"It won't be the same thing at all," complained Polly, flinging herself back on the bed in a paroxysm of disappointment.
Katherine poured oil on the troubled waters. "You can meet here just as well. And maybe, as Alison says, we shall like her when we know her. Don't let us judge her too hardly beforehand."
"So charitable, Kathy always is," murmured Evelyn.
Rachel changed the subject.
"Well—did you know we have a new English teacher?"
"No. What's her name?"
"Miss Burnett—Cecil Burnett. She's lovely. And she's to be at our table."
"Are Helen Yorke and Brenda Thornton back?"
"Yes. I saw them this morning. As musical as ever. Oh, is that the supper bell? It can't be six o'clock already."
"It seems it can—for it is," said Alison, consulting her wrist watch and finding it correspond with the bell. "I must go and see if my roommate is awake, and take her down to supper. Please be nice to her, girls. I don't know yet whether she is cross or just shy." She gave the group an appealing look as she left the room, and Katherine answered it with a reassuring smile.