"But--" The bell rang for the close of recess, and again one of Genevieve's sentences remained unfinished. Genevieve did not stop even to speak to any of the girls after school that day. She went home at once. Even Harold Day, who overtook her, found her so absorbed in her own thoughts that she was anything but her usual talkative self. Once in the house, Genevieve went straight to Mrs. Kennedy. "Aunt Julia, if you get a prize subject first, it's yours, isn't it?" she asked tremulously. "Why, y-yes, dear; I should think so." "Well, Aunt Julia, something perfectly awful has happened. Cordelia has got my subject." "Oh, Genevieve, I'm so sorry!" Mrs. Kennedy's face showed more than ordinary distress--Mrs. Kennedy had had high hopes of this prize paper. "Why, how did it happen?" "I don't know. I suppose it was just in the air. But _I_ got it first. She says she didn't think of it till May first. So of course it's--it's mine, Aunt Julia." Mrs. Kennedy looked very grave. "I think the rules of the contest would give it to you, Genevieve," she said. The girl stirred restlessly. "Of course I'm awfully sorry. She--she was going to hand it in Monday." "Oh, that is too bad!" There was a long silence. "I suppose I--I'll have to tell her," murmured Genevieve, at last. "The club have a ride to-morrow. There'll be time--then." "Yes--if you decide to do it." Genevieve turned quickly. "But, Aunt Julia, I'll have to," she cried. "Just think of all my work! Mine's all done but copying, you know. And I _was_ the first to get it. There's no time to get another now." "No, there's no time to get another--now." Aunt Julia looked even more sorrowful than Genevieve just then--Aunt Julia _had_ wanted Genevieve to take that prize. "I'm sure that Cordelia--when she knows--" Genevieve did not finish her sentence. "No, indeed! Of course, if Cordelia should know--" Aunt Julia did not finish _her_ sentence. "But, Aunt Julia, she'll have to know," almost sobbed Genevieve. There was a long silence. Genevieve's eyes were out the window. Mrs. Kennedy, watching her, suddenly spoke up with careless briskness: "Of course you'll tell Cordelia that 'twas _your_ subject, that _you_ got it first, and that _you_ want it. Very likely she won't care much, anyway." "Why, Aunt Julia, she will! If you could have seen her face when she talked of it--" Genevieve stopped abruptly. Genevieve _did_ suddenly see Cordelia's face as it had been that afternoon, all aglow with happiness. She heard her eager voice say, too: "I think it's the best thing I ever did!" "Oh, well, but maybe she doesn't care for the prize," observed Mrs. Kennedy, still carelessly. "But, Aunt Julia, she does; she--" Again Genevieve stopped abruptly. She was remembering now how Cordelia's face had looked that February afternoon at the parsonage when she had said: "Of course I sha'n't win it--dear me, how I would love to, though!"