“You should have found time,” returned Laura, pursing her mouth primly in mischievous imitation of Miss Phelps, their new mathematics teacher. “Where there’s a will, there’s a way.”
Vi shrugged her shoulders petulantly.
“Well, if you are going to be so disagreeable—” She left the sentence unfinished and turned toward the Hall.
Billie awoke from the reverie that had been occupying her secret thoughts; awoke in time to seize a fold of Vi’s abbreviated skirt and hold it firmly between thumb and forefinger.
“Laura’s insulting me,” said Vi, with a wavering smile. “I’ll not stay.”
“Don’t be foolish,” laughed Billie. “Laura insults everybody. It’s just her way. But she never means anything by it.”
“I’m going up to the house to study math,” persisted Vi.
“No you’re not,” said Billie. “You are going for a walk with Laura and me back of the lake and pick goldenrod. Miss Walters likes it in her office and it would be nice in the dorm. Come along.”
“But I must study math!” wailed Vi, beginning to weaken. “Honestly, Billie, you don’t know how it worries me. It has me scared stiff.”
“Well, we’ll go and pick goldenrod first and then I’ll help you with your math. How will that do?”