--

"Aunt Emma, do they give the girls enough to eat at this school?"

Aunt Emma laughed.

"Why, of course they do," she answered. "Whatever put that notion into
your head, Ruby? The girls have all they can eat of good, wholesome
food, and it is just as nice as it is at home."

Ruby looked contented, and went on again.

"I did n't spose you would go and ask your aunt about what I said,"
Maude remarked presently in rather annoyed tones. "Now don't tell her
one single word about the cake and candy I have in my trunk, or she may
tell the other teachers, and they will take it away from me. I know
all about what things the teachers will do at boarding-school."

"I guess my auntie would n't do anything mean," Ruby answered rather
hotly. "Anyway, Maude, perhaps this boarding-school is n't like the
one that those girls went to. Aunt Emma said it would be ever so nice
here, and she ought to know, for she has lived here ever since I was a
little bit of a girl. I was only three years old when she began to
teach here."

"Perhaps it is nice, and then perhaps again she has got used to it, and
don't notice that it is n't pleasant," said Maude. "Anyway, I am ever
so glad that you are here, Ruby, for it will be ever so much pleasanter
having somebody I know."

"Turn the corner now, Ruby," called Aunt Emma, as the little girls came
to the corner of a street, and going around the corner they found that
they were close to the school.

Both the children were sure that it must be the school even before Aunt
Emma said,--

"Here we are, girls. Does it not look like a pleasant place?"

It did, indeed, look very pleasant, and even Maude, who was disposed to
find fault, could not raise any objection to the large, rambling brick
house, with wide porches running all around it, shaded with vines, and
surrounded on every side by large lawns and a pretty garden.

A row of great elms spread their wide branches upon both sides of the
street, and just opposite the school stood a pretty church, with its
spire reaching up among the trees, and ivy climbing over its stone
walls.

Several little girls about as large as Ruby and Maude, as well as a few
older ones, were amusing themselves upon the lawn, and they all looked
very happy.

"Well, Maude, this is n't as bad as you thought it was going to be, is
it?" asked Maude's mamma.

"No," admitted Maude. "It looks nice enough outside, but remember,
mamma, if I don't like it I am goi