"If you're going to be a hatefully unjust pig, I won't tell you." "I apologise. Have a candy?" "Well, you know, Agatha found out that Miss Hartill was giving a party last week, and, of course, every one thought it was for hers. But it turned out it was Daffy's birthday: Miss Hartill gave it for her. It was Agatha's fault. She was so dead certain about it." "But what did it matter?" "Well, you see, I'd got some roses----" "Pale pink and yellow? Beauties?" "Yes." "Oho! So that's where they came from. I did Dame Double an injustice. I thought it was a best boy." Cynthia gurgled. "You saw them?" "I went to tea with her--it must have been that day--the eighth?" Louise nodded. "A party! Agatha is a coon. There was only Daffy there! I wonder she didn't ask you." Louise said nothing. Her face was expressionless. "Mean old thing!" Cynthia grew indignant as the situation dawned on her. "She can't ask every one. There was no reason whatever to ask me." But Louise's voice had a suspicious quiver in it, which Cynthia, with unusual tact, ignored. "Well--about the roses? They were beauties, kid!" "Oh, I brought 'em round, going to school. I thought she'd started, but she hadn't. She opened the door. So there I was, stuck." Louise began to laugh. "I'd meant to leave them, just without any name." "I see." Cynthia twinkled. "She was rather--rather breakfasty, you know--and I got flustered and forgot to wish her 'many happy.' Wasn't it lucky? I was thankful afterwards. I only said they were out of the greenhouse and I thought she'd like them. She did, too." Louise smiled to herself. "Well?" "That's all." "But where did the lie come in?" "Oh! Oh--well--I'd bought them, you see. As if Mamma would let me pick flowers. Besides, we haven't even got a greenhouse. But I had five shillings at Christmas, and sixpence in the pudding--and sixpence a week pocket-money--and I never have anything to buy. I could well afford it," said Louise, with dignity. "That's not a lie," said Cynthia, disappointed. "It's barely an--an evasion." "I didn't mean to--evade. I was only afraid she'd be cross, and yet I couldn't resist getting them. Do you know the feeling, when you ache to give people things? But it was a lie, of course." "Oh, well! You needn't mind. She tells plenty herself--acts them, at least----" Louise caught her up. "There! That's it! That's one of the things! You're always hinting things! Why do you? I won't have it! Of course, I know you're only in fun, but if anybody hears you----" "I'm not! Oh, but it's no use talking! You think she's a god almighty. What's the use of my telling you that she's a conceited----" "She's not!" "Oh, she's a right to be. She'd be a peach if I had the dressing of her----" "She doesn't like American fashions. We don't want her to. We like her as she is." "And she knows it--you bet your bottom dollar! There's not much she doesn't know. Why, she simply lives for effect! She's the most gorgeous hypocrite----"