birthday
offering. It is an exhilarating, but rather wearing process to be
violently in love, especially when you are decidedly doubtful as to
whether the loved object in the least appreciates your attentions.
Adeline would accept Diana's sweets or flowers with a kind "Thank you",
and then pat her on the shoulder and tell her to run away. She would
sometimes allow her to link arms in the garden, but it was suffered with
an air of amused tolerance. It was obvious that she very much preferred
the society of Hilary, who was nearer her own age, and that she regarded
intermediates as mere children. Diana, who was eccentric in her likes
and dislikes, but very keen when she took a fancy to anybody, went
through all the stages of longing, hope, elation, despair, and jealousy.
When she saw Hilary received into supreme favour, the green-eyed monster
swooped down and took possession of her. Loveday, who had watched the
progress of the affair with some distress, offered what consolation she
could in the sanctuary of the ivy room.

"Adeline's really very good to you," she comforted.

"Yes, but she doesn't care twopence," raged Diana. "I know she's nice
and kind and all that, but she loves me with the love she'd give to a
distressed negro or a starved cat. I want her to _want_ me--and she
doesn't one little bit! She just tolerates me sometimes, and that's all.
What she can see in Hilary I can't imagine. I think Hilary's the most
detestable girl in the school. I always have disliked her. I _hate_ her
now!"

"Some people say that hating anybody sends out 'thought-forms' like
hideous daggers into the invisible world, and they do dreadful harm, and
in the end they come back to their owners like curses. Can't you manage
to send out some prettier thoughts?"

"No, Loveday Seton; I can't, and won't, and shan't!" said Diana
emphatically, screwing up mouth and eyes into one of her ugliest faces.
"I'm not going to pretend I like Hilary when I don't--that would be a
fiblet and worse than red daggers. Yes, you can call me naughty if you
like. I've got to the stage when I don't care."

Knowing by experience that Diana generally received suggestions in this
way, but sometimes ruminated over her remarks afterwards, Loveday
shelved the question of thought-forms and their possible ill effects,
and petted her spoilt room-mate instead till she cajoled her into a
better temper. The green-eyed monster still reigned, however, and Diana
sat at tea-ti