At last Violet was the only child left. Even Alice ran off, but Violet stood in the middle of the gravel walk, clasping her doll in her arms.
"What is the matter, Vi?" asked Bridget. "Don't you like the doll? Would you rather I exchanged it for something else?"
Alice had climbed the steep grassy slope. She stood on the summit, and shouted down into the gathering darkness:
"Come, Violet, come at once, or you'll be late!"
"Kiss me, Violet, and run to bed," said Bridget. "If you don't like the doll, I'll exchange it to-morrow."
"But I do like the doll," said Violet. "I love it! It isn't that, Biddy. May I ask you something?"
"Of course you may, you little darling. How pale you look. What's the matter, Vi?"
"Is it true, Biddy, that you crib your lessons? Alice says it's true; but I don't believe her."
Bridget had knelt down by Violet in her earnest desire to comfort her. She rose now to her feet, and stood erect and tall in the moonlight. After a very brief pause, she spoke in a haughty tone: