She was offended, when told to sit down, and decided to tell her mother that she had not received enough attention.
"I guess I'll say 'snubbed,' because that will make mamma sure to take my part," she softly whispered.
She changed her mind, she often did that, and thought that she would not tell at home that she had been displeased.
She chose to attend school a week longer, or perhaps a number of weeks longer, because Miss Kenyon, just before closing for the afternoon, stated that on Friday of each week an hour would be reserved for recitations, and for the reading of compositions.
Gwen thought she saw a chance to shine, and she meant to do it.
She had heard a conversation, not intended for her ears, when a lady calling at her home had inquired for the little daughter of the house.
"Oh, Gwen is really a wonderful child," Mrs. Harcourt had said, "and while she has a positive talent for reciting fine poetry, her compositions are so original that they are really startling!"
"Oh, really!" the lady had replied, in a manner that showed that she was bored.
Gwen had leaned over the baluster in the upper hall, and drank in every word of praise that had been uttered.
The following Friday the pupils arrived with compositions that they had prepared.