The Minerval Girl

Secret "When will you know that soon, Sybil?"

The spokeswoman turned her anxious eyes to her younger sister, who was seated kicking her heels on the faded carpet, leaning her chair back and forth as she echoed a French verb in a singing voice.

"Im sure I dont know," answered Sybil, picking up her book and speaking in a sad tone. "You gave me a lot to learn, Im sure, Hailey. Maybe I cant get it done before tea time. Oh - trouble!" Interrupted by the hallway of a disheveled, dirty-looking maid who broke into the messy room, sans a hood and excited. "What should I do now, Miss Hailey, I would like to know? This is the master bringing the visitor, and if I stay for tea then no scrap of butter in the house.