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"But say, what's the matter?" called Stephanotie, opening her window and popping out her curly head. "I can't talk to you in the street. Slip down and open the hall-door and let us in," said Molly. "It's most vital." "It's life or death," whispered Nora.
"I guess I'm not likely to change," answered Stephanotie. "I was born with a love of bon-bons, and I'll keep it to the end of the chapter." But now Mrs. Hartrick and Mrs. O'Shanaghgan had met. The two English ladies immediately began to understand each other. Mrs.
"But you are very nicely dressed now," said Nora, looking with approval at the gray cashmere. "Me nicely dressed!" screamed Stephanotie. "Do you call this dress nice? Why, I do declare it's a perfect shame that I should be made such a spectacle. It don't suit my hair. When I am ordering a dress I choose shades of red; they tone me down. I am fiery to-day am I not, Molly?"
Gone was the Irish wit, the pleasant Irish humor; the sparkle in the eyes was missing; the gay laughter never rose upon the breeze. At tea things were just as bad. Even at supper matters had not mended. Molly now persistently avoided her cousin. Stephanotie and she were having a wild time. Molly, to cover Nora's gloom, was going on in a more extravagant way than usual.
Stephanotie looked at her with the curious, keen glance which an American girl possesses. "What is it? Do say," she said, linking her hand inside Nora's. "Is it anything that a bon-bon will soothe, or is it past that?" "It is quite past that; but don't ask me now, Stephie. I cannot tell you, really." "Don't bother her," said Molly; "she has partly confided in me, but not wholly.
Well, I'm going; we'll have a jolly lark with Linda. If for no other reason, I should be glad to go to upset her apple cart." "Dear me, Stephie! you are very coarse and vulgar," said Miss Truefitt. "Not a bit of it, auntie. Have a bon-bon, do." Stephanotie rushed across the room, opened a big box of bon-bons, and presented one, as if it were a pistol, full in Miss Truefitt's face.
She had a go-ahead, very independent manner, and was the sort of girl who would be idolized by the weaker members of the school. Molly, however, was by no means a weak member of the school, nor, for that matter, was Nora, and they both took great pleasure out of Stephanotie. "My bark is worse than my bite," said that young person. "I am something like you, Molly.
There was something in Nora's tremulous tones which touched Stephanotie, and at the same time stimulated her curiosity to such an extent that she flew into her clothes, dashing about perfectly reckless of the fact that she was making a loud noise; but, luckily for her, Miss Truefitt was deaf and the servants slept in a remote part of the old house.
"Well, you, and your Mabel and Rose, can keep away from Stephanotie that's all," said Molly. "Anyhow, she is coming. Don't keep me. I must tell Nora." Linda made way for her sister to fly past her, as she afterward expressed it, like a whirlwind. She stood still for a moment in deep consideration.
And I had a letter from mother to say that I might order as many as ever I liked from Fuller's. I mean to write to them to ask them to send me ten shillings' worth. I'll ask for the newest varieties. There surely must be bon-bons which would not give you indigestion, Aunt Vi." "I must ask you to take off that dress, Stephanotie. I forbid you to go to The Laurels in such unsuitable attire."
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