Polly declared she did not, but her heart was hot with indignation; for she realised, more clearly than did her brother, that Aunt Janie despised their home.
[CHAPTER V]
AFTER THE SNOWSTORM
"Oh, I say, Roger, do wait for me a moment! What a tremendous hurry you're in! I want to speak to you."
Roger Trent paused to allow the speaker—Edgar Marsh—to come up to him. It was nearly five o'clock on the afternoon subsequent to the night of Cousin Becky's arrival at Beaworthy, and the cousins were later than usual in returning from school, as they had lingered in the playground—a large yard surrounded by high walls at the back of the Grammar School building, which was situated in one of the principal streets of the town—to enjoy a good game of snowballing. Several inches of snow had fallen during the night, but the morning had dawned clear and fine; there had been only a very slight thaw, and now the air was keen and betokened frost.
"I'm in rather a hurry, because we have tea at five o'clock and mother will wonder what's become of me if I'm not home by then," Roger explained, as his cousin joined him and they walked on side by side.
"What a splendid game we've had, haven't we? I believe it's going to freeze, and if it does the streets will be as slippery as glass to-morrow."
"So much the better, then we shall be able to make some slides. I don't mind the cold, do you? But why don't you do up your coat."
"Because it's so uncomfortable if I do; it's too tight for me, I've grown out of it."
"You ought to have a new one; it's awfully shabby."