human
I wonder, Sib, said Fanny,
gpt
I--vain! Why should you say so?
human
I only thought it from your peculiar dress last night.
gpt
Oh, but that wasn't me at all; it was that quite too darling Betty!
human
Do you mean my cousin, Betty Vivian?
gpt
Of course, who else?
human
Well, what had she to do with it?
gpt
I will tell you if you like, Fanny. She didn't expect me to keep it a secret. I met her when I was out----
human
You--met Betty--when you were out?
gpt
Yes.
human
Where did you meet her?
gpt
Well, she was standing by the stump of an old tree which is hollow inside. It is just at the top of the hill by the bend, exactly where the hill goes down towards the 'forest primeval.'
human
Can't say I remember it, said Fanny.
gpt
Go on, Sib. So Betty was standing there?
human
Yes, oh yes. I saw her in the distance. I was expecting to meet Clarice and Mary Moss; but they failed me, although they had faithfully promised to come. So when I saw Betty I could not resist running up to her; but when I got quite close I stood still.
gpt
Well, you stood still. Why?
human
Oh Fan, she was doing such a funny thing! She was bending down and looking over into the hollow of the tree. Then, all of a sudden, she thrust her hand in--far down--and took something out of the tree and looked at it. I could just catch sight of what it was----
gpt
Yes, go on. What was it? Don't be afraid of me, Sib. I have a lot of chocolates in my pocket that I will give you presently.
human
Oh thank you, Fanny! It is nice to talk to you. I couldn't see very distinctly what she had in her hand, only she was staring at it, and staring at it; and then she dropped it in again, right down into the depths of the tree; and I saw her bending more than ever, as though she were covering it up.
gpt
But you surely saw what it was like?
human
It might have been anything--I wasn't very near then. I ran up to her, and asked her what it was.
gpt
And what did she say?
human
Oh, she said it was a piece of wood, and that she had dropped it into the tree.
gpt
What is the matter?
human
Nothing at all, Sib; nothing at all. And then, what happened?
gpt
Betty was very cross at being disturbed.
human
That is quite probable,
gpt
She certainly was, and I--I--I am afraid I annoyed her; but after a minute or two she got up and allowed me to walk with her. We walked towards the house, and she told me all kinds of funny stories; she really made me scream with laughter. She is the jolliest girl! Then, all of a sudden, we came in sight of the flower-gardens; and she asked me what I was going to wear last night, and I told her about the green chiffon dress which auntie had sent me; and then she suggested a wreath of small marguerites, and told me to get Birchall to cut some for me. She said they would be very becoming, and of course I believed her. There's nothing in my story, is there, Fanny?
human
That depends on the point of view,
gpt
I don't understand you.
human
Nor do I mean you to, kiddy.
gpt
Well, there's one thing more, continued Sibyl, who felt much elated at being allowed to talk to one of the most supercilious of all the Specialities.
human
I couldn't get out of my head about Betty and the oak-tree; so just now--a few minutes ago--I got some of my friends to come with me, and we went to the oak-tree, and I stood on Mabel Lee's shoulder, and I poked and poked amongst the débris and rubbish in the hollow of the trunk, and there was nothing there at all--nothing except just a piece of wood. So, of course, Betty spoke the truth--it was wood.
gpt
How many chocolates would you like?
human
Oh Fanny, are you going to give me some?
gpt
Yes, if you are a good girl, and don't tell any one that you repeated this very harmless and uninteresting little story to me about my Cousin Betty. Of course she is my cousin, and I don't like anything said against her.
human
But I wasn't speaking against darling Betty!
gpt
Of course not, monkey; but you were telling me a little tale which might be construed in different ways.
human
Yes, yes; only I don't understand. Betty had a perfect right to poke her hand into the hollow of the tree, and to bring up a piece of wood, and look at it, and put it back again; and I don't understand your expression, Fanny, that it all depends on the point of view.
gpt
Keep this to yourself, and I will give you some more chocolates sometime, was Fanny's answer.
human
I can be your friend as well as Martha--that is, if you are nice, and don't repeat every single thing you hear. The worst sin in a schoolgirl--at least, the worst minor sin--is to be breaking confidences. No schoolgirl with a shade of honor in her composition would ever do that, and certainly no girl trained at Haddo Court ought to be noted for such a characteristic. Now, Sibyl, you are no fool; and, when I talk to you, you are not to repeat things. I may possibly want to talk to you again, and then there'll be more chocolates and--and--other things; and as you are in the upper school, and are really quite a nice girl, I shouldn't be at all surprised if I invited you to have tea with me in my bedroom some night--oh, not quite yet, but some evening not far off. Now, off with you, and let me see how well you can keep an innocent little confidence between you and me!