companions that several of them had
tittered aloud. Not once did she glance at Hester, although she
occasionally looked boldly in her direction; but when she did so, her
versatile face assumed a blank expression, as if she were seeing nothing.
When tea was over, Dora Russell surprised the members of her own class by
walking straight up to Hester, putting her hand inside her arm, and
leading her off to her own very refined-looking little drawing-room.

"I want to tell you," she said, when the two girls found themselves
inside the small enclosure, "that I quite agree with you in your opinion
of Miss Forest. I think you were very brave to speak to her as you did
to-day. As a rule, I never trouble myself with what the little girls in
the third class do, and of course Annie seldom comes under my notice; but
I think she is a decidedly spoiled child, and your rebuff will doubtless
do her a great deal of good."

These words of commendation, coming from tall and dignified Miss Russell
completely turned poor Hester's head.

"Oh, I am so glad you think so!" she stammered, coloring high with
pleasure. "You see," she added, assuming a little tone of extra
refinement, "at home I always associated with girls who were perfect
ladies."

"Yes, any one can see that," remarked Miss Russell approvingly.

"And I do think Annie under-bred," continued Hester. "I cannot
understand," she added, "why Miss Temple likes her so much."

"Oh, Cecil is so amiable; she sees good in every one," answered Miss
Russell. "Annie is evidently not a lady, and I am glad at last to find
some one of the girls who belong to the middle school capable of
discerning this fact. Of course, we of the first class have nothing
whatever to say to Miss Forest, but I really think Mrs. Willis is not
acting quite fairly by the other girls when she allows a young person of
that description into the school. I wish to assure you, Miss Thornton,
that you have at least my sympathy, and I shall be very pleased to see
you in my drawing-room now and then."

As these last words were uttered, both girls were conscious of a little
rustling sound not far away. Miss Russell drew back her curtain, and
asked very sharply, "Who is there?" but no one replied, nor was there any
one in sight, for the girls who did not possess compartments were
congregated at the other end of the long play-room, listening to stories
which Emma Marshall, a clever elder girl, was relating for their benefit.