous note Mrs. Florence made such a fuss about.
As if anybody supposed you wrote it, Katy!
I don't believe even Miss Jane is such a goose as that.
Any way, if she is, that's one reason more why you should present the basket, to show that we don't think so."
She gave Katy a kiss by way of period.
"Yes, indeed, you're chosen, and you must give it," cried the others.
"Very well," said Katy, extremely gratified, "what am I to say?"
"We'll compose a speech for you," replied Rose, "sugar your voice, Katy, and, whatever you do, stand up straight.
Don't crook over, as if you thought you were tall.
It's a bad trick you have, child, and I'm always sorry to see it," concluded Rose, with the air of a wise mamma giving a lecture.
It is droll how much can go on in a school unseen and unsuspected by its teachers.
Mrs. Florence never dreamed that the girls had guessed her secret.
Her plan was to go away as if for a visit, and leave Mrs. Nipson to explain at her leisure.
She was therefore quite unprepared for the appearance of Katy, holding the beautiful basket, which was full of fresh roses, crimson, white, and pink.
I am afraid the rules of the S. S. U. C. had been slightly relaxed to allow of Rose Red's getting these flowers; certainly they grew nowhere in Hillsover except in Professor Seccomb's garden!
"The girls wanted me to give you this, with a great deal of love from us all," said Katy, feeling strangely embarrassed, and hardly venturing to raise her eyes.
She set the basket on the table.
"We hope that you will be happy," she added in a low voice, and moved toward the door.
Mrs. Florence had been to much surprised to speak, but now she called,
"Wait!
Come back a moment."
Katy came back.
Mrs. Florence's cheeks were flushed.
She looked very handsome. Katy almost thought there were tears in her eyes.
"Tell the girls that I thank them very much.
Their present is beautiful.
I shall always value it."
She blushed as she spoke, and
Katy blushed too. It made her shy to see the usually composed Mrs. Florence so confused.
"What did she say? What did she say?" demanded the others, who were collected in groups round the school-room door to hear a report of the interview.