“What’s in that parcel?” her friend asked, her eyes falling for the first time on the packet Bridget had thrown beside her.
She did not reply for a moment; then she said desperately, “Well, that’s it. My story, you know. I’ve put every one nearly in,—Miss Ruggles and Mademoiselle and Miss Jones, and a good many of the girls. Not exactly, of course, but something like. It’s very stupid,” she added perfunctorily. Then, with a quick change of voice, “No, it’s silly to say that, just because I wrote it. I don’t think it’s stupid; but I daresay you wouldn’t care for it.”
“Let me see.”
“I’ll—I’ll read it to you, if you like.” She blushed again. “Will you tell me what you think of it, Helen? What you really think of it?” she repeated anxiously.
“Yes,” Helen returned.
Bridget began to read, her nervousness betraying itself in the breathless gallop at which she rushed through the first page,—a pace which steadily diminished, however, as she grew accustomed to the sound of her own voice. Then she began to do her work justice by intonation and emphasis, encouraged by an occasional spontaneous laugh from her friend.
It was a crude enough little story of school life; badly constructed, of course, though not without a certain redeeming vigor of its own. The characters, although inclining towards caricatures of their originals, were boldly drawn, with a touch of daring humor. The whole thing was curiously realistic. The girl had indulged in no flights of imagination or rhetoric. She had observed keenly, portrayed faithfully, if somewhat mercilessly, after the manner of the young. There was about it an indication of power rather remarkable in a school-girl effusion.
“Well?” said Bridget, looking up as she dropped the last sheet. “Well?” It was uttered a little breathlessly, and she leant forward in her eagerness, propping her chin on her hands, her elbows resting on the table.
“Yes,” returned her friend, slowly, “I like it. You have made the people seem real, but—” She paused.
“But,” repeated Bridget, impatiently. “Do go on, Helen!”