As Alice spoke Kitty's charming face suddenly lost its brilliant color;
it became white, and her dark eyes flashed with an angry fire. She stood
perfectly still for a moment, then began to walk on a little faster than
before.

"You have hurt her, Alice," said Bessie; "you should not have said
that."

"I don't care; she made me do it; she is intolerable."

"Still, you had no right to speak as you did; remember she is a
stranger."

Here Bessie ran after Kitty, and tried to slip her hand through her arm;
but the Irish girl made an impatient movement, and, shrugging her
shoulders, walked on quicker than before.

"Oh, leave her alone," whispered Alice; "let us talk about things that
interest us. Why should all lives be upset by her? There, she is going
on in front; let us fall back and talk about interesting things. Have
you finished your work yet?"

"Oh, yes; I had a great deal to do this afternoon. I do hope, Alice,
that Gwin won't mind if I ask her to let me go into the library. I must
take a peep into 'Household Encyclopaedia;' it is such a chance."

"Oh, I am sure she won't mind," replied Alice. "Gwin is the soul of good
nature. I only dread what she will think."

"Oh, you need not dread anything," said Kitty, suddenly turning round