Laura feigned to be engrossed in the game. But presently she felt her
bare wrist touched, and Chinky said in her ear: "What pretty hands
you've got, Laura!"
She buried them in her dress, at this. She found it in the worst
possible taste of Chinky to try to console her.
"Wouldn't you like to wear a ring on one of them?"
"No, thanks," said Laura, in the same repellent way.
"Truly? I'd love to give you one."
"You? Where would YOU get it?"
"Would you wear it, if I did?"
"Let me see it first," was Laura's graceless reply, as she returned to
her stony contemplation of the great sunlit expanse.
She was sure Miss Snodgrass, on getting home, would laugh with the
other governesses over what had occurred--if not with some of the
girls. The story would leak out and come to Tilly's ears; and Tilly
would despise her more than she did already. So would all the rest. She
was branded, as it was, for not having a single string to her bow. Now,
it had become plain to her that she could never hope for one; for, when
it came to holding a boy's attention for five brief minutes, she could
be put in the shade by a child of eight years old.