“What is that?” asked Miss Oliphant. She was leaning back in a deep easy-chair, and Nancy, who did not care for luxurious seats, had perched herself on a little stool at her feet. Nancy was a small, nervous-looking person; she had a zealous face and eager, almost too active movements. Nancy was the soul of bustling good nature, of brightness and kindness. She often said that Maggie Oliphant’s laziness rested her. “What is it?” said Maggie again. “How are we in the wrong, Nance?” She lifted her dimpled hand as she spoke and contemplated it with a slow, satisfied sort of smile. “We have made a mistake about Miss Peel, that is all; she is a very noble girl.” “Oh, my dear Nance! Poor little Puritan Prissie! What next?” “It is all very fine to call her names,” replied Nancy— here she sprang to her feet— “but _I_ couldn’t do what she did. Do you know that she absolutely and completely turned the tables on that vulgar Annie Day and that pushing, silly little Lucy Marsh. I never saw any two look smaller or poorer than those two when they skedaddled out of her room. Yes, that’s the word— they skedaddled to the door, both of them, looking as limp as a cotton dress when it has been worn for a week, and one almost treading on the other’s heels; and I do not think Prissie will be worried by them any more.” “Really, Nancy, you look quite pretty when you are excited! Now, what did this wonderful Miss Peel do? Did she box the ears of those two detestable girls? If so, she has my hearty congratulations.” “More than that, Maggie— that poor, little, meek, awkward, slim creature absolutely demolished them. Oh! she did it in such a fine, simple, unworldly sort of way. I only wish you had seen her! They were twitting her about not going in for all the fun here, and, above everything, for keeping her room so bare and unattractive. You know she has been a fortnight here to-day, and she has not got an extra thing— not one. There isn’t a room in the hall like hers— it’s so bare and unhomelike. What’s the matter, Maggie?” “You needn’t go on, Nancy; if it’s about the room, I don’t want to hear it. You know I can’t— I can’t bear it.” Maggie’s lips were trembling, her face was white. She shaded her eyes with her hand.