ment. I hope my department will be
close to yours, Miss ----."

"Temple is my name," said Cecil, "but you need not call me that. I am
Cecil to all my friends, and you are my friend this evening, for you are
my chum, you know. Oh, you were asking me about our departments--you
won't have any at first, for you have got to earn it, but I will invite
you to mine pretty often. Come, now, let us go inside. Is not it just
like the darlingest little drawing-room? I am so sorry that I have only
one easy chair, but you shall have it to-night, and I will sit on this
three-legged stool. I am saving up my money to buy another arm-chair, and
Annie has promised to upholster it for me."

"Is Annie one of the maids?"

"Oh, dear, no! she's dear old Annie Forest, the liveliest girl in the
school. Poor darling, she's seldom out of hot water; but we all love her,
we can't help it. Poor Annie, she hardly ever has the luxury of a
department to herself, so she is useful all round. She's the most amusing
and good-natured dear pet in Christendom."

"I don't like her at all," said Hester; "I did not know you were talking
of her--she is a most rude, uncouth girl."

Cecil Temple, who had been arranging a small dark green table-cloth with
daffodils worked artistically in each corner on her little table, stood
up as the newcomer uttered these words, and regarded her fixedly.

"It is a pity to draw hasty conclusions," she said. "There is no girl
more loved in the school than Annie Forest. Even the teachers, although
they are always punishing her, cannot help having a soft corner in their
hearts for her. What can she possibly have done to offend you? but oh!
hush--don't speak--she is coming into the room."

As Cecil finished her rather eager defense of her friend, and prevented
the indignant words which were bubbling to Hester's lips, a gay voice was
heard singing a comic song in the passage, the play-room door was flung
open with a bang, and Miss Forest entered the room with a small girl
seated on each of her shoulders.

"Hold on, Janny, love; keep your arms well round me, Mabel. Now, then,
here we go--twice up the room and down again. No more, as I'm alive. I've
got to attend to other matters than you."

She placed the little girls on the floor amid peals of laughter, and
shouts from several little ones to give them a ride too. The children
began to cling to her skirts and to drag her in all directions, and she
finally escaped from them with