had brought
down-stairs, and now held tightly clutched under one arm.

"And here," said Mrs Enticknapp, when she had finished her inquiries;
"here, you see is a nice little companion for you of your own age. She
will learn lessons with you, and play with you, and I hope you will soon
be good friends. Sophia Jane, come here."

Sophia Jane came and stood on the other side of Aunt Hannah, rolled her
arms tightly up in her pinafore, and stared without winking at Susan and
her doll.

"To-day," continued Mrs Enticknapp, "you shall not do any lessons, and
while I am busy with Nanna and Margaretta you may amuse yourselves
quietly. After dinner you shall all go out for a walk. If you crumple
up your pinafore in that way, Sophia Jane," she added, "you will have
another bad mark."

Sophia Jane unrolled her arms, and smoothed the pinafore down in front
with her small bony hands; then she thrust out her pointed chin, and
asked eagerly:

"May we go and play in the attic?"

Aunt Hannah hesitated. "If it's not too cold for Susan, you may. If it
is, you must come and play at some quiet game in here. But understand
that you must make no noise while I am busy."

"Come along," said Sophia Jane. She caught hold of Susan's hand and led
her quickly out of the room and upstairs, casting rapid glances at her
over her shoulder as they went. "Fond of dolls?" she inquired as they
were climbing the second flight of stairs.

"I'm fond of _this_ one," answered Susan, clasping Grace a little
closer.

"I had one once," said Sophia Jane with a superior air; "but I haven't
got her now."

"Where is she?" asked Susan.

"I killed her," said Sophia Jane in a cold voice.

"Oh!" said Susan stopping still a moment; "what did you do that for?"

"I hated her," replied Sophia Jane shortly; "she had such starin' eyes."

Susan gazed at the small murderess with awe. "How did you do it?" she
asked at length in a lowered tone.

"Drove a nail right through her skull," answered Sophia Jane, with a
spiteful gleam in her blue eyes. "Here's the attic!"

They had reached the top storey after a last short flight of stairs
without any carpet. Here there were only two rooms, one for Buskin, the
maid-servant, and the other unfurnished. Sophia Jane flung open the
door of this last with an air of triumph. "We can do just as we like
here," she said; "and down-stairs we couldn't talk above a whisper while
they're doing lessons."

Susan entered wo