"It's Ella Russell, a girl who lives close by our gates," was the half-scornful reply.
"She looks rather a jolly little thing," said Dorothy. "I wonder if she'll be in our form."
"Oh, I don't suppose she will—she's never been to school before, and Marcia is quite looking forward to having her in the babies' class."
"Then I'm afraid Marcia will be disappointed, for Ella Russell is quite advanced enough to be in the third form. In fact, she is going to join your class at once."
It was Ella's examiner who spoke. She was standing near, and had chanced to overhear Gertie's remark.
Ella was quietly delighted at the position she took in school, although so humble-minded was she that she never thought of taking the credit to herself.
"How is it," asked the third form mistress, Miss Merton by name, "that you are so well up in your lessons, having never been to school?"
"My Grannie taught me," replied the child, "and she's very clever—that's how it is."
"And some one else is clever too, or else I am very much mistaken," was the teacher's unspoken thought.
Shortly after this, school went on in real earnest, and such a busy day it was, that almost before Ella realized the fact, four o'clock had come round, and lessons were over for the day.