om the crown of her hat to
the tip of the little trim shoe, with an expression of icy displeasure.

"Oh dear me, no," she said quietly, "you mistake the situation. You put
it the wrong way about. Your brother is the big boy whom I have allowed
to become a friend of mine!"

Esther and Mellicent gasped with amazement, while Rosalind gave a trill
of laughter, and threw up her pretty white hands.

"She's wexed!" she cried. "She's wexed, because I called her little!
I'm wewwy sowwy, but I weally can't help it, don't you know. It's the
twuth! You are a whole head smaller than I am." She threw back her
chin, and looked over Peggy's head with a smile of triumph. "There,
look at that, and I'm not a year older. I call you wewwy small indeed
for your age."

"I'm thankful to hear it! I admire small women," said Peggy promptly,
seating herself on a corner of the window-seat, and staring critically
at the tall figure of the visitor. She would have been delighted if she
could have persuaded herself that her height was awkward and ungainly,
but such an effort was beyond imagination. Rosalind was startlingly and
wonderfully pretty; she had never seen anyone in real life who was in
the least like her. Her eyes were a deep, dark blue, with curling dark
lashes, her face was a delicate oval, and the pink and white colouring,
and flowing golden locks, gave her the appearance of a princess in a
fairy tale rather than an ordinary flesh-and-blood maiden. Peggy looked
from her to Mellicent, who was considered quite a beauty among her
companions, and, oh dear me! how plain, and fat, and prosaic she
appeared when viewed side by side with this radiant vision! Esther
stood the comparison better, for, though her long face had no
pretensions to beauty, it was thoughtful and interesting in expression.
There was no question which was most charming to look at; but if it had
come to choice of a companion, an intelligent observer would certainly
have decided in favour of the vicar's daughter. Esther's face was
particularly grave at this moment, and her eyes met Peggy's with a
reproachful glance. What was the matter with the girl this afternoon?
Why did she take up everything that Rosalind said in that hasty,
cantankerous manner? Here was an annoying thing--to have just given an
enthusiastic account of the brightness and amicability of a new
companion, and then to have that companion come into the room only to
make snappish remarks, and