, "it's very nice to
be ill."

"But I want you to get well," said Susan. "You can't think how dull it
is down-stairs without you."

Buskin would not allow any further conversation, and Susan had to say
good-night and go away. As she kissed her friend's tiny befrilled face,
she felt for the first time really fond of her, and grateful also. She
had made the discovery lately that you could not judge people by their
outsides, or even by what others said of them. Under her cross, crabbed
manner Sophia Jane had hidden a grateful heart, which had answered to
the first touch of kindness; and disguised by sharp and shrewish words,
she had shown a really generous and forgiving spirit. Like Madame
Jones, it appeared that she had a noble heart.

The next day was one of some excitement to Susan, for it had been
arranged that she was to spend it with some friends of Margaretta and
Nanna who lived at Ramsgate. Their name was Winslow. It was not
altogether a pleasant prospect, for she had never been there before, and
she had very little hope that she should find them agreeable. Not that
she knew anything against them; on the contrary, their name was never
uttered without words of admiration, and if Nanna or Margaretta wished
to bestow high approval on anything, they always said it was like
something the Winslows had. It appeared, indeed, that these friends
were much favoured by fortune. Their house was the pleasantest, their
horses the best, their taste the most excellent, their children the
prettiest and most clever. It was this last point which had specially
interested Sophia Jane and Susan, and they had gradually come to dislike
the little Winslows, though they knew nothing of them but their names
and appearance. Whenever Nanna or Margaretta returned from seeing these
friends they were brimful of admiration at the excellent conduct and
talent of the children, and did not fail to draw unfavourable contrasts.
They described their dresses, repeated their speeches, and gave many
instances of their polite behaviour and obedience to rules. Little Eva,
who was not so old as Susan, could already play "The Harmonious
Blacksmith" without a mistake. Dear Julia, who was Sophia Jane's exact
age, danced the minuet with the utmost elegance, and always held herself
upright. As for darling Lucy, she spoke French with ease, and had
begged to be allowed to begin German.

Although they had never spoken to these wonderful children, th