‘Why,’ exclaimed Jean, in surprise, ‘didn’t you hear Finny give out that we were all to do the show exercises before her on Monday afternoon, so that she could decide who was to go in for the prize?’
‘Of course she didn’t hear; the Babe’s always asleep!’ said Angela, with scorn. ‘I watched her all the time Finny was speaking, and she was smiling away to herself as if some one was having a conversation with her.’
‘Never mind, she’s getting better,’ said Jean, approvingly. ‘She doesn’t gape half so much as she did, and she doesn’t jump when you go up and speak to her suddenly. By the way, you’ve got as good a chance as any one, Babe, of getting the gym prize.’
Barbara, who had taken their frank criticisms of her without a murmur, could not allow this last assertion to pass. She pulled up suddenly in the middle of the field, and looked first at one and then at the other of her two companions. ‘What do you mean?’ she gasped.
‘Hullo! said Jean. What’s the matter?’
‘Oh, you’re putting it on; don’t be affected,’ scoffed Angela.
‘No, she isn’t putting it on; she never does,’ objected Jean. ‘Look at home, Angela, before you talk about affectation.’
‘All the same,’ continued Angela, undisturbed, ‘you must know you’re perfectly splendid at gym, Babs. Now, don’t you?’