As the two girls stood together turning over the little collection of carved toys, Claire slipped her hand through Janet’s arm with an affectionate pressure, which was an outward apology for the inward disloyalty, and Janet stretched out her own hand to clasp it with unexpected fervour.
“Oh, I am glad you are here! I’m glad to have another girl! Girls understand. I wish I hadn’t opened those horrid old parcels. It’s just as I said—presents are disappointing. Now I feel thoroughly humped and dumpy! It’s so stupid, too, for I know quite well that I’ve every sane reason to be pleased. How exasperating it is that one’s head and one’s heart so seldom agree!”
Claire gave the plump arm another squeeze, but made no further answer. She was afraid to show how well she understood. Janet would forget her hasty words, and believe that her secret was locked within her own breast; but the other girl realised the position as clearly as if she had been told in so many words—“I am in love with one man, and another man is in love with me. I am throwing away the substance for the shadow!”
“Ah, well, such is life!” continued Janet, sighing. “Now I’m supposed to go downstairs and be the life of the party! How I do dislike family parties! Mother says it’s the ideal thing for relations to gather together for Christmas Day, but I’ve been gathered together for so many years!”
“You are too well-off, my dear, that’s what’s the matter! I have never met a girl before who had so much to make her happy, and yet you are not satisfied. How would you like to be a High School-mistress living in poky lodgings, not able to have a holiday because she can’t afford two rents, and getting only one present all told?”
Janet looked at her quickly.
“Have you had only one?”
“I said a High School-mistress, not any special mistress, but I will be definite if you like. How would you like to be Me?”
Janet turned suddenly, laid her free hand on Claire’s shoulder, and stared deeply into her face.
“I—don’t—know!” she said slowly. “Sometimes I think it’s just what I should like. I have a great deal, but you have more. Look at our two faces in that glass!”