“Oh, for nothing much,” replied Prissie, half frightened at her manner, which was sweet enough, but had an intangible hardness about it, which Priscilla felt, but could not fathom. “I thought you’d be so glad about the decision Miss Heath and Miss Eccleston have come to.”
“No, I am not particularly glad. I can’t stay now to talk it over, however; Hester Stuart wants, me to practise a duet with her.”
“May I come to your room later on, Maggie?”
“Not to-night, I think; I shall be very busy.” Miss Oliphant nodded brightly, and disappeared out of the dining-hall.
Two girls were standing not far off. They had watched this little scene, and they now observed that Prissie clasped her hands, and that a woe-begone expression crossed her face.
“The spell is beginning to work,” whispered one to the other. “When the knight proves unfaithful the most gracious lady must suffer resentment.”
Priscilla did not hear these words. She went slowly upstairs and back to her own room, where she wrote letters home, and made copious notes from her last lectures, and tried not to think of the little cloud which seemed to have come between her and Maggie.
Late, on that same evening, Polly Singleton, who had just been entertaining a chosen bevy of friends in her own room, after the last had bidden her an affectionate “Good-night,” was startled at hearing a low knock at her door. She opened it at once. Miss Oliphant stood without.
“May I come in?” she asked.
“Why, of course. I’m delighted to see you. How kind of you to come. Where will you sit? I’m afraid you won’t find things very comfortable, for most of my furniture is gone. But there’s the bed; do you mind sitting on the bed?”