human
I have left them in my room, she said.
gpt
They hardly slept all night. I never saw such dear, affectionate little creatures. They are absolutely broken-hearted. I promised to come to them as soon as I could.
human
Have you asked them to trust you--to treat you as a true friend?
gpt
I have, Fanny; and the strange thing is, that although beyond doubt they know pretty nearly as much about Betty's secret and about the lost packet as she does herself, poor child, they are just as reticent with regard to it. They will not tell. Nothing will induce them to betray Betty. Over and over again I have implored of them, for the sake of her life, to take me into their confidence; but I might as well have spoken to adamant. They will not do it.
human
They have exactly the same stubborn nature,
gpt
You have never liked your cousins, Fanny; and it does pain us all that you should speak against them at a moment like the present.
human
Then I will go away, said Fanny.
gpt
I can see quite well that my presence is uncongenial to you all. I will find my own amusements. But I may as well state that if I am to be tortured and looked down on in the school, I shall write to Aunt Amelia and ask her to take me in until father writes to Mrs. Haddo about me. You must admit, all of you, that it has been a miserable time for me since the Vivians came to the school.
human
You have made it miserable yourself, Fanny,
gpt
Fanny, dear Fanny, said Martha,
human
There is nothing changing me, said Fanny in some alarm.
gpt
What do you mean, Martha?
human
Oh, but you look so changed! You are not a bit what you used to be--so jolly, so bright, so--so very pretty. Now you have a careworn, anxious expression. I don't understand you in the very least.
gpt
And I don't want you to, said Fanny.
human
You are all bewitched with regard to that tiresome girl; even I, your old and tried friend, have no chance against her influence. When I tell you I know her far better than any of you can possibly do, you don't believe me. You suspect me of harboring unkind and jealous thoughts against her; as if I, Fanny Crawford, could be jealous of a nobody like Betty Vivian!
gpt
Fanny, you know perfectly well that Betty will never be a nobody. There is something in her which raises her altogether above the low standard to which you assign her. Oh, Fanny, what is the matter with you?
human
Please leave me alone, Martha. If you had spent the wretched night I have spent you might look tired and worn out too. I was turned out of my bedroom, to begin with, because Sister Helen required it.
gpt
Well, surely there was no hardship in that? said Martha.
human
I, for instance, spent the night gladly with dear little Sylvia and Hester; we all had a room together in the lower school. Do you think I grumbled?
gpt
Oh, of course you are a saint!
human
I am not, but I think I am human; and just at present, for some extraordinary reason, you are not.
gpt
Well, you haven't heard the history of my woes. I had to share Miss Symes's room with her.
human
St. Cecilia's delightful room! Surely that was no great hardship?
gpt
Wait until you hear. St. Cecilia was quite kind, as she always is; and I was told that I could have a room to myself to-night. I found, to begin with, however, that most of the clothes I wanted had been left behind in my own room. Still, I made no complaint; although, of course, it was not comfortable, particularly as Miss Symes intended to sit up in order to see the doctors. But as I was preparing to get into bed, those twins--those horrid girls that you make such a fuss about, Martha--rushed into the room and put an awful spider into the center of my bed, and when I tried to get rid of it, it rushed towards me. Then I screamed out, and Susie and Olive came in. But we couldn't catch the spider nor find it anywhere. You don't suppose I was likely to go to bed with _that_ thing in the room? The fire went nearly out. I was hungry, sleepy, cold. I assure you I have my own share of misery. Then Miss Symes came in and ordered me to bed. I went, but hardly slept a wink. And now you expect me to be as cheerful and bright and busy as a bee this morning!
human
Oh, not cheerful, poor Fanny!--we can none of us be that with Betty in such great danger; but you can at least be busy, you can at least help others.
gpt
Thank you, replied Fanny;