“The worst of it is this,” said Grace, “that father and mother are both going to be present when the prize is given. I’m ever so sorry. I wish to goodness they’d stay away.”
“I’m not sorry,” said Kitty. “I’m very glad. You write very good English, you know, Grace; I’ve often noticed it and so have we all. Just make me that little promise, won’t you, like a duck?”
“Oh very well, I’ll make it fast enough.”
“You’ll give me half?”
“Yes, yes, but it’s too ridiculous.”
“But you and Anne will never tell?”
“Of course not—of course not. You’d better run away now, Kitty, you’re only disturbing us, and we have no time to lose.”
Kitty went out of the room, still with that glow in her cheeks and that light in her eyes. She was desperate. Somehow or other, she must secure fifty pounds, in no other possible way could she keep Miss Weston quiet. A desperate girl, devoid of principle, will go a long way. That moment Kitty, whose own essay, for what it was worth, was finished, sat down and wrote the following letter to Mr. Dodd:
“Dear Kind Friend—You said I might do it, and I am taking you at your word. I do want just a pretty simple little frock to wear on the Howard miniature prize day, something very simple. I could get it for five pounds. Of course, if you can’t spare the money I can easily manage; but it would be nice. All the girls are to be in white, the girls of the Upper School are to wear white embroidered muslins with violet sashes, and the girls of the Lower School are to be dressed like them, with rose-coloured sashes. Anne and Grace have ordered their dresses; and if you won’t help her, poor Kitty must manage with an old frock. But never mind, dear, kind sir; it is only a bit of vanity in Kitty, and perhaps it ought not to be encouraged. Now I’m going to tell you something which is very important. Grace is making such a try for the prize. The essay is very difficult; but she is taking such pains with it—oh, I must not say more, but I wonder, and I—I hope. As to poor little me, well, I haven’t the ghost of a chance, but I should be almost as happy if Grace got it as if I got it myself.
“Now, my dear sir, I am doing a very bold thing. I want to suggest to you that you might stimulate Grace by promising her something, something really big, if she gets the prize. It seems horrid to suggest money, but I do think she would like that best, for she has several plans in her head for spending her money, and they are all very good and great plans, that I can assure you. Now, sir, if you can, give Gracie a little fillip, will you? If not, please forget that Kitty has written.”