"What?" I asked.
"A little bit--don't be offended--a little bit neglected."
"She had no right to say so; I am not."
As I spoke I laid my hand on the dark-blue dress, and all of a sudden I
grew to hate it. I disliked Hermione also.
"What is the matter?" she said. "Have I hurt you in any way? I
wouldn't for all the world. I am so truly glad to make your
acquaintance."
"You didn't mean to," I said, recovering my temper; "but the fact is,
Hermione, I live one life and you live another. You are rich, and we
are poor; I am not ashamed to say it."
"It must be rather exciting to be poor," said Hermione. "I mean it must
be interesting to know the value of money. But you don't look poor,
Dumps--or--I mean Rachel. That dress--"
"Oh! don't talk of my dress, please."
"I know it's bad form," she replied, and she seemed to shrink into her
shell.
After a minute she spoke on a different subject, and just then a stately
but somewhat withered-looking lady entered the room.
"Hermione, Miss Donnithorne says that you and Miss Grant must put on
your things now in order to return to Hedgerow House, otherwise you
won't be in time to receive the Professor."
"The Professor?" I cried, jumping to my feet. Hermione laughed.
"You don't mean to say that Miss Donnithorne hasn't told you that your
father is coming to have tea with you both?"
"I didn't know anything about it. My father? But he never leaves
London."
"He has managed to leave it to-day. How queer that you shouldn't know!"
"I had better get dressed; I shouldn't like to be late," I said.
I felt all of a flutter; I was nervous. Would he remark my dark-blue
costume, and be angry with me for not wearing my brown skirt and red
blouse?
"I'll get dressed in a twinkling," said Hermione. "Come along, Dumps;
this is interesting."
I wondered why she was so pleased, and why a sort of inward mirth began
to consume her. Her eyes were twinkling all the time. I began to like
her a little less and a little less; and yet, of course, she was a most
charming and well-bred and nice-looking girl.
We went downstairs a few minutes later. We said good-bye to the Squire
and his wife. The Squire said he hoped he would have the honour of
entertaining Professor's Grant's daughter again, and the Squire's lady
made some remark which I presumed signified the same. Then we went
away, driving as fast as ever we could in the direction of Hedgerow
House.