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This motion duly passed, Eloise Winthrop rose to make a few remarks. “Madam President,” said she, “may we have some discussion of the names proposed last week? I remember how we all agreed that nothing unpleasant should be said, but it seems to me that if there is any real objection to anybody, we ought to know it, and perhaps leave their names until the next election. There are a few girls, too, that I do not know very well, some new ones, and I should like to hear reasons why they should be invited.”

“Chiefly because the Emersons want them,” quickly said one girl, and without addressing the president. The girls laughed and Cathalina tapped for order.

“The names are posted at the sides of the room,” said the president, “but the secretary will read the names proposed last week, and if there are other names that you have thought of since, they may be proposed then. Will the secretary also give some of the reasons why we invite girls to the society?”

As Hilary rose, to read the list and comply with Cathalina’s request, she hesitated a little, smiled, and put down her papers on the little carved table before her. “I suppose the first real reason, if we are honest,” said she, “is that we want our best friends with us in our society, just as we like to be in the same school and the same classes. Then we want to get girls into the society that will do it honor, girls that will try to help and girls that are gifted or have some qualities that make them desirable. A girl may not have any great gift, but be so utterly lovable and perhaps helpful to everybody that we couldn’t get along without her. And then we want girls that need the society work,—indeed we all need it. I remember a girl that was so timid she was afraid to do anything in public, but she was enthusiastic for the society she was in, helped in all the practical ways, finally tried to take part in the programs, and got all over being so scared. We put her on for reading little things at first, or singing in a quartet, or doing other things with several girls, until she found that she was valuable in those places and liked it. You never can tell. I’m in favor of taking in as many nice girls as we can, up to the number we decided upon.”