to describe
"plain Hannah" to an unfortunate who had not the honour of her
acquaintance. Hannah was Hannah, a being distinct by herself--
absolutely different from any one else. To begin with, she was
extraordinarily plain; but, so far from grieving over the fact, Hannah
wore it proudly as the foremost feather in her cap.

It was she herself who had originated and sanctioned the continued use
of the sobriquet, which had its origin in a juvenile answer given by
herself to a stranger who inquired her name.

Now Hannah was the only member of the family who was limited to one
cognomen, so she answered unthinkingly, "Hannah; _plain_ Hannah!" and
instantly descrying the twinkling appreciation in that stranger's eyes,
she twinkled herself, and henceforth led the adoption of the title.
Long use had almost deadened its meaning in the ears of the family, but
strangers still suffered at the hearing.

Plain Hannah's face peered cheerily out of the cab window, her little
eyes twinkled merrily, her preposterous eyebrows arched in derision of
the melancholy group upon the doorsteps. No one dared shed a tear when
she was so evidently on the watch for any sign of weakness, sentimental
farewells were checked upon the speaker's lips, and the whole business
of parting assumed a lighter, a more matter-of-fact air.

A second big box was hoisted on to the cab roof, a few kisses
shamefacedly exchanged, and then the travellers were off, and nothing
remained to the watchers but to trail drearily back into a house from
which half the brightness seemed to have departed.

Well might Clemence say that the worst pain of a parting fell on those
who were left behind! While the stay-at-homes struggled heavily through
a long afternoon, in every moment of which the feeling of loss became
even more acute, Darsie and plain Hannah were enjoying one of the most
exciting experiences of their lives.

In spite of an almost lifelong interest in Cambridge, neither girl had
as yet visited the town itself, so that each incident of the journey was
full of interest and excitement. The station was disappointingly like
other stations, and they had abundant opportunity of examining it at
leisure, since the porters rushed in a body to attend to the male
students who had arrived at the same time, and who could be trusted to
give larger tips than their female companions. The drive through the
streets also fell short of expectations; but, after all, Cambridge me