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It did. The other students who lived in the same corridor came to visit Priscilla in the free and easy manner which characterised them, and made remarks the reverse of flattering. When was she going to put her pictures up? Miss Day would be delighted to help her whenever she chose to do it. When did she intend to go down to Kingsdene to order her easy-chairs and little Japanese tables, and rugs, and the other small but necessary articles which would be required to make her room habitable?
For several days Priscilla turned these inquiries aside. She blushed, stammered, looked awkward, and spoke of something else. At last, however, she summoned up courage, and, once for all, delivered herself from her tormentors. She did that remarkably brave thing which sometimes very nervous people can brace themselves to do.
It was evening, and Miss Day, Miss Marsh, and Nancy Banister had all come in for a few minutes to see Priscilla on their way to their own rooms.
Do come and cocoa with me to-night, Miss Peel, said Miss Day. Youre so dreadfully unsociable, not a bit like an ordinary St. Benets girl. If you go on in this fashion youll be moped to death before your first term is over.
I am accustomed to a very quiet life, responded Priscilla, and I want to work; I have come here to work.
Dear, dear! anyone would suppose you were going in for a tripos. If this were your last term I could understand it but your first!
It was Miss Marsh who said these words. She was a bright-eyed, merry-looking girl, the reverse of over-studious herself.
Oh, come along, dear: Ill give you such a delicious cup of cocoa, said Miss Day.
She crossed the room, and tried to link her hand affectionately in Prissies arm. Miss Peel drew back a step.
Thank you, she said, but I I cannot come.
I must say you have a blunt way of refusing, said Miss Day. She felt inclined to be offended, but Nancy Banister, who was standing by, and had not hitherto spoken, bestowed a quick glance of approval on Priscilla, and then said something soothing to Miss Day.
May I cocoa with you instead, Annie? she said. I am afraid no one can accuse me of killing myself with work, but we all respect earnest workers we must. It is for them St. Benets is really meant. It was endowed for them, and built for them, and we poor drones must not throw disparaging remarks on the busy bees.
Oh, nonsense! said Miss Marsh; St. Benets was made for sociability as well as study, and I have no patience with the students who dont try to combine the two. By the way, she added, turning round, and speaking in a rather impertinent voice to Priscilla, I sent you a message to say I was going down to Kingsdene this afternoon, and would be happy to take you with me if you would care to visit Spilmans.
Thank you, said Priscilla, I got your note just too late to answer it. I was going to speak to you about it, she added.
Then you would have come?
Priscillas face grew very red.
No, I should not have come.
It was Miss Marshs turn to get red.
Come! Annie, she exclaimed, turning to Miss Day, we had better waste no more time here. Miss Banister, well see you presently, wont we? Good-night, Miss Peel. Perhaps you dont mind my saying something very frank?
I do, said Priscilla, but that wont prevent your saying it, will it?
I dont think it will. After you have been at St. Benets a little longer you will know that we not only appreciate cleverness and studious ways, but also obliging and sociable and friendly manners; and and pretty rooms rooms with easy-chairs, and comfortable lounges, and the thousand and one things which give one a feeling of home. Take my advice, Miss Peel, theres no use fighting against the tide. Youll have to do as others do in the long run, and you may as well do it at once. That is my plain opinion, and I should not have given it to you, if I had not thought you needed it. Good-night.
No, stop a minute, said Priscilla. Every scrap of colour had left her face, every trace of nervousness her manner. She walked before the two girls to the door, and closed it. Please stay just for a minute longer, Miss Day and Miss Marsh, and you too, Miss Banister, if you will.
She went across the room again, and, opening the top drawer of her bureau, took out her purse. Out of the purse she took a key. The key fitted a small padlock, and the padlock belonged to her trunk. She unlocked
her empty trunk and opened it.
There, she said, turning to the girls there, she continued, you will be good enough to notice that there are no photographs concealed in this trunk, no pictures, no prints. She lifted the tray. Empty, you see, she added, pointing with her hand to the lower portion of the trunk nothing here to make my room pretty, and cosy, and home-like. Then she shut the trunk again and locked it, and going up to where the three girls stood, gazing at her in bewilderment and some alarm, she unfastened her purse, and turned all its contents into the palm of her hand.
Look, Miss Marsh, she said, turning to the girl who had spoken last. You may count what is here. One sovereign, one half-sovereign, two or three shillings, some pence. Would this money go far at Spilmans, do you think?