Tell me too!" said Bella Arkwright.
Bella was a veritable "little pitcher," of the kind mentioned in the Proverb, and had an insatiable curiosity to know every thing that other people knew.
"Tell you, Miss?
I should really like to know why!" replied Rose, who was not at all fond of Bella.
"You're real mean, and real unkind," whined Bella.
"You think you're a great grown-up lady, and can have secrets.
But you ain't!
You're a little girl too,—most as little as me.
So there!"
Rose made a face at her, and a sort of growling rush, which had the effect of sending Bella screaming down the hall.
Then, returning to the school-room,—
"Do come, Katy," she said: "find Clover, and hurry!
Really and truly I want you.
I feel as if I should burst if I don't tell somebody right away what I've found out."
Katy began to be curious.
She went in pursuit of Clover, who was practising in one of the recitation-rooms, and the three girls ran together down Quaker Row.
"Now," said Rose, locking the door, and pushing forward a chair for Katy and another for Clover, "swear that you won't tell, for this is a real secret,—the greatest secret that ever was, and Mrs. Florence would flay me alive if she knew that I knew!"
She paused to enjoy the effect of her words, and suddenly began to snuff the air in a peculiar manner.
"Girls," she said, solemnly, "that little wretch of a Bella is in this room.
I am sure of it."
"What makes you think so?" cried the others supervised.
"I smell that dreadful pomatum that she puts on her hair!
Don't you notice it?
She's hidden somewhere."
Rose looked sharply about for a minute, then made a pounce, and from under the bed dragged a small kicking heap.
It was the guilty Bella.
"What were you doing there, you bad child?" demanded Rose, seizing the kicking feet and holding them fast.
"I don't care," blubbered Bella, "you wouldn't tell me your secret.
You're a real horrid girl, Rose Red. I don't love you a bit."
"Your affection is not a thing which I particularly pine for," retorted Rose, seating herself, and holding the culprit before her by the ends of her short pig-tails.
"I don't want little girls who peep and hide to love me.
I'd rather they wouldn't.
Now listen.
Do you know what I shall do if you ever come again into my room without leave.
First, I shall cut off your hair, pomatum and all, with my penknife,"—Bella screamed,—"and then I'll turn myself into a bear—a great brown bear —and eat you up."
Rose pronounced this threat with tremendous energy, and accompanied it with a snarl which showed all her teeth.
Bella roared with fright, twitched away her pig-tails, unlocked the door and fled, Rose not pursuing, but sitting comfortably in her chair and growling at intervals, till her victim was out of hearing.
Then she rose and bolted the door again.
"How lucky that the imp is so fond of that smelly pomatum!" she remarked: "one always knows where to look for her.
It's as good as a bell round her neck!
Now, for the secret.
You promise not to tell?
Well, then, Mrs. Florence is going away week after next, and, what's more,—she's going to be married!"
"Not really!" cried the others.
"Really and truly.
She's going to be married to a clergyman."
"How did you find out?"
"Why, it's the most curious thing.
You know my blue lawn, which Miss James is making.
This morning I went to try it on, Miss Barnes with me of course, and while Miss James was fitting the waist Mrs. Seccomb came in and sat down on the sofa by Miss Barnes.