Part 4 (1/2)

”But Spilman has much the most recherche' articles, you know, Lucy,”

interposed Miss Day. ”I'll walk over to Spilman's to-morrow with you, if you like, Miss Peel.”

Before Priscilla had time to reply there was again a knock at the door, and this time Nancy Banister, looking flushed and pretty, came in.

She took in the scene at a glance; numbers of girls making themselves at home in Priscilla's room, some seated on her trunk, some on her bureau, several curled up in comfortable att.i.tudes on her bed and she herself standing, meek, awkward, depressed, near one of the windows.

”How tired you look, Miss Peel!” said Nancy Banister.

Priscilla smiled gratefully at her.

”And your trunk is not unpacked yet?”

”Oh! there is time enough,” faltered Priscilla.

”Are we in your way?” suddenly spoke Miss Marsh, springing to her feet. ”Good night. My name is Marsh, my room is thirty-eight.”

She swung herself lazily and carelessly out of the room, followed, at longer or shorter intervals, by the other girls, who all nodded to Priscilla, told her their names and one or two the numbers of their rooms. At last she was left alone with Nancy Banister.

”Poor thing! How tired and white you look!” said Nancy. ”But now that dreadful martyrdom is over, you shall have a real cozy time. Don't you want a nice hot cup of cocoa? It will be ready in a minute or two. And please may I help you to unpack?”

”Thank you,” said Priscilla; her teeth were chattering. ”If I might have a fire?” she asked suddenly.

”Oh, you poor, s.h.i.+vering darling! Of course. Are there no matches here? There were some on the mantel-piece before dinner. No, I declare they have vanished. How careless of the maid. I'll run into Maggie's room and fetch some.”

Miss Banister was not a minute away. She returned with a box of matches, and, stooping down, set a light to the wood, and a pleasant fire was soon blazing and crackling merrily.

”Now, isn't that better?” said Nancy. ”Please sit down on your bed and give me the key of your trunk. I'll soon have the things out and put all to rights for you. I'm a splendid unpacker.”

But Priscilla had no desire to have her small and meager wardrobe overhauled even by the kindest of St. Benet's girls.

”I will unpack presently myself, if you don't mind,” she said. She felt full of grat.i.tude, but she could not help an almost surly tone coming into her voice.

Nancy drew back, repulsed and distressed.

”Perhaps you would like me to go away?” she said. ”I will go into Maggie's room and let you know when cocoa is ready.”

”Thank you,” said Prissie. Miss Banister disappeared, and Priscilla sat on by the fire, unconscious that she had given any pain or annoyance, thinking with grat.i.tude of Nancy, and with feelings of love of Maggie Oliphant, and wondering what her little sisters were doing without her at home to-night.

By and by there came a tap at her door. Priscilla ran to open it. Miss Oliphant stood outside.

”Won't you come in?” said Priscilla, throwing the door wide open and smiling with joy. It was already delightful to her to look at Maggie.

”Please come in,” she added in a tone almost of entreaty.

Maggie Oliphant started and turned pale. ”Into that room? No, no, I can't,” she said in a queer voice. She rushed back to her own, leaving Priscilla standing in amazement by her open door.

There was a moment's silence. Then Miss Oliphant's voice, rich, soft and lazy, was heard within the shelter of her own apartment.

”Please come in, Miss Peel; cocoa awaits you. Do not stand on ceremony.”