Prissie, too, was looking forward to the Christmas holidays.  She was to return home then, and her letters to her three little sisters, to Aunt Raby and to Mr. Hayes were full of the delights of her college life.

No one could have been more angry than poor Prissie during that miserable time at the Elliot-Smiths’.  Many complaints did she resolve to make, and dire was the vengeance which she hoped would fall on Rose’s devoted head.  But, during her talk with Mr. Hammond, some of her anger had cooled down.  He had touched on great subjects, and Prissie’s soul had responded like a musical instrument to the light and skilled finger of the musician.  All her intellectual powers were aroused to their utmost, keenest life during this brief little talk.  She found that Hammond could say better and more comprehensive things than even her dear old tutor, Mr. Hayes.  Hammond was abreast of the present-day aspect of those things in which Prissie delighted.  Her short talk with him made up for all the tedium of the rest of that wretched afternoon.

On her walk home Priscilla made up her mind to have nothing further to say to Rose, but also not to make a complaint about her.  She would pass the matter over in silence.  If questioned, she would tell her own friends where she had been; if not questioned, she would volunteer no information.

Maggie and Nancy did ask her casually what had kept her out so long.

“I was at the Elliot-Smiths’ with Miss Merton,” replied Priscilla.

They both started when she said this and looked at her hard.  They were too well-bred, however, to give utterance to the many comments which crowded to their lips.  Prissie read their thoughts like a book.

“I did not like it at all,” she said; “but I’d rather say nothing about it, please.  After Mr. Hammond came I was happy.”

“Mr. Hammond was there?” said Nancy in an eager voice.  “Geoffrey Hammond was at the Elliot-Smiths’?  Impossible!”

“He was there,” repeated Prissie.  She glanced nervously at Maggie, who had taken up a book and was pretending to read.  “He came and he spoke to me.  He was very, very kind, and he made me so happy.”

“Dear Prissie,” said Maggie suddenly.  She got up, went over to the young girl, tapped her affectionately on the shoulder and left the room.

Prissie sat, looking thoughtfully before her.  After a time she bade Nancy Banister “good night” and went off to her own room to study the notes she had taken that morning at the French lecture.

The next few days passed without anything special occurring.  If a little rumor were already beginning to swell in the air, it scarcely reached the ears of those principally concerned.  Maggie Oliphant continued to make a special favorite of Miss Peel.  She sat near her at breakfast and at the meetings of the Dramatic Society was particularly anxious to secure a good part for Prissie.  The members of the society intended to act The Princess before the end of the term, and as there was a great deal to work up and many rehearsals were necessary, they met in the little theater on most evenings.