She was very pretty, and she seemed so friendly that Dorothy was really glad that she was to join the class, and Nancy was quite as pleased.  It was early for school, and Nina proposed that they sit on the wall, and wait for Katie and Reginald.

They seated themselves upon the stone wall, and like a row of sparrows, they chattered gaily.

Lola seemed full of fun, and she told of some fine games which she had played at the school where she had been a pupil, and they were all very glad that she was to be a member of the private class.

And now a thin little figure made its way across the street, just a little way from where they were sitting.

Nina reached behind Lola, and touched her sister’s sleeve; Jeanette nodded, and looked toward the girl who walked along, looking down upon the ground.

Dorothy saw her, and called to her kindly: 

“Arabella!  Arabella!  Won’t you come and meet our new playmate?”

Arabella turned, paused just a second to stare at the new pupil.  Then turning toward the stone cottage, she said: 

“I can’t stop to talk; I’ve got to go to school.”

“Why, how—­” Nancy would not finish the sentence.

She was grieved that Arabella should be so rude to Dorothy, and vexed that their new friend should be unkindly treated.

“Who is she?” Lola asked.

“She’s Arabella Corryville,” said Nina, “and she’s in our class, and I wish—­” she stopped as short as Nancy had a few moments before.

Lola turned to look at Nina.

“What were you going to say?” she whispered.

“I was going to say that I wished she wasn’t.”

CHAPTER III

THE DIALOGUE

Lola received a cordial greeting from Aunt Charlotte, and at recess time she declared that she was now in the nicest school that she had ever attended.

“Why, how many have you been in?” asked Mollie; “this is the only one I’ve ever been to, and you aren’t any older than I am.”

Lola laughed.

“I’ve been in three schools,” she said.  “Last year I commenced in one school, but we moved, and I had to go to another one.  This makes the third, and I know I shall like it best of all.”

Every one liked Lola.  She seemed to be tireless.  She knew many games, and as soon as they wearied of one, she chose another.

“She’s as much fun to play with as a boy,” said Reginald, at which Arabella laughed.

“You like any girls better’n boys; you said so the other day,” she said.

“I like some girls,” said the small boy, and he might have said more, but his cousin Katie stood behind Arabella, shaking her head, and frowning at him.  Reginald looked at Katie, and decided to be silent.

There were ever so many things which he would have liked to say, but Katie might tell at home if he were too naughty.