A maid came in the room with a froth of lacy frills falling over her arm. She disposed of the froth, then bent above the seated Cecilia, and began taking the pins from her yellow hair. It fell loosely, with the soft, slow motion of waves, about her shoulders and well below her hips....
"Tres joli!" said the true worshipper of beauty, as she always did.
"Nonsense!" replied Cecilia, absently, as she always did. This was the rite, frowned on by the jealous Norah.
"I mended yer skirt," said Norah crossly. "It was tore fierce."
"Thank you, dear," said Cecilia, and then: "Josephine, which is my most pretty dress?"
Norah left, shutting the door with decision. She muttered of people who talked Eyetalian, and other Heathen languages. Then she decided it was her duty to tell Cecilia of Josephine's outrageous flirting with Mr. 'Iggens. After this lofty resolve her face cleared, and her expression, became pleasant.
She passed a heavy-eyed boy in the hall. In the early days he had often shed his tears against her shoulder.... He had found love, and understanding, exhibited by doughnuts, and bread spread thickly with brown sugar.
"Mr. John——" said Norah timidly as they were opposite.
"Huh?" he responded, with a cool look. Norah swallowed with a gulp, and went on. Her heart was heavy. Her spirit ached.
"We give him too many doughnuts," she said. Then again her face cleared.