a inch or two on her new serge frock,
followed the old lady into the great wide hall of Wootton Beeches.

Her dream was coming true at last.

CHAPTER IV

HOW IT CAME TRUE

Half an hour later, Barbara was being led across the hall by Miss
Finlayson, to be introduced to her school-fellows in the playroom. It
puzzled her a little to see how calm and unconcerned the head-mistress
was looking. Did she not know what a thrilling moment this was to her
little new pupil, who tripped along by her side? As Babs was puzzling
over it, they reached the baize door on the opposite side of the hall,
and Miss Finlayson stooped and fastened it back, disclosing a long
passage beyond. At the end of the passage was another door; and through
this other door the murmur and hum of many voices drifted to the ears of
the excited child. She could hardly contain her impatience; and she
wondered why Miss Finlayson did not go on, instead of being so particular
about the fastening of the baize door. She even took a step forward
in her eagerness; but a hand was suddenly placed on her shoulder, and
Barbara glanced up and met the half-amused gaze of the lady who had just
seemed so indifferent to her.

Miss Finlayson had a way of looking at a girl that generally made a
friend of her at once. Her eyes were a peculiar shade of blue-grey that
gave them, as a rule, a cold expression; but they were also capable of a
glimpse of humour that completely altered and softened them, and it was
the discovery of this quality in them that changed Barbara's impatience
all at once to curiosity.

'One moment, little girl, before you go through that door over there,'
began Miss Finlayson, and her face was still grave in spite of the
betraying twinkle in her eyes. 'Tell me, have you ever known any girls
before?'

'Only Jill,' answered Barbara, wondering why she was being asked such an
odd question.

'Ah!' said Miss Finlayson. The child caught the change in her tone, and
went on quickly.

'I know Jill didn't approve of me at first,' she said, in her small,
anxious voice; 'but she does now, I think. Besides, Jill is grown-up,
you see; and I don't think it counts if you are grown-up, does it? I've
never met any real, nice, friendly girls before, who don't tease you, or
bully you, or anything like that. That's why I wanted to come to school.'

'Ah!' said Miss Finlayson again. Then she put out her hand and patted
the cheek of her little new pupil. 'Do not be