you, but I told her she needn't bother."

She rested her two hands behind her on the edge of a desk, and leaned
against it, looking down upon the toe of her smart little shoe which was
describing a small semicircle beyond the hem of her gown. Her attitude,
which was half-defiant, half-indolent, brought out the pretty curves of
her waist and shoulders. The master noticed it and became a trifle more
austere.

"Then I am to understand that this is a permanent thing?" he asked
coldly.

"What's that?" said Cressy interrogatively.

"Am I to understand that you intend coming regularly to school?"
repeated the master curtly, "or is this merely an arrangement for a few
days--until"--

"Oh," said Cressy comprehendingly, lifting her unabashed blue eyes
to his, "you mean THAT. Oh, THAT'S broke off. Yes," she added
contemptuously, making a larger semicircle with her foot, "that's
over--three weeks ago."

"And Seth Davis--does HE intend returning too?"

"He!" She broke into a light girlish laugh. "I reckon not much! S'long's
I'm here, at least." She had just lifted herself to a sitting posture
on the desk, so that her little feet swung clear of the floor in their
saucy dance. Suddenly she brought her heels together and alighted. "So
that's all?" she asked.