missed Ellen very much. She hadn't any of Darrell's high spirits or friendliness, none of Alicia's mischief or fun, she hadn't even the shyness and timidity of Mary-Lou, that made her missed when she wasn't there.
“You don't much notice Mary-Lou when she's there under your nose—but you do miss her when she's not,” said Darrell once. And that was true.
Darrell was missing Mary-Lou quite a lot these days, for Mary-Lou was attaching herself firmly to Daphne. Nobody could quite understand it Nobody believed that Daphne wanted Mary-Lou's friendship—she only wanted her help in French. Even when Darrell pointed out that it was almost cheating for Mary-Lou to do such a lot for her, she would hardly listen.
“I can't do much to help anybody.” said Mary-Lou. “It's only in French that I'm really good—and it's so nice to help somebody who wants it. And besides—Daphne does really like me, Darrell!”
“Well, so do I like you, and so does Sally,” said Darrell, really exasperated to think that Mary-Lou should attach herself to such a double-faced person as Daphne.
“Yes, I know. But you only put up with me out of the kindness of your heart!” said Mary-Lou. “You've got Sally. You let me tag along behind you like a nice puppy—but you don't really want me, and I couldn't possibly help you in any way. But I can help Daphne—and though I know you think she's only using me for her French, she's not”
Darrell was certain that Daphne only put up with Mary-Lou because of the French—but she wasn't quite right. Daphne was very fond of Mary-Lou now. She couldn't quite think why, because it wasn't like her to be fond of anyone—but Mary-Lou was so unobtrusive, so shy, so willing to help in any way. “She's like a pet mouse, that you want to protect and take care of!” thought Daphne. “You can't help liking a mouse.”
She poured out her tales of wealth to Mary-Lou, and Mary-Lou listened in the most gratifying manner. The younger girl was proud that someone as grand as Daphne should bother to notice her and talk to her and tell her things.
Ellen was away from school eleven days and bad worried terribly the last six or seven because Jean had not been allowed to bring her lesson-notes or to tell her about the lessons. Now she came bade, pale, a little thinner, with an obstinate look in her eyes. She was going to catch up somehow I If she had to get up at six in the morning, and learn her lessons under the sheets by means of a flashlight, she would!
She asked Miss Parker if she would be kind enough to give her extra coaching in what she had missed. Miss Parker refused in a kindly manner.
“No, Ellen. You're not up even to your ordinary work at the moment, let alone taking extra coaching. I shan't expect much from you, nor will anyone else. So don't worry. “
Ellen went to Mam'zelle Dupont and even to Mam'zelle Rougier. “I do so want to know what I've missed so that I can make it up,” she said. “Could you give a little extra coaching?”
But neither of the Mam'zelles would. “You are not yet quite strong, mon enfant !” said Mam'zelle Dupont, kindly. “No one will expect you to do brilliantly now this term. Take things more easily.”
So poor Ellen was quite in despair. Nobody would help her! They all seemed to be in league against her—Matron, Doctor, Miss Parker, the two Mam'zelles.
And in ten days” time the tests began! Ellen usually liked exams, but she was dreading these. She couldn't think how it was that the girls joked about them so light-heartedly.
Then an idea came to her—a bad idea, that at first she put away from her mind at once. But it came back again and again, whispering itself into her mind so that she had to listen to it.
“If you could perhaps see the test-papers before they were given out! If you could read the questions and know what you were going to be asked!
Ellen had never cheated in her life. She had never needed to for she had good brains and she knew how to work
“You don't much notice Mary-Lou when she's there under your nose—but you do miss her when she's not,” said Darrell once. And that was true.
Darrell was missing Mary-Lou quite a lot these days, for Mary-Lou was attaching herself firmly to Daphne. Nobody could quite understand it Nobody believed that Daphne wanted Mary-Lou's friendship—she only wanted her help in French. Even when Darrell pointed out that it was almost cheating for Mary-Lou to do such a lot for her, she would hardly listen.
“I can't do much to help anybody.” said Mary-Lou. “It's only in French that I'm really good—and it's so nice to help somebody who wants it. And besides—Daphne does really like me, Darrell!”
“Well, so do I like you, and so does Sally,” said Darrell, really exasperated to think that Mary-Lou should attach herself to such a double-faced person as Daphne.
“Yes, I know. But you only put up with me out of the kindness of your heart!” said Mary-Lou. “You've got Sally. You let me tag along behind you like a nice puppy—but you don't really want me, and I couldn't possibly help you in any way. But I can help Daphne—and though I know you think she's only using me for her French, she's not”
Darrell was certain that Daphne only put up with Mary-Lou because of the French—but she wasn't quite right. Daphne was very fond of Mary-Lou now. She couldn't quite think why, because it wasn't like her to be fond of anyone—but Mary-Lou was so unobtrusive, so shy, so willing to help in any way. “She's like a pet mouse, that you want to protect and take care of!” thought Daphne. “You can't help liking a mouse.”
She poured out her tales of wealth to Mary-Lou, and Mary-Lou listened in the most gratifying manner. The younger girl was proud that someone as grand as Daphne should bother to notice her and talk to her and tell her things.
Ellen was away from school eleven days and bad worried terribly the last six or seven because Jean had not been allowed to bring her lesson-notes or to tell her about the lessons. Now she came bade, pale, a little thinner, with an obstinate look in her eyes. She was going to catch up somehow I If she had to get up at six in the morning, and learn her lessons under the sheets by means of a flashlight, she would!
She asked Miss Parker if she would be kind enough to give her extra coaching in what she had missed. Miss Parker refused in a kindly manner.
“No, Ellen. You're not up even to your ordinary work at the moment, let alone taking extra coaching. I shan't expect much from you, nor will anyone else. So don't worry. “
Ellen went to Mam'zelle Dupont and even to Mam'zelle Rougier. “I do so want to know what I've missed so that I can make it up,” she said. “Could you give a little extra coaching?”
But neither of the Mam'zelles would. “You are not yet quite strong, mon enfant !” said Mam'zelle Dupont, kindly. “No one will expect you to do brilliantly now this term. Take things more easily.”
So poor Ellen was quite in despair. Nobody would help her! They all seemed to be in league against her—Matron, Doctor, Miss Parker, the two Mam'zelles.
And in ten days” time the tests began! Ellen usually liked exams, but she was dreading these. She couldn't think how it was that the girls joked about them so light-heartedly.
Then an idea came to her—a bad idea, that at first she put away from her mind at once. But it came back again and again, whispering itself into her mind so that she had to listen to it.
“If you could perhaps see the test-papers before they were given out! If you could read the questions and know what you were going to be asked!
Ellen had never cheated in her life. She had never needed to for she had good brains and she knew how to work
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