tigervsdragon

"You shall see the girls one at a time in your room, darling, for whether you feel well or not, the doctor wishes you to remain quiet to-day."Bridget's face turned very white. She looked wildly toward the door, then at the window."It is more than a pity, Bridget," said her governess in a severe tone. "I am sorry to have to open your eyes, my dear child; but in picking any of my roses you have taken an unwarrantable liberty."Mrs. Freeman left her pupil's room, and went downstairs.

[Pg 66]

"How can I possibly tell you, Miss O'Hara?" she replied. "You are a tall girl. Perhaps you are seventeen, although you look more."

"Oh, how very funny—how—how unpleasant. Did you tell papa about that when he arranged to send me here?"

tigervsdragon

"Hark! Stop talking!" said Mrs. Freeman.

Miss Collingwood was turning away, when her mistress stretched out her hand and drew her back."Oh, you darling, what do minutes signify when one loves? There, Dolly, I have fallen in love with you, and that's the fact. You shall come and stay with me at the Castle in the summer, and I'll teach you to fire a gun and to land a salmon. Oh, my dear, what larks we'll have together! I'm so glad you're taking me round this house, instead of that stiff Janet."The girls entered the wide, long dining hall and immediately took their places at the table.

"I wish you'd say what you think about Bridget. Isn't she past enduring, getting all the little ones to disobey like this? Why, she might be expelled! Yes, Janet; yes, I'm going. You needn't look at me as if you'd like to eat me!"Evelyn Percival was one of the few girls in the school who was privileged to have a room to herself. Her little room was prettily draped in white and pink. It was called the Pink Room, and adjoined the Blue Room, which was occupied by Bridget O'Hara.

"But Mrs. Freeman said——" she began.