"Well, I will drink some milk," said Evelyn. She was studying very
hard. She was very ambitious, both naturally and because of her
feeling for Wollaston Lee. It seemed to her that she should die if
she did not stand well in her class. Evelyn had received so little
notice from Wollaston that she had made up her mind that he did not
care for her, and the conviction was breaking her heart, but she said
to herself that she would graduate with honors that she might have
that much, that she must.

The graduating with honors would have been easy to the girl, for she
had naturally a quick grasp of knowledge, but her failing health and
her almost unconquerable languor made it hard for her to work as
usual. However, she persisted. It became evident that she would stand
first among the girls of her class, and only second to one boy, who
had a large brain and little emotion, and was so rendered almost
impregnable. Ida sent Evelyn a graduating costume from Paris, and the
girl brightened a little after she had tried it on. She could not
quite give up all hope of being loved when she saw herself in that
fluffy white robe, and looked over her slender shoulder at her
graceful train, and reflected how she would not only look pretty but
acquit herself with credit. She said to herself that if she were a
man she should love herself. There was about Evelyn an almost comical
naivete and truthfulness.

Ida also sent Maria a gown for the graduating exercises. Hers was a
pale blue, very pretty, but not as pretty as Evelyn's. The night
after the gowns came Maria was startled by a sudden rush into her
room when she was almost asleep, and Evelyn nestling into her arms
and sobbing out that she was sorry, she was sorry, but she could not
help it.

"Can't help what, darling?" said Maria.

"Can't help being glad that my dress is so much prettier than yours,"
wept Evelyn. "I am sorry, sister, but I can't help it, and I am so
ashamed I had to come in and tell you."

Maria laughed and kissed her. "Sister is very glad yours is the
prettiest," she said.

"Oh, I am so sorry I am so selfish," sobbed Evelyn. Then she added,
in a tiny whisper, "I know now he won't ever think of me, but I can't
help being glad I shall look nice for him to see, anyway."

Evelyn was asleep long before her sister. Maria lay awake, with the
little, frail body in her arms, realizing with horror how very frail
and thin it was. Evelyn was of the sort whom emotion can kill.