“But even—even if I did it,” said Priscilla, “how is the money to be got?”
“You leave that to us,” said Annie. “Your term’s fees will be paid, and there will be something over. Leave all that to us.”
“Go away now,” said Priscilla; “don’t talk to me any more at all; I must have time to think. Oh! I don’t want to do wrong. I must pray to God to help me not to yield to you.”
“You will not do that,” said Annie, “for your own heart, and every argument in your mind, are inclining you in the other direction. I leave you now, for I feel certain of you; but Mabel and I will visit you to-morrow morning at five o’clock.”
“You can’t come in, for the door will be locked.”
“You know,” said Annie, staggered for a moment, “that it is against the rules for any girl to lock her door at night.”
“It will be a much lesser transgression on my part to lock my room door than to allow you and Mabel in,” answered Priscilla.
“Well, we will come on the chance,” replied Annie. “Ta-ta for a time, Pris. Oh, what a jolly year you will have, and how hard you will work! How I shall rejoice to see it!—for, whatever you must think of me, I at least am not selfish. I lose my dear friend Mabel by this scheme, and I keep you, who have never yet been my very special friend; but you will be when we return together to Lyttelton School next autumn. Good-bye, till to-morrow morning.”
Annie tripped from the room.