"Thank you," said Marjorie, after a moment. "I will stay."
She returned to the dressing-room, taking a volume of Dick from the book-case as she passed it; and sitting in a warm corner, half concealed by somebody's shawl and somebody's cloak, she read, or thought she read, until the bell for the short afternoon session sounded.
Moral science was especially interesting to her, but the subject this afternoon kept her trouble fresh in her mind; it was Property, the use of the institution of Property, the history of Property, and on what the right of Property is founded.
"Isn't it a poky subject? All I care to know is what is mine and what isn't, and to know what right people have to take what isn't theirs."
The hour was ended at last, and she was free. How could she ever enter that schoolroom again? She hurried along the streets, grown older since the morning. Home would be her sanctuary; but there was Miss Prudence! Her face would tell the tale and Miss Prudence's eyes would ask for it. Would it be better for Prue, for Aunt Prue, to know or not to know? Miss Prudence had written to her once that some time she would tell her a story about herself; but could she mean this story?
As she opened the gate she saw her blue bird with the golden crest perched on the arm of a chair at the window watching for her.
She was at the door before Marjorie reached it, ready to spring into her arms and to exclaim how glad she was that she had come.
"I didn't begin till one o'clock," she said convincingly.
"But I don't leave school till five minutes past two, childie."
"But I have something to tell you to-day. Something _de_-licious. Aunt Prue has gone away with Morris. It isn't that, because I didn't want her to go."
Marjorie followed her into the front parlor and began to unfasten her veil.
"Morris' mother is coming home with her to-morrow to stay all winter, but that isn't it. Do guess, Marjorie."
She was dancing all around her, clapping her hands.
"Linnet hasn't come! That isn't it!" cried Marjorie, throwing off her cloak.
"No; it's all about me. It is going to happen to _me_."
"I can't think. You have nice things every day."
"It's this. It's nicer than anything. I am going to school with you to-morrow! Not for all the time, but to make a visit and see how I like it."