After dinner Priscilla again looked with anxious, loving eyes at
Maggie. Maggie did not stop, as was her custom, to say a kind word or
two as she passed. She was talking to another girl and laughing gaily.
Her dress was as picturesque as her face and figure were beautiful.
But was Priscilla mistaken, or was her anxious observation too close?
She felt sure as Miss Oliphant brushed past her that her eyelids were
slightly reddened, as if she had been weeping.
Prissie put out a timid hand and touched Maggie on the arm. She turned
abruptly.
"I forgot," she said to her companion. "Please wait for me outside,
Hester; I'll join you in a moment. I have just a word to say to Miss
Peel. What is it, Prissie" said Maggie then, when the other girl had
walked out of hearing. "Why did you touch me?"
"Oh, for nothing much," replied Prissie, half frightened at her
manner, which was sweet enough but had an intangible hardness about
it, which Priscilla felt, but could not fathom. "I thought you'd be so
glad about the decision Miss Heath and Miss Eccleston have come to."
"No, I am not particularly glad. I can't stay now to talk it over,
however; Hester Stuart wants me to practise a duet with her."
"May I come to your room later on, Maggie?"
"Not to-night, I think; I shall be very busy.
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