"Now I may have some chance of winning Jesse back again," she thought.
But Dolly's next words threw a damper on her springing hopes.
"Liane can't fool me with a tale of a dying relative! I believe she had an understanding with Jesse Devereaux to follow him down to Boston," she exclaimed spitefully.
Roma started violently, her rich color paling to ashen gray.
"Jesse Devereaux gone!" she cried, in uncontrollable agitation that betrayed her jealous heart to Dolly's keen eyes.
The girl thought shrewdly:
"She loves him even if he did tell me he was not engaged. Whew! won't she hate Liane when she knows all!"
And, taking advantage of Roma's mood, she added:
"Liane has been flirting for some time with Mr. Devereaux, and the night she got the beauty prize he sent her roses to wear, and voted for her, and offered to walk home with her that night, only he was disappointed, because Mr. Malcolm Dean had asked her first."
Roma, inwardly furious with jealous rage, tossed her proud head carelessly, and answered: