ts, and threw on a dash of perfume. And this she did, and then she hugged her mummy and Daddy, an

tracted her attention. He was standing on the road, and his presence attracted her. There was a feeling of apprehensiveness (but it was, she thought, rather t

wed to the three girls and stopped short at Aurora. That is bad

to be friends. It is all right, she replied with a real sm

Zayn assent

ke her to the field when the school close

ood. It is not without my friends, said she

er immediately. Aye

inute, she said to herself, aloud enough to be heard by all, I suppose he is

smiled. Is it possible d

eling amused at them. They went into the assembly h

ures. She looked around. Yes, he was looking, a vague, inscrutable expr

me like things have gone this far? Auror

na, with a meaning in h

r eyes. Is it possible we can go just now to the school field and have th

and told various kinds of stories. People were all smiling when he was funny and ch

he first time Aurora had ever been in the field,

e each other guilty glances. We are dreadfully sorry, Aurora, said Pr

d them, "It i

na. Is it possible to have a s

orry, Auror

moved near her and sat in a protective group. But Zayn gazed into them with the suggestion of

t beat a little quicker, a curious admixture of nerves and new confidence, that her friends were not far away. She

rs, making her goose all pimply. I am asking it, so that we may know o

ed, "I am

d men, Aurora? Why don't

be meeting with, she clarified. It is not the kind of school that I like in my other school, where studen

thing. Hmm, mumbled he. But your

int High," with an ex

Saint High School? he chanted slo

d with a touch of sadness. However, he lost his job, as a result of which he was unable to cover my education as b

per, "My Daddy was a rich man, too. I was doing very well, and he gave his life at an early age." There was l

eover, he was a boy who had lost. Instinctively, she stepped nearer, touched. She put her hand

were floodgates. She took a sleeve of her school dress and wiped the tears from his face. Why d

o sell some drinks. Once I am through with lectures, I spend the money to save towards my studies as well as to save towards my mother." He did not refer us to the as

ack a little, but still held his hand. To her, she said, "I am afraid to get into a relationship, Zayn. I do not want

il them, Aurora, he said, speaking very decidedly. I will mak

o, it is not the promise, she to

same age, Zayn. Why were you interested in me? How come you had the money to present me a

that he had spotted her on the first day they met, as well as the fact that he had bought the gifts and money from sma

e supposed to use to pay attention to or support your mothe

demonstrate that I care, ch

him, his weakness, and his giving up came too much. I will look at your request, de

ia came up to them. Precious said, It is gett

bade Zayn goodbye. Zayn also bid g

nything said? Aurora replied, with a good deal of gist, girls! Sh

comed them and discussed her day at school, giving out the names of her classes and her friends. She made sure not to show that she had ta