e--"

"I don't see how any one is ever to do this!" murmured her neighbour, in
despair. "Why! why, you've done yours. Oh, just let me see, won't you? I
never can work it out in the world, so do let me copy yours!"

Peggy reddened to the tips of her ears. "Do you--can you--are we allowed
to do that?" she stammered.

"Oh! Just as you please!" said Rose Barclay, coldly. "I thought you
might be willing to oblige me, that's all. It's of no consequence!"

"Oh! But you don't understand!" whispered Peggy, eagerly; but Rose had
turned away, and paid no heed to her; and Miss Boyle tapped with her
pencil and said, "Young ladies! No whispering in class, if you please!"

In a few minutes a bell rang, and all the girls sprang up in great
relief; geometry was not generally popular, and now came the "gym" hour,
dear to all. Peggy turned at once to her neighbour, sure that she would
be able to explain everything to the satisfaction of both. To her
amazement and distress she met a look so cold and hostile that it seemed
to freeze the words on her lips.

"Miss Barclay!" she said, imploringly. "You didn't understand me, indeed
you didn't. I should be perfectly delighted to help you, of course I
should, only I thought it might be against the rules. Of course, I might
have known you would know what is allowed. I'm awfully sorry!"

Rose Barclay hesitated; her face seemed to soften for a moment; then it
hardened again, and another change came over it which Peggy did not
comprehend.

"I don't know what you mean!" she muttered. "Please excuse me, I am in a
hurry." She was gone, and Peggy, turning in great distress, found Miss
Boyle standing at her elbow. Had she heard? Peggy was sure she could not
have heard, for there was no look of surprise or of anything peculiar in
her pleasant face.

"You like geometry, Miss Montfort?"

"Oh, yes, I love geometry! Oh, please, are we allowed to help each
other, Miss Boyle?"

"Certainly not!" said Miss Boyle, quietly. "Not upon any account. You
can see for yourself that there would be no use in a girl's taking
geometry if she cannot do the work herself."

"Yes, I see! I thought so, only--thank you very much. Do you--shall I go
now?"

She looked around, and was startled to see that all the other girls had
disappeared, and she was alone with the teacher.

Miss Boyle smiled, and her smile was so friendly that it warmed poor
Peggy's heart.

"Yes, you may go now," she said; "but I shall hope to s