Jo - Bad.

Beth - Very good.

Amy - Middling.

As the President finished reading the paper (which I beg leave to assure my readers is a bona fide copy of one written by bona fide girls once upon a time), a round of applause followed and then Mr. Snodgrass rose to make a proposition.

`Mr. President and gentlemen,' he began, assuming a parliamentary attitude and tone, `I wish to propose the admission of a new member - one who highly deserves the honour, would be deeply grateful for it, and would add immensely to the spirit of the club, the literary value of the paper, and be no end jolly and nice. I propose Mr. Theodore Laurence as an honorary member of the P.C. Come now, do have him.'

Jo's sudden change of tone made the girls laugh; but all looked rather anxious, and no one said a word, as Snodgrass took his seat.

`We'll put it to the vote,' said the President. `All in favour of this motion please to manifest it by saying "Ay".'

A loud response from Snodgrass, followed, to everybody's surprise, by a timid one from Beth.

`Contrary minded say "No".'

Meg and Amy were contrary minded; and Mr. Winkle rose to say, with great eloquence. `We don't wish any boys; they only joke and bounce about. This is a ladies' club, and we wish to be private and proper.'

`I'm afraid he'll laugh at our paper, and make fun of us afterwards,' observed Pickwick, pulling the little curl on her forehead, as she always did when doubtful.

Up rose Snodgrass, very much in earnest. `Sir, I give you my word as a gentleman, Laurie won't do anything of the sort. He likes to write, and he'll give a tone to our contributions, and keep us from being sentimental, don't you see? We can do so little for him, and he does so much for us, I think the least we can do is to offer him a place here, and make him welcome if he comes.'

This artful allusion to benefits conferred brought Tupman to his feet, looking as if he had quite made up his mind.

`Yes, we ought to do it, even if we are afraid. I say he may come, and his grandpa too, if he likes.'

This spirited outburst from Beth electrified the club, and Jo left her seat to shake hands approvingly. `Now then, vote again. Everybody remember it's our Laurie, and say "Ay!"' cried Snodgrass, excitedly.

`Ay! ay! ay!' replied three voices at once.

`Good! Bless you! Now, as there's nothing like "taking time by the fetlock", as Winkle characteristically observes, allow me to present the new member'; and, to the dismay of the rest of the club, Jo threw open the door of the closet, and displayed Laurie sitting on a rag-bag, flushed and twinkling with suppressed laughter.

`You rogue! you traitor! Jo, how could you?' cried the three girls, as Snodgrass led her friend triumphantly forth; and, producing both a chair and a badge, installed him in a jiffy.