Literary Luminary

"She leans in close to Felicity. "What were you doing with her?"
"I do believe that one headmistress is enough, Pippa,"
Felicity scoffs. "Really, your imagination is so brilliant you should put i to use as a novelist someday. Gemma, walk with me."
She loops her arm through mine and we pass Pippa, who can do nothing to save face now but make a show of snubbing Ann to run off and talk with other girls.
"Sometimes she is such a child," Felicity says when we're a few steps being them all.
"I thought you were best of friends."
"I adore Pippa. Really. but she's very sheltered. There are things I could never tell her. Like Ithal. But you understand. I can tell that you do. I think we're going to be great friends, Gemma."
"Would we still be great friends if I didn't hold a secret over your head?" I ask.
"Don't friends always share secrets?"
Would I ever share my secrets with any of these girls? Or would they run in horror to know the truth about me? Up ahead, Miss Moore shepherds the younger girls through the trees and put onto the great lawn. She watches us with a curious expression, as id we're windows into the past. Ghosts.
"Come along, girls," she calls. "Don't dawdle."
"Dawdle? I can barely breathe from trudging up this hill at a gallop!" Felicity sniffs.
"How long has Miss Moore taught at Spence?" I ask.
"She arrived this past summer. She's a breath of fresh air in this staid old place, I can tell you that. Oh, what's this?" Felicity says.
"What's what?" I ask.
"This remnant in your bodice. Bit torn. Ugh, and muddy. If you need a proper handkerchief, you only have to ask. I've got scads of them." She puts the scrap i my open palm. Its blue silk, torn and soiled around the edges, as if it might have been ripped by a branch. My legs shake so that i have to lean against the first tree I see.
Felicity looks puzzled. "Whats the matter?"
"Nothing," I say, my voice whispery tight.
"Its as if you've seen a ghost."
I might have.
The muddy blue silk is a promise in my hands. My mother was here. I'd choose her. It's what I said before I fell asleep. Somehow, I've changed things. I've brought her back with this strange power of mine. For the first time, I want to know everything about it. If Kartik wont tell me, I'll find out on my own. I'll hunt down Mary Dowd and get her to tell me what I need to know. They can't stop me.
Felicity gives my hand a pull. "Don't be so slow."
"I'm coming," I said, quickening my pace till I'm clear of the trees and into the warm sun again." page 117-118

• What do you think was the reason Gemma asked: "Would we still be great friends if I didn't hold a secret over your head?"
• So why all of a sudden does Gemma want to know all about these powers after saying that she doesn't? Do you think its just because she go ta glimpse of her mother and because of the blue silk?