"Maria Edgham is pretty enough, and she knows it," said they.
She was in the high school, even at her age, and she stood high in her classes.

There was always a sort of moral strike going on against Maria, as there is against all superiority, especially when the superiority is known to be recognized by the possessor thereof.
In spite of her prettiness, she was not a favorite even among the boys.

They were, as a rule, innocent as well as young, but they would rather have snatched a kiss from such a pretty, dainty little creature than have had her go above them in the algebra class.

It did not seem fitting.

Without knowing it, they were envious.