“But cannot some of your own friends go with you?” returned Priscilla.  “I don’t wish to refuse, of course, if it is necessary; but I want to work up my Greek notes this afternoon.  The next lecture is a very stiff one, and I sha’n’t he ready for it without some hard work.”

“Oh, but you can study when you come back.  Do come with me.  I would not ask you, only I know you are so good-natured, and Annie Day and Lucy Marsh have both to attend lectures this afternoon.  I have no one to ask—­ no one, really if you refuse.  I have not half so many friends as you think, and it would be quite too dreadful for poor Miss Forbes not to have her money when she wants to spend it on her sick mother.”

Priscilla hesitated for a moment.  Two or three other girls were walking down the corridor to the lecture-room; the door was flung open.

“Very well,” she said as she entered the room, followed by Rosalind, “I will go with you.  At what hour do you want to start?”

“At three o’clock.  I’m awfully grateful.  A thousand thanks, Miss Peel.”

Prissie nodded, seated herself at the lecture-table and in the interest of the work which lay before her soon forgot all about Rosalind and her troubles.

The afternoon of that day turned out not only foggy but wet.  A drizzling rain shrouded the landscape, and very few girls from St. Benet’s were venturing abroad.

At half-past two Nancy Banister came hastily into Priscilla’s room.

“Maggie and I are going down to the library,” she said, “to have a cozy read by the fire; we want you to come with us.  Why, surely you are never going out, Miss Peel?”

“Yes, I am,” answered Prissie in a resigned voice.  “I don’t like it a bit, but Miss Merton has asked me to go with her to Kingsdene, and I promised.”

“Well, you sha’n’t keep your promise.  This is not a fit day for you to go out, and you have a cough, too.  I heard you coughing last night.”

“Yes, but that is nothing.  I must go, Miss Banister,”, I must keep my word.  I dare say it won’t take Miss Merton and me very long to walk into Kingsdene and back again.”

“And I never knew that Rosalind Merton was one of your friends, Prissie,” continued Nancy in a puzzled voice.

“Nor is she—­ I scarcely know her; but when she asked me to go out with her, I could not very well say no.”

“I suppose not; but I am sorry, all the same, for it is not a fit day for any one to be abroad, and Rosalind is such a giddy pate.  Well, come back as soon as you can.  Maggie and I are going to have a jolly time, and we only wish you were with us.”

Nancy nodded brightly and took her leave, and Priscilla, putting on her waterproof and her shabbiest hat, went down into the hall to meet Rosalind.

Rosalind was also in waterproof, but her hat was extremely pretty and becoming, and Priscilla fancied she got a glimpse of a gay silk dress under the waterproof cloak.