CHAPTER X.
It was the next morning just after breakfast that Miss Marr, coming out of her little parlor, met Hope in the hall, and said to her,—
"I'm afraid you did not sleep well, my dear; you look heavy-eyed."
"No, I didn't sleep very well," answered Hope, coloring slightly.
"Did Miss Dering keep you awake?"
"Y—es, I suppose so—but—it wasn't so bad as I expected."
Miss Marr laughed. "Oh! it was not so bad as you expected. She wears better on further acquaintance. I'm glad to hear that, but I am afraid she's a great chatterer. However, her room will be in order to-night, so you won't be together again."
Hope drew a deep breath of satisfaction, and her face showed unmistakable signs of relief. Miss Marr took note of these signs, and thought,—
"It is not like Hope to take prejudices against people. I wonder what it is that she finds so unbearable in this girl. It might help me a good deal if I knew."
A few guarded questions at once revealed Miss Marr's state of mind to Hope, and she immediately hastened to say,—