"So I saw," said Miss Ruth, examining her over her spectacles. A hot flush rose to Marjolaine's cheeks. Had she really been wearing her heart on her sleeve, and showing the whole Walk the state of her feelings? She must be more careful in future.
"Anything the matter?" asked Miss Ruth.
Marjolaine answered hastily, "Oh, nothing. Nothing to speak of."
"H'm," said Miss Ruth, violently biting off a cotton-end. Then she added, "Barbara was quite upset."
"How sweet of her!" cried Marjolaine.—Dear, sympathetic little Barbara!
"Oh! Not so much about you," said Miss Ruth rather acidly. "But she looks forward to sitting with you and Mr. Pringle, when you are singing."
"Is she so fond of music?" asked Marjolaine, glad to turn the conversation into a less personal channel.
"Bless your dear heart, no!" exclaimed Miss Ruth sharply. "Now, would she sit and listen to you if she were? She does n't know one note from another."
It seemed to Marjolaine that the conversation was becoming rather personal, so she held her tongue.
But Miss Ruth evidently had something on her mind of which she was anxious to relieve herself.