As Maggie made her way to the front of the room she recognized several
of the girls. Rosalind Merton, Annie Day, Lucy Marsh were all present.
She saw them, although they were standing hidden behind many other
girls. Prissie, too, was there-- she had squeezed herself into a
corner. She looked awkward, plain and wretched. She was clasping and
unclasping her hands and trying to subdue the nervous tremors which
she could not conceal.
Maggie, as she walked across the room, singled Prissie out. She gave
her a swift glance, a brilliant and affectionate smile and then stood
in such a position that neither Miss Eccleston nor Miss Heath could
catch a glimpse of her.
Miss Eccleston, who had been speaking when Maggie entered the room,
was now silent. She had a note-book in her hand and was rapidly
writing something in it with a pencil. Some one gave Maggie a rather
severe prod on her elbow. Polly Singleton, tall, flushed and heavy,
stood close to her side.
"You'll stand up for me, won't you, Miss Oliphant?" whispered Polly.
Maggie raised her eyes, looked at the girl, who was even taller than
herself, and began to reply in her usual voice.
"Silence," said Miss Eccleston. She put down her note-book. "I wish
for no conversation between you at the present moment, young ladies.
Pages:
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178