you think?"

Priscilla put it all slowly back again into her purse. Her face was
still absolutely colorless. She laid the purse on the top of her
bureau.

"I do not suppose," she said in a low, sad voice, "that I am the sort
of girl who often comes to a place of this sort. I am poor, and I have
got to work hard, and I have no time for pleasure. Nevertheless," she
added-- and now a great wave of color swept over her face, and her
eyes were lit up, and she had a sensation of feeling quite glad, and
strong, and happy-- "I am not going away because I am poor, and I am
not going to mind what any one thinks of me as long as I do right. My
room must stay empty and bare, because I have no money to make it full
and beautiful. And do you think that I would ask those-- those who
sent me here-- to add one feather's weight to their cares and
expenses, to give me money to buy beautiful things because I am afraid
of you? No, I should be awfully afraid to do that; but I am not afraid
of you."

Priscilla opened the drawer of her bureau and put her little light
purse back again in its hiding-place.

"Good night, Miss Peel," said Miss Day in a thin, small kind of voice.

"Good night, Miss Peel," said Miss Marsh. The girls went gently out of
the room. They closed the door behind them, without making any noise.
Nancy Banister remained behind. She came up to Priscilla and kissed
her.