"I can't, so it's no good." And Maysie sat silent, confronting this new difficulty with a sinking heart. For how could she apologise, she asked herself, for what she had never done?
"Well, I think you might tell me," Ruth went on. "I told you about my row; and what's the good of being chums if we can't keep each other's secrets?"
But Maysie only sighed impatiently, and took up her library book.
"I wish you'd hurry up and finish those paintings of yours, and come back properly to class," went on Ruth. "Aren't they nearly done?"
Maysie grew white, and turned away her face.
"I'm not going to try this year," she said.
"Why, I thought——" began Ruth. "Oh, I see! What a shame!"
Maysie choked down a sob. After a pause she said:
"Perhaps I shall have more chance of a Star next year."
"You'd have got one this!" said Ruth indignantly. "How mean to punish you like that! And it's the only thing you care about!"