Meade L. T. - A Sweet Girl Graduate стр 3.

Priscilla looked out into the darkness of the autumn night with frightened eyes. She hated herself for feeling nervous. She had told Aunt Raby that, of course, she would have no silly tremors, yet here she was, trembling, and scarcely able to pay the cabman his fare.

She heard a girls laugh in the distance, and it caused her to start so violently that she dropped one of her few treasured sixpences, which went rolling about aimlessly almost under the horses hoofs.

Stop a minute, Ill find it for you, said a voice. A tall girl with big, brown eyes suddenly darted into view, picked up the sixpence as if by magic, popped it into Priscillas hand, and then, vanished. Priscilla knew that this was the girl who had laughed; she heard her laughing again as she turned to join someone who was standing beside a laurel hedge. The two linked their arms together, and walked off in the darkness.

Such a frightened poor Fresher! said the girl who had picked up the sixpence to her companion.

Maggie, said the other in a warning voice, I know you, I know what you mean to do.

My dear good Nancy, it is more than I know myself. What awful indiscretion does your prophetic soul see me perpetrating?

Oh, Maggie, as if anything could change your nature! You know youll take up that miserable Fresher for about a fortnight, and make her imagine that you are going to be excellent friends for the rest of your life, and then p-f! youll snuff her out as if she had never existed; I know you, Maggie, and I call it cruel.

Is not that Miss Banister I hear talking? said a voice quite close to the two girls.

They both turned, and immediately with heightened colour rushed up eagerly to shake hands with the Vice-Principal of their college.

How do you do, my dears? she said in a hearty voice. Are you quite well, Maggie, and you, Nancy? Had you a pleasant holiday? And did you two great chums spend it together?

The girls began answering eagerly; some other girls came up and joined the group, all anxious to shake hands with Miss Heath, and to get a word of greeting from her.

At this moment the dressing-gong for dinner sounded, and the little group moved slowly towards the house.

In the entrance-hall numbers of girls who had recently arrived were standing about; all had a nod, or a smile, or a kiss for Maggie Oliphant.

How do you do, Miss Oliphant? Come and see me to-night in my room, wont you, dear? issued from many throats.

Maggie promised in her good-natured, affectionate, wholesale way.

Nancy Banister was also greeted by several friends. She, too, was gay and bright, but quieter than Maggie. Her face was more reliable in its expression, but not nearly so beautiful.

If you accept all these invitations, Maggie, she said, as the two girls walked down the corridor which led to their rooms, you know you will have to sit up until morning. Why will you say yes to everyone? You know it only causes disappointment and jealousy.

Maggie laughed.

My dear, good creature, dont worry your righteous soul, she answered. Ill call on all the girls I can, and the others must grin and bear it. Now we have barely time to change our dresses for dinner. Stay, though, Nance, theres a light under Annabel Lees door; who have they dared to put into her room? It must be one of those wretched Freshers. I dont think I can bear it. I shall have to go away into another corridor.

Maggie, dear you are far too sensitive. Could the college afford to keep a room empty because poor dear Annie Lee occupied it?

They could, they ought, burst from Maggie. She stamped her foot with anger. That room is a shrine to me. It will always be a shrine. I shall hate the person who lives in it. Tears filled her bright brown eyes. Her arched proud lips trembled. She opened her door, and going into her room, shut it with a bang, almost in Nancy Banisters face.

Nancy stood still for a minute. A quick sigh came from her lips.

Maggie is the dearest girl in the college, she said to herself; the dearest, the sweetest, the prettiest, yet also the most tantalising, the most provoking, the most inconsequent. It is the greatest wonder she has kept so long out of some serious scrape. She will never leave here without doing something outrageous, and yet there isnt a girl in the place to be named with her. I wish here Nancy sighed again, and put her hand to her brow as if to chase away some perplexity. Then, after a moments hesitation, she went up to the door of the room next to Maggies and knocked.

There was a moments silence, then a constrained voice said

Come in.

Nancy entered at once.

Priscilla Peel was standing in the centre of the room. The electric light was turned on, revealing the bareness and absence of all ornament of the apartment; a fire was laid in the grate but not lit, and Priscillas ugly square trunk, its canvas covering removed, stood in a prominent position, half on the hearthrug, half on the square of carpet, which covered the centre of the floor. Priscilla had taken off her jacket and hat. She had washed her hands, and removed her muddy boots, and smoothed out her straight, light brown hair. She looked what she felt a very stiff and unformed specimen of girlhood. There was a great lump in her throat, brought there by mingled nervousness and home-sickness, but that very fact only made her manner icy and repellent.