"Hush!" said Violet, "we are disturbing Katie and Susy Martin, and they are such spiteful little cats, they are sure to tell on us. Hush! do hush, Rose! you ought not to say such things."
"I won't say them if you don't like," whispered Rose back again; "but they are true all the same."
Violet bent over her French translation. Rose made another frantic struggle to conquer "The Lady of the Lake."
The other children in the room were working with considerable industry; the little idlers in the corner had to suppress their emotions as best they could.
Rose had a very emphatic way; she was a stronger character than Violet, and in consequence had her little friend more or less under her thumb.
Violet had a great admiration for Biddy, and, as she was really an honorable and conscientious child, Rose's words shocked her very much.
The moments went by. The summer evening outside looked more beautiful and inviting each moment. After preparation was over, there was a treat in store for the children. This was Bridget O'Hara's birthday, and she was herself the giver of the treat. The children were to have a sort of supper-tea in the tent on the lawn, and afterward Biddy was going to give each of them a little present in memory of the day.
The thought of Biddy's present and Biddy's treat had filled every little heart with a pleasant sense of excitement during the entire day; but Violet felt now that if Rose's words were really true she would not care to accept a keepsake from Bridget.
As she sat before her desk, too lazy, too languid, and at the same time too excited, to pay the smallest heed to her lessons, she could not help wishing that she could see something more of the blue frock than just that part which covered the pretty foot.
She slipped down lower and lower by her desk, and presently contrived to get a view of Bridget's desk. She could not see her face, but she could catch a glance of a plump young hand; it was quite still, it did not move, it did not turn a page. Violet could stand it no longer. In a moment of desperation she kicked off her slipper, and springing from her seat, bent low on the floor to pick it up.