o," said Nancy, "but it's almost the same.
She says she can't do them, and says she could if some one was kind
enough to just show her how. Then I can't seem to be unkind, and the
minute I say I'll _help_ her, she pushes her slate and pencil towards
me. 'You can do 'em easier than I can,' she says, and instead of
_helping_ her, I do them all."

"Does Aunt Charlotte like to have you?" asked Dorothy.

"I don't know; I haven't told her about it yet. I don't want to be a
telltale," Nancy said.

"Of course you don't," agreed Dorothy, "but you know Aunt Charlotte says
that we are to be independent, and Arabella's anything but independent
when she doesn't do her examples herself. It's puzzling, though; mamma
says we mustn't notice her queer ways, and that we must be kind to her,
and it doesn't seem kind to refuse to help her with her lessons."

"Wait for us!" called a merry voice, and turning, they saw Nina and
Jeanette running toward them. A third girl clasped their hands, and
Dorothy knew that she must be their cousin, Lola Blessington.

She was very pretty, and she seemed so friendly that Dorothy was really
glad that she was to join the class, and Nancy was quite as pleased. It
was early for school, and Nina proposed that they sit on the wall, and
wait for Katie and Reginald.

They seated themselves upon the stone wall, and like a row of sparrows,
they chattered gaily.

Lola seemed full of fun, and she told of some fine games which she had
played at the school where she had been a pupil, and they were all very
glad that she was to be a member of the private class.

And now a thin little figure made its way across the street, just a
little way from where they were sitting.

Nina reached behind Lola, and touched her sister's sleeve; Jeanette
nodded, and looked toward the girl who walked along, looking down upon
the ground.

Dorothy saw her, and called to her kindly:

"Arabella! Arabella! Won't you come and meet our new playmate?"

Arabella turned, paused just a second to stare at the new pupil. Then
turning toward the stone cottage, she said:

"I can't stop to talk; I've got to go to school."

"Why, how--" Nancy would not finish the sentence.

She was grieved that Arabella should be so rude to Dorothy, and vexed
that their new friend should be unkindly treated.

"Who is she?" Lola asked.

"She's Arabella Corryville," said Nina, "and she's in our class, and I
wish--" she stopped as short as Nancy had a few