"No, thanks; I'm a great deal too busy."
Kate kept her eyes lowered. She would not permit herself to glance at Molly, whose caressing tone was softening her in spite of herself. Had she yielded to her better nature, she would have rushed up to her friend, repeated Matilda Matthews' cruel and unkind words, and much after-trouble and misery would have been averted. But Kate, notwithstanding her brightness and good-nature, had a strong vein of obstinacy in her character. She was very affectionate, but she had also a great deal of pride, and that pride was cut to the quick by the words which Hester had repeated to her.
"I can't stay now, thanks," she went on; "I have to work up my notes of the lectures I heard this morning, and have not a minute to spare."
"But Kate, Kate, dear!" cried Molly.
Kate had now approached the door; she turned on hearing Molly's voice.
"Yes, what is it?" she exclaimed; "I wish you wouldn't keep me!"
"I won't more than a minute or two. Perhaps you don't know that Cecil Ross has got the cubicle next to you in dormitory A."
"Has she? I'm afraid that does not affect me particularly."
"Oh, but I thought—I hoped—— Kate, what is the matter?"
"Nothing."