cluded Helen, "but of course when school
begins I will have lots of them."

Rosanna was conscious of a jealous pang. She didn't want this
bright-eyed little girl who had just come into her life to have other
friends.

"I don't see why you have to have other friends if you have me," she
said. "Why can't we play together all the time, and have good times? My
grandmother said I was to take you riding every day, and we can have
such fun. If you have a lot of other friends, Helen, you won't come here
at all."

"Why, yes, I will, Rosanna! You will be my bestest friend of all. But
mother says we all need a number of people in our lives because if we
don't we will all get to thinking the same things and talking the same
way, and it is very bad for us."

"Well, I can't have any," said Rosanna hopelessly. "I told you that
before. I suppose if she hadn't had to go to New York, I would never
have had you for a friend. That is the way my grandmother is."

"Oh, well," said Helen, "when she gets back we will explain things to
her, and I am sure she will get to understand all about things. Why, you
just _have_ to have friends, Rosanna, and I want you to have me if you
think you like me enough."

"Oh, I do; indeed I do!" cried Rosanna. "I just can't stand it if she
doesn't let me have you! We will have such good times, Helen, and I can
learn to cook, and we can learn to play duets together and it will be
such fun."

"I should say so!" said Helen happily. "And don't you think it would be
fun to see what all we can do for ourselves? I mean without asking
Minnie. I am sure mother would think it would make us sort of helpless.
Of course she is your maid, and if you would rather have her to do
things for you--"

"No; let's do everything ourselves," said Rosanna, eager to please, and
with a feeling that with someone to enjoy it with her the task would be
a pleasure.

"I tell you what, Helen, until school opens I can be your very best
friend, and you can play with me 'most all the time, and we will be so
happy."

Minnie watched them from a side window in the big house but they did not
see her. Minnie was pleased. She had heard what Mrs. Horton had said
about some child coming to play with Rosanna. Minnie being wiser than
Rosanna and grown up, knew very well that Mrs. Horton did not mean Helen
Culver. But Minnie had had one or two disastrous experiences with the
children who went to the very select dancing school with Rosanna, and