“We’ll put it to a vote,” said the President.  “All in favor of this motion please to manifest it by saying, ’Aye’.”

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 elegance, “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 afterward,” 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 burst 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, ‘Aye!’” cried Snodgrass excitedly.

“Aye!  Aye!  Aye!” 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.

“The coolness of you two rascals is amazing,” began Mr. Pickwick, trying to get up an awful frown and only succeeding in producing an amiable smile.  But the new member was equal to the occasion, and rising, with a grateful salutation to the Chair, said in the most engaging manner, “Mr. President and ladies—­I beg pardon, gentlemen—­allow me to introduce myself as Sam Weller, the very humble servant of the club.”

“Good!  Good!” cried Jo, pounding with the handle of the old warming pan on which she leaned.

“My faithful friend and noble patron,” continued Laurie with a wave of the hand, “who has so flatteringly presented me, is not to be blamed for the base stratagem of tonight.  I planned it, and she only gave in after lots of teasing.”

“Come now, don’t lay it all on yourself.  You know I proposed the cupboard,” broke in Snodgrass, who was enjoying the joke amazingly.