human
she said.
gpt
Do we, Hetty?
human
Oh no, no, she said. Then, coming a little closer to Margaret, she looked into her face and continued,
gpt
Are you the sort of kind girl who will keep a secret?
human
I never tell tales, if that is what you mean,
gpt
Then that is all right, remarked Sylvia.
human
And are you the same sort of girl, Olive? You look very kind.
gpt
It wouldn't be hard to be kind to one like you,
human
Then we want you, continued Sylvia,
gpt
Of course we'll never tell,
human
I think you are just awfully nice, said Sylvia.
gpt
We were so terrified when we came to this school. We thought we'd have an awful time. We still speak of it as a prison, you know. Do you speak of it to your dearest friend as a prison?
human
Prison! said Margaret.
gpt
There isn't a place in the world I love as I love Haddo Court.
human
Then you never, never lived in a dear little gray stone house on a wild Scotch moor; and you never had a man like Donald Macfarlane to talk to, nor a woman like Jean Macfarlane to make scones for you; and you never had dogs like our dogs up there, nor a horse like David. I pity you from my heart!
gpt
I never had any of those things, said Margaret;
human
And so shall I like to hear about them,
gpt
We will tell you, if Betty gives us leave, said one of the twins.
human
We never do anything without Betty's leave. She is the person we look up to, and obey, and follow. We'd follow her to the world's end; we'd die for her, both of us, if it would do her any good.
gpt
I wish, she said then in a slow voice,
human
Perhaps you aren't worthy, said Sylvia.
gpt
There is no one living like Betty in all the world, and we feel about her as we do because she is Betty.
human
But, all the same, said Hester, frowning as she spoke,
gpt
An enemy, my dear child! What do you mean? You have just been praising her so much! Did any one take a dislike to her up in that north country?
human
It may have begun there, remarked Hetty;
gpt
Oh, really, though, that is quite nonsense! said Margaret, flushing with annoyance.
human
Poor dear Fanny, there is not a better or sweeter girl in the school!
gpt
That is your point of view, she said.
human
She is our enemy; she is not yours. Oh, hurrah! hurrah! I see Betty! She is coming back, walking very slowly. She has got over the worst of the howls. We must both go and meet her. Don't be anywhere about, please, either of you. Keep quite in the shade, so that she won't see you; and the next time you meet talk to her as though this had never happened.
gpt
Well, she said,
human
It was exceedingly trying,
gpt
All the same, said Margaret,
human
I feel roused up about those girls in the most extraordinary manner. Didn't you notice, too, what Sylvia said about poor Fanny? Isn't it horrid?
gpt
Of course it isn't true,
human
We have made up our minds not to speak evil of any one in the school, said Margaret after a pause;
gpt
It's very uncomfortable altogether, said Olive.
human
But I don't see that we can do anything.
gpt
Well, perhaps not yet, said Margaret;