So Prissie, in her ill-made brown dress, her shabbiest hat and her muddy boots, had to follow in the wake of Rosalind Merton and her friend.  At first she had been too angry to think much about her attire, but she was painfully conscious of it when she entered a crowded drawing-room, where every one else was in a suitable afternoon toilet.  She was glad to shrink away out of sight into the most remote corner she could find; her muddy boots were pushed far in under her chair and hidden as much as possible by her rather short dress; her cheeks burnt unbecomingly; she felt miserable, self-conscious, ill at ease and very cross with every one.  It was in vain for poor Priscilla to whisper to herself that Greek and Latin were glorious and great and dress and fashion were things of no moment whatever.  At this instant she knew all too well that dress and fashion were reigning supreme.

Meta Elliot-Smith was elusive, loud and vulgar, but she was also good-natured.  She admired Rosalind, but in her heart of hearts she thought that her friend had played Prissie a very shabby trick.  She brought Prissie some tea, therefore, and stood for a moment or two by her side, trying to make things a little more comfortable for her.  Some one soon claimed her attention, however, and poor Prissie found herself alone.

CHAPTER XIV

 In the Elliot-smith’s drawing-room

The fun and talk rose fast and furious.  More and more guests arrived; the large drawing-rooms were soon almost as full as they could hold.  Priscilla, from her corner, half-hidden by a sheltering window curtain, looked in vain for Rosalind.  Where had she hidden herself?  When were they going away?  Surely Rosalind would come to fetch her soon?  They had to walk home and be ready for dinner.

Dinner at St. Benet’s was at half-past six, and Prissie reflected with a great sensation of thankfulness that Rosalind and she must go back in good time for this meal, as it was one of the rules of the college that no girl should absent herself from late dinner without getting permission from the principal.

Prissie looked in agony at the clock which stood on a mantel-piece not far from where she had ensconced herself.  Presently it struck five; no one heard its silver note in the babel of sound, but Priscilla watched its slowly moving hands in an agony.

Rose must come to fetch her presently.  Prissie knew—­ she reflected to her horror that she had not the moral courage to walk about those drawing-rooms hunting for Rose.

Two or three exquisitely dressed but frivolous-looking women stood in a group not far from the window where Priscilla sat forlorn.  They talked about the cut of their mantles and the price they had given for their new winter bonnets.  Their shrill laughter reached Prissie’s ears, also their words.  They complimented one another, but talked scandal of their neighbors.  They called somebody—­ who Prissie could not imagine—­” a certain lady,” and spoke of how she was angling to get a footing in society, and how the good set at Kingsdene would certainly never have anything to do with her or hers.