"Plain Anne"
caught my ear. Someone was evidently in deep distress, not very far away. I looked round, and right away in the corner under the Morella cherry tree a glimpse of something blue caught my eye. Then I knew who was so unhappy.
She was lying on her face in the grass, sobbing; and in a minute I was kneeling beside her touching her shoulder gently.
"Drusilla!" I said, "what is it? Don't cry like this. What is it?"
At the sound of my voice she shivered.
"You?" she said. "Go away, oh, please, please, go away!"
"I can't leave you like this. Do tell me what—"
"I can't tell you. Go away!"
"Is it—" I asked slowly, "is it—what has Georgie done to make you cry like this?"
"He hasn't done anything. You had better go away please."
"Miserable young hound!" cried I savagely.
Drusilla raised her head suddenly.
23
