Then Betty bethought herself of a box of fine candies in her satchel, and taking it out, she passed it around to the other girls.
Murmuring conventional thanks, each accepted one bonbon, but declined a second one, and then Betty found herself with her box in her lap, gazing out of the window, as much alone as if there had been no one in the car.
But at last the three hours’ ride was over, and Betty’s hopeful nature looked forward to finding some among the pupils who would be more friendly than her traveling associates.
Omnibuses from the school met them at the station, and by chance Betty was put in with a dozen girls none of whom had been with her in the car.
But conditions were no better than before. They nodded diffidently to Betty, and then began to chatter to each other with the gay freedom of old acquaintances.
One girl, however, who sat opposite Betty, was also a new pupil. She had coal-black hair and bright black eyes, that darted quickly about, seeming to take in everything.
“You’re new, too, aren’t you?” she said at last, leaning over to seize Betty’s hand.
“Yes,” replied Betty, grateful for the word spoken voluntarily to her.
“So am I. I think the other girls are hateful to ignore us so. But don’t you mind; we’ll show them!”
Though this was independence of spirit, Betty couldn’t quite approve of the way it was expressed, nor of the belligerent wag of the head with which it was emphasized.