"We are Dot and Tess Kenway," said Tess. "I'm Tess. We live just over there," and she pointed to the big, old-fashioned mansion across the Parade Ground.
"Ah, then," said the woman in the gray cloak, "you are the Corner House girls. I have heard of you."
"We are only two of them," said Dot, quickly. "There's four."
"Ah! then you are only half the quartette."
"I don't believe we are half—do you, Tess?" said Dot, seriously. "You see," she added to the lady, "Ruthie and Aggie are so much bigger than we are."
The lady in the gray cloak laughed again. "You are all four of equal importance, I have no doubt. And you must be very happy together—you sisters." The sad look returned to her face. "It must be lovely to have three sisters."
"Didn't you ever have any at all?" asked Dot, sympathetically.
"I had a sister once—one very dear sister," said the lady, thoughtfully, and looking away across the Parade Ground.
Tess and Dot gazed at each other questioningly; then Tess ventured to ask:
"Did she die?"