“But you don’t care about winning it, and you are the one who is sure to do so.”
“I don’t greatly care,” said Priscilla. “Of course, I would rather win than not win; that is about all.”
“Suppose—suppose,” said Annie—“I am not saying it could be done, and I am not saying it is right—I am not pretending to any conscience in the matter; but—suppose—you and Mabel changed essays; and—suppose you had your dearest wish, and Mabel her dearest wish—you stayed at school for another year and Mabel went to Paris to join her aunt. Now—just suppose.”
Chapter Three.
To Catch at a Straw.
Priscilla’s eyes, large, dark, grey, and full of feeling, opened to their widest extent as she turned them now and fixed them on her companion.
“What do you mean?” she said. “Do you know that you are a horrible girl to propose anything of this sort. How dare you? I don’t want to speak to you again.”
“Very well, Priscilla,” replied Annie, by no means offended, and speaking in a gentle, meek little voice. “I have heard of worse things being done before, and I only meant to help you both. You are both my greatest friends. One of you wants to stay at school; the other wants to leave school. It can be done by such a very simple matter as changing your essays.”