"She is far more lovely than she looks—that is, if you mean she is clever and taking and all the rest. She is just perfectly splendid. She makes you see a thing at the first glance. She has a way of putting information into you
so that you cannot help knowing. Oh, she is delightful! And mother says that I may have her to coach me for the big scholarship—the sixty-pounds-a-year scholarship. You know there are two of them. There is one quite in your line, and there is one in mine; and there is no earthly reason why you should not get one and I the other."
"Well?" said Ruth.
Her beautiful, fair, delicately chiselled face had turned pale. She stood very upright, and looked full at Cassandra.
"It could be easily done, dear little Ruth. Miss Renshaw would just as soon coach two girls as one, and mother has arranged it. Yes, she has arranged it absolutely. Miss Renshaw will coach you and me together. You are to come home with me every evening. She will give us both an hour. Isn't it too splendid?"
Ruth did not speak.
"Aren't you pleased, Ruth? Don't you think it is very nice of me to think of my friends? You are my friend, you know."
"Oh no," said Ruth.
"But what is it? What is the matter?"
"I—I can't."