Lila stood motionless so long that Bea had time to notice the ticking of her watch. Then she turned slowly around from the window.
“And this is friendsh——”
LILA STOOD STARING OUT AT THE SNOW
“Oh!” squealed Bea, “oh, oh, oh! Ha, ha, ha!” Flinging her arms out over the desk she buried her face upon them and shook with uncontrollable laughter.
Lila crimsoned to her hair, then went white with anger. Without a word she walked into her own room and locked the door.
Half an hour later when she rose from the bed and began to pour out a basinful of water to bathe her smarting eyes, she heard a rustle on the threshold. Glancing quickly around she saw a square of white paper being thrust beneath the door. It was a letter from home on the five o’clock mail. Lila picked it up and opened it listlessly. The fit of weeping had left her exhausted.
“My darling daughter,” she read,