“Well, he flirted with her,” said Rosalind, “and she with him. They were so delighted with one another that I could scarcely get Prissie away when it was time to leave. They looked quite engrossed—you know the kind of air—there was no mistaking it!”
“Miss Peel must have thanked you for taking her.”
“Thanked me? That’s not Miss Prissie’s style. I could see she was awfully vexed at being disturbed.”
“Well, it’s rather shabby,” said Polly Singleton, speaking for the first time. “Everyone at St. Benet’s knows to whom Mr Hammond belongs.”
“Yes, yes, of course, of course,” cried several voices.
“And Maggie has been so kind to Miss Peel,” continued Polly.
“Yes—shame!—how mean of little Propriety!” the voices echoed again.
Rosalind gave a meaning glance at Annie Day. Annie raised her eyebrows, looked interrogative, then her face subsided into a satisfied expression. She asked no further questions, but she gave Rosalind an affectionate pat on the shoulder.
Soon the other girls came up one by one to say good-night. Rosalind, Annie, and Lucy were alone. They drew their chairs together, and began to talk.