ht price to pay for their good," said
Bridgie hastily, for the tears were beginning to rise again in Pixie's
eyes at the thought of leaving the dear old home. "Dear me, I am
longing to see `the girls'! Aren't we going to see `the girls'? What
is the use of our dressing up like this if we are not to see `the
girls'?"

"Come along! Come along! Miss Phipps said I was to take you round
before she came in to give you tea. Come along, and see them now,"
cried Pixie, prancing to the door with eager steps, and forgetting
everything else in the excitement of the coming introduction, as it had
been intended that she should do. Bridgie and Joan followed close
behind, smiling in anticipation; but it was rather an embarrassing
occasion, when the door of the big classroom was thrown open, and
fifteen girls rose to their feet and stood staring with unblinking eyes,
while Fraulein smiled and bowed from the end of the long table. Bridgie
wanted to say something graceful and appropriate, but could only blush,
and smile, and stammer feebly. "Oh-h! How do you do? Is there anyone
here that I know by name? Flora--Margaret--Kate? Are any of your
special friends here, Pixie? Please introduce me."

"That's Flora!" said Pixie, pointing barefacedly across the room. "The
fat one. Kate is next to Fraulein--with specs. Margaret is having her
music lesson. That's Ethel in the middle, with the frizzy hair. This
is my sister Bridgie that I've told you about."

The faces of the girls thus singled out for special notice were wooden
in stolidity. Not a flicker of animation lit up their features; they
stood like pokers staring blankly before them, as if they had heard no
word of what was passing, and poor Bridgie murmured more disconnected
nothings, while Esmeralda looked from one to the other with her haughty,
patronising smile. It was quite a relief when the door was shut, and
the presence of Mademoiselle in classroom number two insured one
listener at least who would speak in reply. The greeting was a warm one
on both sides, but conversation was deferred until tea-time, when
Mademoiselle had been asked to join the party in the drawing-room, and
after just a minute's wait a move was made upstairs to the room where
Pixie slept. Here there were photographs to exhibit, and a number of
tiny ornaments which had been gifts from other girls.

"Ethel gave me that the day that I was ill.--Fanny bought me that when
she went out for the d