"She's such an old dear, although quite the idlest and most ignorant person I ever came across," said Mary Davies to her companions.
"Yes," whispered another little girl with fat rosy cheeks and round eyes; "but did you ever taste such chocolate creams? Why, they must cost a halfpenny apiece. I do love to sit next to her; she says I may dive my hand into her pocket as often as I like."
"Oh, she's an old love!" echoed all the girls: "but what a pity it is that she won't learn."
"She does not want to learn," said Mary Davies. "Learning would spoil her; she is a pet."
Meanwhile in the playground Gwin Harley waited in vain for Kitty to join her.
"Does any one know where Kitty Malone is?" she said, addressing one of the girls in Kitty's class.
"She is kept in for an imposition; she did not know her history, and
Miss Worrick said she was to stay in," answered Mary Davies.
"Oh, well, I suppose I can see her another time," said Gwin. At that moment she met Elma's anxious eyes.
Elma was just about to dart to the side of her friend, when, to the amazement of all the girls, Kitty walked calmly across the playground.
"Oh Gwin, I must speak to you; it is about Alice. You know, you and Alice are great friends. Things get worse and worse, and they are almost past bearing. Last night I heard her sobbing in bed. She sobbed and sobbed, and at last I could stand no more of it, and sprang out of bed, and bent over her and said: 'Alice, is it about me you are crying?' and she said: 'Oh, yes, Kitty, it is;' and I said, 'And why 'Oh, yes, Kitty?' What has poor Kitty done to you?"