’I didn’t mind; we have been very happy here, and to say good-bye, and for ever, to friends we have known so long, and who have been so good to us, seems very sad—­at least, it does to me.’

‘It is all very well for you,’ said Olive; ’I dare say you have been happy here, you have always been the petted and spoilt child of the school.  Nothing was ever too good for Alice; no matter who was wrong or what was done, Alice was sure to be right.’

‘I never knew anyone so unreasonable,’ said Cecilia.  ’You grumble at everything, and you are always dying of jealousy of your sister.’

’That’s not true, and you haven’t much to talk of; after beating your brains out you only just got the prize for composition.  Besides, if you like the convent as much as I dare say you do, although you aren’t a Catholic, you had better stop here with my sister.’

’Oh, Olive! how can you speak to Cecilia in that horrid way?  I am ashamed of you.’

’So you are going to turn against me, Alice; but that’s your way.  I shan’t stay here.’

The retreating figure of the young girl stood out in beautiful distinctness in the pale light; behind her the soft evening swept the sea, effacing with azure the brown sails of the fishing-boats; in front of her the dresses of the girls flitted white through the sombre green of the garden.

‘I am sorry,’ said Cecilia, ’you spoke to her.  She is put out because she didn’t get a prize, and Sister Agnes told her that she nearly spoilt the play by the stupid way she played the Princess.’

’She will find that that temper of hers will stand in her way if she doesn’t learn to control it,’ Violet said; ’but, now she is gone, tell me, Alice, how do you think she played her part?  As far as I can judge she didn’t seem to put any life into it.  You meant the Princess to be a sharp, cunning woman of the world, didn’t you?’

’No, not exactly; but I agree with you that Olive didn’t put life into it.’

’Well, anyhow, the play was a great success, and you got, dear Alice, the handsomest prize that has ever been given in the school.’

’And how do you think I did the King?  Did I make him look like a man?  I tried to walk just as Fred Scully does when he goes down to the stables.’

’You did the part very well, May; but I think I should like him to have been more sentimental.’

’I don’t think men are sentimental—­at least, not as you think they are.  I tried to copy Fred Scully.’

’My part was a mere nothing.  You must write me a something, Alice, one of these days—­a coquettish girl, you know, who could twist a man round her fingers.  A lot of bavardage in it.’

’I suppose you’ll never be able to speak English again, now you’ve got the prize for French conversation.’

’Sour grapes!  You would like to have got it yourself.  I worked hard for it.  I was determined to get it, for ma says it is of great advantage in society for a girl to speak French well.’