“Oh, Vivian was here, I guess, but Viv hasn’t the nerve of a rabbit. If Her Highness had chosen to take the room, Viv would have gone along. But I’m going to do something very soon. I’m sick of this!”
An imperious knock sounded on the door, and without waiting to be bidden, the knocker entered. It was Miss Van Rensaelar herself, who, late in coming to St. Helen’s, had arrived two weeks before. She was dressed in dark blue velvet with ermine furs, and looked undeniably handsome, with her blue eyes and faultless complexion. In one white-gloved hand she gingerly held an ink-bottle, which she extended.
“Here is your ink,” she announced somewhat haughtily. “I’m sure I’m obliged. I forgot the hammer, but you can get it from my room if you need it. I go to the city for dinner. Good-by.”
Imogene did not rise. “Good-by,” she said in a tone which quite matched Miss Van Rensaelar’s. “You might have the goodness to place the ink on my desk. It belongs there.”
“Indeed!” Miss Van Rensaelar sniffed the air, but crossed the room with the ink-bottle, which she deposited upon the desk. Then she crossed again, her head a trifle higher if possible, and went out the door, which she left wide open.
Imogene was furious. She rose from the couch to give vent to her feelings by slamming the door, but encountered Priscilla and Virginia just about to enter. Had she not wished to share her rage, she might not have been so gracious.
“Come in,” she said, “and hear the latest!”
“What’s she done now?” Priscilla whispered. “We met her in the hall, but she didn’t deign to speak. Is she going to town to dine with the Holland ambassador, or what?”
“I don’t know or care whom she’s going to see,” stormed Imogene, “but I know one thing! I’m not going to stand this sort of thing any longer. Borrowing everything is bad enough; but when it comes to lording it over the whole house, it’s time to do something! Besides, she’s a Freshman!”
“She isn’t exactly a Freshman,” said Virginia, not noting Imogene’s displeasure. “Miss Wallace says she’s been to several girls’ schools on the Hudson already, but she doesn’t stay. She’s sort of a special, I guess. She’s nearly eighteen, you know.”