“She will very likely be down soon. She is studying hard to-night; she seems determined to come out high in the exam. I shouldn’t wonder if she beats even you, Edith.”
“Do you notice how much better Linnæa March learns her lessons since Gwendoline came?”
“Yes. Gwendoline helped her with them, and she takes ever so much more interest in them now.”
“All in the plan, I suppose—really I am very sorry for Linnæa.”
“Did you think she could ever have looked as she did to-night? I always thought her rather soft and stupid, but I can tell you there was no softness about her then. I almost admired her as she stood, so proud and angry.”
The girls were not to have an opportunity of preparing Gwendoline for her meeting with Linnæa, for, as Linnæa went up to her room, she met Gwendoline coming down from hers.
Gwendoline’s face lit up as she saw Linnæa, and she advanced towards her to put her arm round her waist.
Linnæa drew herself back with a sudden twitch, and turned on her with a face almost livid with anger.
“Go!—don’t touch me!—don’t dare to come near me!”
“Linnæa! what is it?”