“I do not care to make the exchange.”
“But I will pay you for it—don’t you understand?” demanded the other girl, exasperated.
“You cannot pay me for it—for I refuse,” said Beth. “I like this room. I like my neighbors—all but you, Miss Grimshaw. I do not care to make the exchange. Now, am I plain enough?”
“My goodness me!” giggled Maude, her pale face suddenly reddening in a very ugly way. “Nobody would call you pretty I should hope, Miss Baldwin.”
“Then I am quite understood?” repeated Beth, ignoring this remark.
“I suppose you think your room is worth more than we can afford to pay?” sneered Maude.
“You have struck it—exactly,” said Beth, with flashing eyes. “You think that I have a price,” she continued. “Perhaps you have been in the habit of dealing with girls who will sell anything they possess for money. I have made Molly my friend. If I exchanged in this way it would look as though I did not appreciate her friendship——”
“Pooh!” exclaimed Maude. “You don’t know her as well as we do. Does she, Laura?”
“I should say not,” sniffed the “Me too.”
“I am glad I do not know Molly in the way you seem to think you know her,” Beth said, so angry that her voice shook now. “Will you please go? The room will remain mine as long as Miss Hammersly allows me to keep it.”