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"Yes, of course, I care," answered Kate, in a meditative voice. "Molly was a dear little thing; at least I thought her a dear little thing. You really can't think how unselfish she was. She gave me two drawers in her writing table for my exercises and translations; and she used to sit bundled up near the window, while I occupied the place of honor by her table. She said in such a pretty way: 'You know, Kate, I'm not working for a scholarship, and you are. I am only having an all-round sort of time, and I can work up my notes quite well here, so do have the table. I wish so much you would.' Of course I took the little thing at her word, for she has a wonderfully honest, downright sort of expression."
"It's hopeless to go by that sort of thing in life," replied Hester, in a gloomy voice.
"So it seems; but I hate learning the wickedness of the world. Look here! I don't believe that story of yours."
"You needn't, my dear; I'm half sorry I told you."
"The best thing would be to clear it up," continued Kate, in a thoughtful voice. "I could go straight to Molly and get her to confront Matilda, and find out the truth. That girl ought to be well shamed;
she's a disgrace to the school. If Miss Forester knew her real character, she'd expel her; I'm sure she would."
"She's a hateful girl," responded Hester; "and the worst of it is, she's certain to come here at the half term. She's not really stupid, you know, and she has been working herself up, for she's quite mad to get admitted to St. Dorothy's."
"The place won't be worth living in when she comes," replied Kate. "There, don't keep me now, Hester; if that divinity of Molly's is really coming to-night, I must take my things out of her room, and if she is the sort of girl you describe her, I'd rather do so when she's not there."
"Then you won't clear the thing up?" said Hester, in a somewhat anxious tone.
"Not to-night, anyway; I'll sleep on it. The fact is, I've a frightful lot of work to get through before I can close my eyes in natural sleep."
"Poor old thing!" replied Hester; "I wish I could give you a corner of my room, but I can't manage two chums, and the Denbigh girls never give me a moment to myself."
Hester nodded and walked away, and Kate went slowly upstairs. There was a slight frown between her dark brows. She pushed her frizzy, wild Irish hair back from her forehead. Her rosy lips wore firmly set. She approached Molly's door and knocked; her knock had a decidedly aggressive sound. There was no one inside to listen to it, and she presently opened the door and went in. She had just unlocked her own private drawer in Molly's writing-table, and removed her exercise books and translations, when Molly herself quickly entered the room.
"Oh, is that you, Kate?" she exclaimed; "dear old Kate, I am so dreadfully sorry on your account."
"Oh, don't mention it, pray," answered Kate, in a cold voice. "I always knew that I was only here on sufferance."
"Well, I can't help being glad about Cecil," answered Molly. "I'd like so much to tell you something of Cecil's story. If you knew what she is, and what she has to do, you could not help taking an interest in her. Do come over to the sofa and let us have a chat, won't you?"
"No, thanks; I'm a great deal too busy."
Kate kept her eyes lowered. She would not permit herself to glance at Molly, whose caressing tone was softening her in spite of herself. Had she yielded to her better nature, she would have rushed up to her friend, repeated Matilda Matthews' cruel and unkind words, and much after-trouble and misery would have been averted. But Kate, notwithstanding her brightness and good-nature, had a strong vein of obstinacy in her character. She was very affectionate, but she had also a great deal of pride, and that pride was cut to the quick by the words which Hester had repeated to her.
"I can't stay now, thanks," she went on; "I have to work up my notes of the lectures I heard this morning, and have not a minute to spare."
"But Kate, Kate, dear!" cried Molly.
Kate had now approached the door; she turned on hearing Molly's voice.
"Yes, what is it?" she exclaimed; "I wish you wouldn't keep me!"
"I won't more than a minute or two. Perhaps you don't know that Cecil Ross has got the cubicle next to you in dormitory A."
"Has she? I'm afraid that does not affect me particularly."
"Oh, but I thought I hoped Kate, what is the matter?"
"Nothing."
"Then you will be good to her, won't you, Kate? She's never been at a big school of this kind before."
"She must take her chance," replied Kate. "It strikes me she won't be so badly off with you to be her champion."
"Of course, I'll be her champion," replied Molly, her face turning crimson, for she began to be really angry at last.
"Then if you're so afraid for the comfort of the precious thing, why don't you give up your room, and sleep in the cubicle next me in dormitory A? My manners may not be refined, and I may not be a real lady, and my poverty may make it essential for you to be kind to me; nevertheless "