“Oh well, never mind,” said Elizabeth cheerfully. “Maybe I would be too happy if I had everything I want. Could I go down and see Betsy just a little while? I want to thank her for coming up and I want to thank her for inviting me; Mr. Robert, too, I want to thank him, too, and I want to tell Betsy about the picture. I don’t see how I can wait till morning, mother.”
Her mother laughed. “I don’t see how you can either. I never saw such an excited little body. At this rate what will you be by the time all these unusual things are over?”
Elizabeth gave a long sigh. “Now you remind me of that fearsome examination. It stares me in the face like a sheeted ghost.”
“Don’t think about it, dear child. Run along to Betsy and I will let Electra stop and bring you home; she is going down into the village.”
So Elizabeth danced away to Betsy, and if their tongues did not run it was not because they had nothing to talk about.
CHAPTER XX
The Locked Door
THE dreaded day at last arrived. Elizabeth was so nervous that her mother felt a deep compassion for the child. “I almost wish there were no scholarship to be won,” she said to her husband. “Elizabeth is such an intense sort of little body that I am afraid she will be actually ill if she fails.”
“I don’t believe she is going to fail,” returned Mr. Hollins hopefully.
Betsy was almost as anxious as Elizabeth, not for herself, for all that she really cared for was to get a worthy mark, but she did care very much for Elizabeth. Corinne had withdrawn from the race, as she had received word that her parents would return before long. There were, then, but four contestants to look upon as rivals, for the two great friends.
“Oh, Elizabeth, I do hope and pray you will get it,” whispered Betsy, as they took their places. Elizabeth was beyond words, but she gave Betsy’s hand a nervous squeeze, and by the coldness of the eager fingers Betsy knew the state of Elizabeth’s feelings.