Sara Ray alone remained serenely satisfied until the close of the
concert, when we surrounded her with a whirlwind of reproaches.
"Why," she stammered aghast, "what did I do? I--I thought she was
stuck and that I ought to prompt her quick."
"You little fool, she just paused for effect," cried Felicity
angrily. Felicity might be rather jealous of the Story Girl's
gift, but she was furious at beholding "one of our family" made
ridiculous in such a fashion. "You have less sense than anyone I
ever heard of, Sara Ray."
Poor Sara dissolved in tears.
"I didn't know. I thought she was stuck," she wailed again.
She cried all the way home, but we did not try to comfort her. We
felt quite out of patience with her. Even Cecily was seriously
annoyed. This second blunder of Sara's was too much even for her
loyalty. We saw her turn in at her own gate and go sobbing up her
lane with no relenting.
The Story Girl was home before us, having fled from the
schoolhouse as soon as the programme was over. We tried to
sympathize with her but she would not be sympathized with.
"Please don't ever mention it to me again," she said, with
compressed lips. "I never want to be reminded of it. Oh, that
little IDIOT!"
"She spoiled Peter's sermon last summer and now she's spoiled your
recitation," said Felicity.
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