'I only don't want you to be stupider.'
Lance chucked up a pen-wiper and caught it.
'The fact is,' said Robina, 'all we've got to do is our best. If we don't, it is wrong in us, and it makes us more a weight on Felix; and I think it is our real duty to keep everything out of the way that hinders us, if it is ever so nice.'
'Is that Cock Robin, or Parson Rook with his little book?' said Lance, throwing the pen-wiper in her face.
But the week after, when Robina was at school again, she was called to receive a letter which had something hard in it.
'Did you leave a key behind you?' she was asked a little suspiciously, for there was nothing about it in the brief note.
'No, Miss Fennimore; but my brother has sent it to me to keep for him. It is the key of his violin-case, and he is not going to touch it till he is past his examination.'
From that time Miss Fennimore entertained a better opinion of Robina Underwood; but little recked Robina. She only felt secure that after this act of heroism Lance could not but gain the exhibition.