U. C. came together for the first time. 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.