hing noise of steps--solitary
steps--on the gravel below. Jane put out her head.

"Why, there is Lucy Merriman!" she said.

Lucy heard the voice, and looked up.

"Is Rosamund coming down? I am waiting for her," she said.

Jane turned at once to Rosamund.

"Lucy is waiting for you. Was it with Lucy you meant to walk? She wants
to know if you are going down."

"Tell her I am not going down," replied Rosamund.

"She can't go down to-night," said Jane. "She has a headache."

"I wish you wouldn't give excuses of that sort," said Rosamund in an
angry voice when her friend put in her head once more. "What does it
matter to Lucy Merriman whether I have a headache or not?"

Jane stared at her friend in some astonishment.

"I do not understand you, nor why you wanted to walk with her. I thought
you did not like her."

"I tell you what," said Rosamund fiercely, "I don't like her, and I'm
not going to talk about her. I am going to ignore her. I am going to
make this house too hot for her. She shall go and live with her aunt
Susan, or she shall know her place. I, Rosamund Cunliffe, know my own
power, and I mean to exercise it. It is the casting of the die, Jane; it
is the flinging down of the gauntlet. And now, for goodness' sake, let
us get into bed."

Both retired to rest, and in a few minutes Jane was fast asleep; but
Rosamund lay awake for a long time, with angry feelings animating her
breast.

In the morning the full routine of school-life began, and even Lucy was
drawn into a semblance of interest, so full were the hours, so animated
the way of the teachers, so eager and pleasant and stimulating the
different professors. Then the English mistress, Miss Archer, knew so
much, and was so tactful and charming; and Mademoiselle Omont knew her
own tongue so beautifully, and was also such a perfect German scholar!
In short, the seven girls had their work cut out for them, and there was
not a minute's pause to allow ambition and envy and jealousy to creep
in.

Lucy had one opportunity of asking Rosamund why she did not keep her
appointment of the night before.

"You surprised me," she said. "I thought you were honorable and would
keep your word. I had some difficulty in getting Miss Archer out of the
way, for she was talking to me so nicely and so wisely, I can tell you,
I was quite enjoying it. But I managed to get right away from her, and
to walk under your window, and you never came."

"I suppose I was at liber