Clare, preceding Louise up the staircase, found Alwynne's note awaiting her. She frowned as she read it and felt for her latch-key. It was just like Alwynne to leave a note like that for any one to read.... And the hatpin for any one to steal.... She wished it had been stolen before it had scratched her paint.... And the bell! It was really annoying of Alwynne! It would cost her five shillings to put right.... She, Clare, was not mean, but she did begrudge money for that sort of thing.... Really, Alwynne might offer to pay for it.... But that, of course, would never occur to Alwynne.... She was altogether too reckless about other people's belongings.... Her own were her own affair.... But to break Clare's bell.... She must have been quite comprehensively annoyed to have actually broken it.... Clare laughed. She had had a sudden vision of Alwynne's blank face and indignant pealings. Poor old Alwynne! Well--it wouldn't hurt her.... If she were careful to let Alwynne know to whom she had been sacrificed, Alwynne might not be quite so partisan over Louise next term.... That wouldn't be a bad thing.... She did not approve of intimacies between the girls and the mistresses.... But she, Clare, would make it up to both of them.... She would begin now, with Louise.... She would devote herself to amusing Louise.... She would give Louise the time of her life.... Louise would be sure to tell Alwynne about it afterwards.... CHAPTER XII "What are you going to do with yourself all the holidays?" asked Clare, with a touch of curiosity. Louise had slipped off her chair on to the soft hearthrug, and sat, hugging her knees and staring up at Clare. "Read," she said briefly, and gave a little gurgle of anticipation. "All day long?" "Oh, yes, Miss Hartill. I never get a chance in term time. There's such heaps to read. I'd like to live in a library." "Yet a peep at the world outside beats all the books that were ever written." "I wonder." Louise rubbed her chin meditatively against her knees before she delivered herself. "You know--I think the way things strike people is much more interesting than the things themselves. I like exploring people's minds. Do you know?" "I know," said Clare. She laughed mischievously. "You mean--that what you think I am, for instance, is much more interesting than what I really am." Louise protested mutely. Her black eyes glowed. "I daresay you're right, Louise. You wear pink spectacles, you see. I'm quite sure you would be appalled if any one took them off. I'm a horrid person really." Louise looked puzzled; then the twinkle in Miss Hartill's eyes enlightened her. Miss Hartill was teasing. She laughed merrily. Clare shook her head. "It's quite true. I'm an egoist, Louise!" "It's not true," said Louise passionately. She was on guard in an instant, ready to justify Miss Hartill to herself and the world. It amused Clare to excite her. "My good child--what do you know about it?"