“What is it, you provoking thing!  Why don’t you tell us, so we can laugh too?”

“Well—­you—­see,” she gasped out at last, “we’ve got a new pupil—­the queerest looking thing you ever saw.  I happened to be in madam’s room when she came.  She came in the stage, and had a mite of an old-fashioned hair trunk, not much bigger than a band-box, and she came into madam’s room with a funny little basket in her hand, and sat down as if she had come to stay forever.

“‘Are you Madam Gazin?’ she asked.

“‘Yes,’ replied the teacher, ‘that is my name.’

“‘Well, I’ve come to stay a year at your school.’

[Illustration:  “That is just the amount, I believe.’]

“And then she pulled a handkerchief out of her basket, and unrolled it till she found an old leather wallet, and actually took out $250 and laid it in madam’s hand, as she said:—­

“That is just the amount, I believe; will you please give me a receipt for it?’

“You never saw madam look so surprised.  She actually didn’t know what to say for a minute, but she gave her the receipt, asked a few more questions, and had her taken to No. 10, and there she is now, this very minute.”

“Well, what was there so funny about all that?”

“Why, this:  she has red hair, tucked into a black net, and looks just like a fright, every way.  She had on a brown delaine dress, without a sign of a ruffle, or trimming of any kind, and the shabbiest hat and shawl you ever saw.  You’ll laugh, too, when you see her.”

Belle Burnette was an only child, and her wealthy father was pleased to gratify her every whim.  So, besides being far too elegantly dressed for a schoolgirl, she was supplied with plenty of pocket money, and being very generous and full of life and fun, she was the acknowledged leader among madam’s pupils.

When the tea bell rang, the new-comer was escorted to the dining-room, and introduced to her schoolmates as Miss Fannie Comstock.  She had exchanged her brown delaine for a plain, calico dress, with a bit of white edging about the neck.

She did look rather queer, with her small, thin, freckled face, and her red hair brushed straight back from her face, and hidden as much as possible under a large, black net, and but for the presence of madam, her first reception would have been exceedingly unpleasant.  She was shy and awkward, and evidently ill at ease among so many strangers.

As soon as possible, she hastened back to the seclusion of her own room.  The next day she was examined, and assigned to her place in the different classes, and to the surprise of all, she was far in advance of those of her age.

But this did not awaken the respect of her schoolmates as it should have done.  On the contrary, Belle Burnette and her special friends were highly indignant about it, and at once began a series of petty annoyances, whenever it was safe to do so.  This kept poor Fannie miserable, indeed, although she seemed to take no notice of it.