er that time. Cassandra had, however, two more
terms of school-life before her, and these terms she regarded as the
most valuable of her whole education.

In appearance Cassandra was a tall, well-made girl, graceful in her
movements, and very self-possessed in manner. Her face was full of
intelligence, but was rather plain than otherwise, for her mouth was too
wide and her nose the reverse of classical. She had bright intelligent
brown eyes, however, a nice voice, and a pleasant way. Cassandra was
looked up to by all her fellow-students, and this not because she was
rich, nor because she was beautiful, but simply because she was good and
honorable and trustworthy; she possessed a large amount of sympathy for
nearly every one, her tact was unfailing, and she was never
self-assertive.

Now Cassandra, who had many friends in the school, had amongst them, of
course, her greatest friend. This girl was called Florence Archer.
Florence was pretty and clever, but she had neither Cassandra's depth
nor power of intellect. She was naturally vain and frivolous, except in
the presence of her dearest friend. She was easily influenced by others,
and it was her habit to follow the one who gave her the last advice. Her
passionate love for Cassandra was perhaps her best and strongest
quality; but of late she had exhibited a sense of almost unwarrantable
jealousy when any other girl showed a preference for her special friend.
Florence was a very nice girl, but jealousy was her bane. She thought a
good deal of herself, for her father was a rich man, and only took
advantage of the Great Shirley education because it was incomparably the
best in the place. There was no rule against any one attending the
school, and he had long ago secured a niche in it for his favorite
daughter. Florence loved it and hated it at the same time. She was fond
of her own companions, but she could not bear the foundation girls.
These girls made a large percentage in the school. In all respects they
were supposed to be Florence's equals, but as a matter of fact they were
kept in a very subordinate position by the paying girls. On every
possible occasion they were avoided, and there must be something very
special about any one of them if she was taken up by the aristocrats--as
they termed themselves--of the school.

But Cassandra as a rule was perfectly sweet and pleasant to the
foundation girls, and this trait in her friend's character annoyed
Florence more than