ver wear
it, and you might just as well have it. Yes, I will! You shall have it
for a term-holiday present, because you were a kind little girl and
didn't join the other girls when they were nasty to me last week. Are
you pleased with it now?"

"Oh-h, Lottie! You darlin'! Is it really me very own?" Pixie was
fairly breathless with pleasure and excitement, and could only exclaim
rapturously and gaze at the reflection of the new treasure, while Lottie
smiled, well pleased to have given so much pleasure. Yes! she told
herself she was really devoted to Pixie O'Shaughnessy! There was
something so sweet and taking about the child that it made one feel nice
to give her pleasure, and she pinned, and arranged, and tied ribbons
with as much zest as if she were arranging her own toilette.

"There! Now you are done. I think you look very nice. The collar goes
so well with that black dress."

"My worrd! Aren't I stylish! I just look beautiful!" cried Pixie,
poking her ugly little face close to the glass, and twisting round and
round to examine herself in all aspects. She kissed Lottie effusively,
expressed a hundred thanks, and danced downstairs into the schoolroom,
where the girls were standing about in twos and threes, looking so grand
that it was quite difficult to recognise them. They all stared at her
as the latest arrival, and Pixie, being conscious of their scrutiny,
held out her arms stiffly on either side, and revolved slowly round and
round on one heel. The girls laughed uproariously at first, then
suddenly the laughs subsided into titters, and Pixie, stopping to see
what was wrong, espied Miss Phipps and the three governesses standing
just inside the doorway, watching with the rest, and applauding with
their hands. It was an embarrassing moment, and the performer made a
quick dash behind a sofa to screen herself from publicity, but she had
not been there five minutes before she was called upon to answer a
question.

"Pixie, Kate tells me you were in Lottie's room before you came down.
Was she nearly ready?"

"She was, Miss Phipps, quite ready! Only waiting for me. She's on a
white dress, and--"

"Never mind that. I want you to run upstairs, please, and tell her that
the cab is here. She must put on her wraps and come down at once."

"I will, Miss Phipps." There was a whisk of short black skirts and off
she went, running lightly upstairs, and raising her voice in rich,
musical cry, "Lottie!