"But, Nancy dear, we've not seen him since that day, and he's miles away from here by this time, as likely as not."
Patricia needed to hear no more. She could not make Nancy less popular, but here was a fine chance for annoying her.
It was strange what pleasure it afforded Patricia to make others unhappy! She never seemed to know that in striving to annoy others, she was constantly proving that she herself was disagreeable.
She hastened out to the nearest mail box with the letter, and then returning to her room, sat down to think.
"I wish you'd talk," said Arabella. "It's awful dull this cloudy afternoon."
Patricia was in no mood for talking, and Arabella dared not insist.
It was after dinner when the pupils met in the cheery reception-hall for a little chat before going to their rooms, that Patricia saw her chance, and took it.
Some one asked Nancy if she and Dorothy had been out for their usual walk.
"It seemed a bit raw," she replied, "so we remained in."
Patricia, who had been moving nearer, now stood at Nancy's elbow.