"Oh, do wait for us," they cried, seeing Elma and Alice linger for a
moment at the gate.
"Alice," said Elma, "before they join us I want to speak to you. Are you
for Kitty, or against her?"
"How do you mean?" asked Alice in some wonder.
"I mean, are you going to vote that this petition should be sent to Miss
Sherrard or are you not?"
"I am going to vote against it, of course," said Alice, with a short
laugh.
"Well, I am on your side; I wish to say so."
"You, Elma! I thought you would never oppose Gwin Harley. You are one of
those people who know where their bread is buttered. Why do you take my
part on this occasion?"
"Because," said Elma, flushing deeply, for, hardened little sinner as
she was, she had not perfect control over her emotions--"because I think
Kitty richly deserves what she has got. It would never do to have this
sort of thing going on at the school. But look here, Alice, if the
petition is not to be sent to Miss Sherrard, we must try and have a
majority on our side. Why should we not secure Matilda and Jessie
Forbes?"
"I never thought of that," said Alice; "but really, Elma, now I come to
consider it, as far as I personally am concerned, I don't much care. It
matters very little to me whether Kitty gets out of Coventry or not.
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