"It's too late now," she said; "the girls have come and gone. I can't go
at all now."
"But why, darling?" said Kathleen. "Oh! I wish I had let you in.--She
must go, David, the poor dear. It would be cruel to disappoint
her.--What dress will you wear?" said Kathleen.
"Let me alone," said Alice.
She rushed upstairs, but Kathleen was even quicker.
"I'm not going to be nasty to you any more," she said. "I have found a
friend, and I shall have more friends to-morrow. Kathleen O'Hara would
have died long ago but for her friends. I shall be happy when I have got
a creelful of them here. Now then, let me help you. No, that isn't the
shoe you want; here it is. And gloves--here's a pair, and they're neatly
mended. Which hat did you say--the one with the blue scarf round it?
Isn't it a pretty one? You put that on. Aunt Katie O'Flynn is going to
send me a box of clothes from Dublin, and I will give you some of them.
You mustn't say no; I will give you some if you are nice. I am ever so
sorry that I kept you out of your part of the room; I won't do it any
more. Now you are dressed; that's fine. You won't hate me forever, will
you?"
Alice growled something in reply. She had not Kathleen's passionate,
quick, impulsive nature--furious with rage one minute, sweet and gentle
and affectionate the next. She hated Kathleen for having humiliated and
annoyed her; and she went off to Cassandra's house knowing that she
would be late, and determined not to say one good word for Kathleen.
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