think how I worried
myself over such an unimportant trial."

"I am sure you will do nothing of the kind. You will be very, very
sorry for yourself, and very pitiful, and very proud, too, if you can
remember that you bore it bravely and uncomplainingly."

"But I can't! I can't bear it at all. It gets worse every moment. I
keep remembering things that I had forgotten. Miss Bruce preaching, and
Miss Mott staring through her spectacles--the girls all saying they are
sorry, and the--the Record Wall, where I wanted to see my name! I
_can't_ bear it, it's no use."

"But you will _have_ to bear it, Rhoda. It is a fact, and nothing that
you can do will alter it now. You will have to bear it; but you can
bear it in two ways, as you make up your mind to-day. You can cry and
fret, and make yourself ill, and everyone else miserable, or you can
brace yourself up to bear it bravely, and make everyone love and admire
you more than they have ever done before. Which are you going to do?"

"I am going to be cross and horrid. I couldn't be good if I tried. I'm
soured for life!" said Rhoda stoutly, but even as she spoke a smile
struggled with her tears, and Evie laughed aloud--her sweet, ringing
laugh.

"Poor, dear old thing! She looks so like it! I know better, and am not
a bit afraid of you. You will be good and plucky, and rejoice
unaffectedly in Kathleen's success."

"Has Kathleen--Oh! Is Kathleen first?"

"She has won the Scholarship. Yes, it will be such a joy. She needed
it so badly, and has worked so hard."

"I hate her!"

"She was always kind to you. I remember the very first day she took you
round the grounds. You were very good friends."

"I hate her, I tell you! I detest her name."

"I am sure you will write and congratulate her. Imagine if _your_
parents were poor, and you saw them harassed and anxious, how thankful
you would feel to be able to help! Kathleen had a harder time than any
of you, for she could take none of the nice, interesting `Extras.' I
think all her friends will be glad that she has won."

"I shall be glad, too, in about ten years. If I said I was glad now I
should be a hypocrite, for I wanted it myself. I suppose Irene is all
right, and Bertha, and all the Head girls? Has--has Dorothy--"

"Yes, Dorothy has passed too."

Rhoda cried aloud in bitter distress.

"Oh, Evie--oh! Dorothy passed, and I have failed! Oh it is cruel--
unjust. I am cleverer than she! You