f space: Rules of Latin Grammar, List of
Substantives, Tenses of Verbs--they stared one in the face at every
turn, and refused to be avoided. Miss Everett laid her hand upon the
bed, and something rustled beneath her touch. Yet another sheet had
been concealed beneath her pillow.

"Oh, Rhoda!" she cried, reproachfully; "oh, Rhoda!"

The girl put on an air of protest.

"What? There's no harm in it, is there? I can't catch the others up
unless I work hard. I have not enough time in preparation, so I put
these up and learn them while I dress and undress, and every time I come
in to prepare for a meal. You have no idea what a lot I get through.
And I keep a list in my pocket too, and take it out at odd moments.
Miss Murray is surprised at the way I am getting on."

"I have been surprised too, to see you look so ill, with such white
cheeks and heavy eyes. I understand it now."

"But, Miss Everett, I _must_ work. I _must_ get on! If I am behind I
_must_ catch up. Even if I am tired I must get on in my class."

"Why?"

Why? Why must she get on? It was such an extraordinary question to
come from a teacher, that Rhoda could only gasp in bewilderment--"Why?
You ask _why_?"

"Yes, I do. One has always some object in work. I wondered what yours
might be. Why are you so terribly anxious to come to the front?"

A dozen answers rose to Rhoda's lips. To impress Thomasina; to show her
that if I do think a good deal of myself, it's not without a cause...
To take the conceit out of the girls who patronise me. To be able to
patronise in my turn, and not remain always insignificant and
powerless... To show Harold how clever I am, and to have my name put on
the Record Wall when I leave! ... They were one and all excellent
reasons, yet somehow she did not care to confide them to Miss Everett.
Instead, she hesitated, and answered by another question.

"I suppose you think there is a wrong and a right motive? I suppose you
think mine is the wrong one. What is the right, then? I'm ill, and
reduced in my mind, so it's a good time to preach; I'll listen meekly!"

"And disagree with every word I say," cried Miss Everett laughing. "No,
no, Rhoda, I never preach. I know girls well enough to understand that
that doesn't pay. There are some secrets that we have to find out for
ourselves, and it is waste of time telling the answers before the hearer
is ready to receive them; only, when one has oneself suffered from