-"

"You would rather have had Susan! You didn't really want me at all!"

The bitter disappointment in the girl's voice went to the hearer's
heart. It was one of the hardest tasks which she had ever had to
perform to answer truthfully, and so give another pang to the sensitive
young heart. The colour rose on her cheeks and her brows twitched
nervously, but she would not allow herself to prevaricate.

"Yes, Dreda, dear. For the sake of the work I should have preferred
Susan, but I wanted to help you to get the better of your failings. I
wanted it so much that I was prepared to undertake the extra work which
your carelessness might involve, for the magazine could not be allowed
to suffer. I am afraid it is painful to you, dear, to hear this, but if
your vanity is wounded, you can comfort yourself with the remembrance
that I was so much interested in you, so anxious for your improvement,
that I rejected a most capable helper on your account."

"Thank you!" sighed Dreda faintly. There was not a sign of irritation
or resentment in her manner, and her thanks were evidently genuine. She
might have posed as an image of humility and abasement as she stood with
bowed head and downcast eyes before the desk. The swing of the pendulum
had brought her into the valley of humiliation, and in characteristic
fashion she felt a melancholy pleasure in playing her part as thoroughly
as possible. "Thank you. You are very good. I am very grateful. We
have to learn our lessons in life, I suppose, but it's hard at the time.
It's been a great _shock_, but it's good for me, I suppose. I can
never be careless again. I've read in books about something happening
and finishing the girl's youth. I feel like that now! You meant me to
learn, and I _have_ learnt, so there's no need to go on. You can have
Susan, and no more bother--"

Miss Drake's lips twitched in a smile which fortunately Dreda did not
see.

"I think not, Dreda. I should prefer to keep to present arrangements.
If you have really learnt your lessons so quickly there will be no
`bother' to fear. You may go now, dear. We will discuss the synopsis
later on. I dare say you will like to have a little quiet time before
dinner. Come to me to-morrow at the same hour."

Dreda backed silently from the room a picture of tragic despair, and
slowly mounted to the dormitory where the faithful Susan awaited her
coming. The two girls faced one another in silence for several