"No," said Fanny, rather indignantly; "there's lots of the children that are just as good as she is. She's not the best one in the school at all. She's good enough, but not so wonderful."
"She thinks she is," said Hattie.
"That's nothing," answered Fanny; "people's thinking they are a thing don't make them that thing, you know."
"Then you think Gracie is conceited and thinks a great deal of herself, do you?" asked Hattie.
"Why, yes," answered Fanny, though half reluctantly; "no one could help thinking that, you know."
Fanny expressed herself in this manner more as a way of excusing her own opinion of Gracie than as accusing her little playmate.
"Who do you think is the best child in all the school?" asked Hattie.
"Well," answered Fanny, after a moment's reflection, "I b'lieve Belle Powers is. At least I think it is the best in her to be as good as she is, for she has to try pretty hard sometimes."
"Why?" asked inquisitive Hattie again.