“Oh, I don’t know.”

“What do you mean?  Of course you’ll wear it.”

“I don’t know.  The fact is I have not paid the whole price for it yet.”

“Haven’t you really?  You said you’d bring the money when you returned this term.”

“Of course I thought I could, but I was absolutely afraid to tell mother what a lot the coral cost; and as she was so woefully short of funds, I had just to come away without the money.  I never for a moment supposed I should have such ill luck.”

“It is awkward.  What are you going to say to Polly Singleton?’

“I don’t know.  I suppose you could not help me, Annie?”

“I certainly couldn’t.  I never have a penny to bless myself with.  I don’t know how I scrape along.”

Rosalind sighed.  Her pretty face looked absolutely careworn.

“Don’t fret, Rose,” said Miss Day after a pause; “whether you have paid for the coral or not, you can wear it at the Elliot-Smith’s.”

“No, alas! that’s just what I can’t do.  The fact is Polly is turning out awfully mean.  She has come back this time with apparently an unlimited supply of pocket money, and she has been doing her best to induce me to sell her the coral back again.”

“Well, why don’t you?  I’m sure I would, rather than be worried about it.”

Miss Merton’s face flushed angrily.

“Nothing will induce me to give up the coral,” she said.  “I bought my new white dress to wear with it.  I have looked forward all during the holidays to showing it to Meta Elliot-Smith.  It’s the sort of thing to subdue Meta, and I want to subdue her.  No, nothing will induce me to part with my lovely coral now.”

“Well, my dear, keep it, of course, and pay for it how you can.  It’s your own affair.  You have not yet explained to me, however, why, when it is in your possession, you can’t wear it with your new dress at the Elliot-Smiths’ next week.”

“Because that wretched Polly has been invited also; and she is quite mean enough and underbred enough to walk up to me before every one and ask me to give her back her property.”

“What fun if she did!” laughed Miss Day.

“Annie, you are unkind!”

“My dear, of course I don’t mean what I say, but I can’t help seeing the whole picture:  you, so fine and so self-conscious and so—­ so perfect in all your appointments—­ and looking—­ for all you are a little thing, Rose—­ a good inch above every one else—­ and then our poor, good-natured, downright Polly catching sight of her unpaid-for ornaments round your sweet baby throat—­ all the John Bull in her instantly coming to the fore, and she demanding her rights in no measured terms.  Oh, your face, Rosie! your face! and Meta Elliot-Smith’s enjoyment—­ oh, how delicious the picture is!  Dear Rosalind, do wear the coral, and please—­ please get me an invitation to the Elliot-Smiths’.  I’ll love you all my life if you give me leave to witness so lovely a spectacle!”