ble paper after all. I know nothing about the French
Revolution, simply nothing. I have never read any of Sir Walter
Scott's novels, and could not criticise or review one to save my life.
But Christmas joys--ah, yes, I might attempt that;" and Winnie looked
hopeful at this point.

"Very well, Win, we've decided," responded Nellie; then, Agnes Drummond
coming forward and addressing them, their conversation was interrupted
for the present.

Ada Irvine's triumph was by no means so complete as she fancied it
would be, though there was still much to cause her satisfaction.
Almost every day she had the pleasure of seeing Winnie grow furious and
Nellie wince under some cutting sarcasm thrown out with well-directed
aim by some of the most fashionable girls in the school, and not even
the former's reappearance and championship could allay to any extent
the open insults which beset the defenceless girl during school hours.

"Go! you are not my friends," the stanch little ally had said when she
found how matters stood on her return after her illness. "I hate and
despise every one of you from the bottom of my heart. You call
yourselves ladies, but I tell you no true lady would lower herself to
utter such words as fall from your lips. I know who your ringleader
is, and if the heartiest hatred will do her any good, she has mine.
But act as you please; only remember Nellie is now, and ever will be,
the one true friend of my life. And as for her aunts, let me tell you
you are not worthy to touch the hem of their garments."

"Oh, nonsense, Winnie!" one of the girls had replied, in a
half-condescending manner; "I am sure you can't forget your mother's
opinion on the subject."

"And who informed you about my mother's opinion? It must have been
Ada; and that throws light on what has puzzled me lately. I think I
may thank her for all this trouble I have been and am still
experiencing. No, do not try to defend her; one day we shall be quits."

"But Ada is never rude or disagreeable to you now, Win," pleaded
another girl. "There has been a marked change in her manner lately.
She is very gentle and kind to you. As for blaming her about telling
tales, that is hardly fair. She really said very little concerning
Mrs. Blake and her opinion of Nellie. Where she got her information we
do not know, but she told us decidedly it was not from your
step-mother."

Winnie looked incredulous. "That is quite sufficient," she replied
wi