Lucy appeared, leading Jane by the hand. Jane was a short, dumpy, and very plain girl. She had an enormous forehead and thin hair. Her hair was cut to a line level with her neck. Her dress was short, sensible, ugly. Her hands were big and somewhat red. She had small, honest eyes and a large mouth.
"Jane," said Star in a sprightly tone, "you are just the very person we want. This is the victim; we will guard her, won't we?"
"Three cheers!" cried Lucy. "Of course we will."
"You must come to us if you are in any difficulty, Christian," said Angela.
"And just let me know and I'll punch 'em all round," was Jane's remark.
Christian's face was very pale.
"Thank you all," she said. "No doubt you mean it in kindness, but I feel more frightened than ever."
"Oh, dear! the poor, sweet thing!" said Star. "Has anybody got a lollypop?"
Immediately three hands were thrust into three pockets. Star's alone was unattacked. She shook her head sadly.
"I haven't got any," she said. "I ate all mine up last night after I got into bed. Four-and-twenty I consumed, and I was none the worse this morning."