“Why, she isn’t studying,” thought Isabel. “I wonder if anything is the matter. Perhaps she had bad news in the letter.” Isabel tiptoed to the bedroom door and peeped in. Virginia was lying on the bed, her arms thrown up in such a way as to conceal her face. “Virgie,” said Isabel, gently, “are you asleep?”
“No,” replied Virginia, her tones a bit smothered; “I’ll be out pretty soon, I guess.”
Isabel went back to her lessons, convinced now that something was the matter. Avalon looked up from her book. “Anything the matter with Virgie?”
“She’s lying down and I guess doesn’t want to be disturbed. Maybe she has a headache. I ate too much of that fudge myself.” Isabel said to herself: “I don’t know that anything is the matter, I just guess it, so I hope it’s all right to suggest a headache. You can’t tell all the truth always!” Isabel was too honest not to blame herself for this evasion.
But presently Virginia came out, picked up her books, and began to study. “Got a headache, Virgie?” asked Avalon.
“Yes, a little one,” replied Virginia.
That night Isabel heard a repressed sob or two and longed to comfort Virgie and find out what could be the matter. Something had happened at home, she supposed.
For several days Virginia was sober, doing her work as well as usual, but not running in to visit the other girls, and spending a good deal of time by herself. Avalon and Olivia did not appear to notice any difference, but Isabel could tell that Virgie had something on her mind. Finally, Isabel decided that she would speak to her about it, and waited for a good opportunity. This came on the following Sabbath afternoon, when after the late and excellent Sunday dinner the girls had donned their bathrobes and slippers and were lounging in their bedrooms. Isabel was propped up against her pillows and was writing letters. Virginia was stretched out on her bed, apparently asleep, but presently she rose and went to the dresser for a handkerchief. There was a tell-tale redness about her eyes, which Isabel noted in one quick glance, and when Virginia was once more on her bed, her back turned to Isabel, Isabel said softly, “Virgie, I wish you would tell me what is the matter and let me be of some comfort. You haven’t been like yourself for several days and it worries me. Of course, if there is any secret, or anything you can’t tell me, all right, but I hate to have you feel like this and not say a word to you.”
There was silence for a moment, and then Virgie said, “I’ve been going to tell you, Isabel, but I’m such a baby that I c-cry about it——” Virgie could not go on just then. Isabel waited.
“Maybe it would do you good to cry it out, Virgie. Haven’t you been holding it all in for fear the girls would notice? Cry it out for all me,” added the sturdy Isabel.