"And that is also her opinion of Bridget Dorgan who comes to do the scrubbing and smells of beer," sighed Mrs. Cameron aside. "Sometimes I really think, Lewis, that Carolyn May's taste in friendships is altogether too catholic." Her husband merely chuckled. CHAPTER III A NEW FRIEND The next day was a holiday, so Carolyn May did not have to get up at half past seven and hurry to school. Nevertheless she and Prince were early abroad. Prince always kept perfect count of the school days. That was one reason why Carolyn May was so sure he was "quite an interlectial dog." On the school days when the little girl started forth, Prince went only to the apartment door with her. But on this morning he ran ahead down the stairs, leaping and barking and wagging his ridiculous tail, confident that he and his little mistress were going for a walk. The moment Carolyn May reached the vestibule and snapped the leash on to Prince's collar, the little girl exclaimed: "Oh, dear, me! where's the funeral?" "There ain't no fun'ral, Car'lyn May," vouch-safed Johnny O'Harrity who stood poised on his crutches at the bottom of the steps. "Has the ambulance come for somebody, then?" demanded Carolyn May. "Naw! There ain't no amb'lance!" "What _is_ the matter?" cried the little girl, gazing in amazement at the throng of children around the door. It seemed as though half of those about her own age living on the block were present. And how they all eyed Carolyn May! "What ever is the matter?" she repeated. "Have--have I done anything?" "Come on, Car'lyn May," said one bolder child--a girl with red hair and a hole in her stocking. "You're goin' down to the candy store, ain't you?" "Why, no," said Carolyn May. "I bet she's goin' to the drug store first off. _I_ would," declared another, a boy this time. "Why--why--" "Let's go over to Maxey's. You get lots more for your money at Maxey's than you do at the drug store." "For--goodness--gracious--sake!" gasped Carolyn May. "Who ever told you I was going to give all you children a treat? Of course I'm not! Why, I couldn't! I've only got ten cents, and five of that's for Prince's dinner." "Aw, stingy!" went up the cry. "We know you've got lots of money, Carolyn May." "Who says so?" flashed back the badgered little girl. Then her gaze fell upon the face of the janitor's boy. "Johnny O'Harrity!" she gasped. "I do believe you've been telling stories about me." "Ain't nuther," snapped the lame boy. "I seen all that money that man gave you." "He said it was two hundred dollars, Carolyn May," put in the red-haired girl. "Oh! Oh!" exploded Carolyn May. "Never!" snarled Johnny. "I said it was twenty. I saw it. Carolyn May said a man gave it to her." "And of course the stingy thing wants to spend it all on herself," sneered the red-haired girl.