“What about, Rosalind?  I have only a minute or two to spare.  My German lecture is to begin immediately.”

“Oh, what does that signify?  You don’t know the awful trouble we’ve got into.”

“You mean about the auction?”

“Yes—­ yes; so you have heard?”

“Of course I’ve heard.  If that is all, Rosalind, I cannot wait to discuss the matter now.  I am very sorry for you, of course, but as I said to Maggie, why did you do it?”

“Oh, you’ve been talking to Miss Oliphant?  Thank goodness she’ll have to answer for her sins as well as the rest of us.”

“Maggie is my friend, so you need not abuse her, Rosalind.”

“Lucky for her that she has got one true friend!” retorted Rosalind.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean what I say.  Maggie is making such a fool of herself that we are all laughing at her behind her back.”

“Indeed?  I fail to understand you.”

“You are being made a fool of, too, Nancy.  Oh, I did think you’d have had more sense.”

“How?  Speak.  Say at once what you want to say, Rosalind, and stop talking riddles, for I must fly to my work.”

“Fly then,” retorted Rosalind, “only think twice before you give your confidence to a certain person.  A person who makes a fine parade of poverty and so-called honesty of purpose, but who can, and who does, betray her kindest and best friend behind her back.  It is my private belief we have to thank this virtuous being for getting us into the pleasant scrape we are in.  I am convinced she has tried to curry favor by telling Miss Heath all about poor Polly’s auction.”

“You mean Priscilla Peel?” said Nancy in a firm voice.  She forgot her German lecture now.  “You have no right to say words of that kind.  You have taken a dislike to Prissie, no one knows why.  She is not as interesting nor as beautiful as Maggie, but she is good, and you should respect her.”

Rosalind laughed bitterly.

“Good?  Is she?  Ask Mr. Hammond.  You say she is not beautiful nor interesting.  Perhaps he finds her both.  Ask him.”

“Rosalind, I shall tell Maggie what you say.  This is not the first time you have hinted unkind things about Priscilla.  It is better to sift a matter of this kind to the bottom than to hint it all over the college as you are doing.  Maggie shall take it in hand.”

“Let her!  I shall only be too delighted!  What a jolly time the saintly Priscilla will have.”

“I can’t stay any longer, Rosalind.”

“But, Nancy, just one moment.  I want to put accounts right with Polly before to-night.  Mother sent me ten pounds to buy something at the auction.  The coral cost fourteen guineas.  I have written to mother for the balance, and it may come by any post.  Do lend it to me until it comes!  Do, kind Nancy!”

“I have not got so much in the world, I have not really, Rosalind.  Good-by; my lecture will have begun.”