"By the Muses, whom are you talking about?" "'She' means the cat," sniggered Gertrude Oliver. "Why! can't you guess? What stupids you are! It's Rona, of course--Rona Mitchell from New Zealand." "You're ragging!" "It's a fact. It is indeed!" The incredulity on the countenances of her companions having yielded to an expression of interest, Ulyth continued her information with increased zest, and a conscious though would-be nonchalant air of importance. "Her father wants her to go to school in England, so he decided to send her to The Woodlands, so that she might be with me!" "Do you mean that girl you were so very proud of corresponding with? I forget how the whole business began," broke in Stephanie Radford. "Don't you remember? It was through a magazine we take. The editor arranged for readers of the magazine in England to exchange letters with other readers overseas. He gave me Rona. We've been writing to each other every month for two years." "I had an Australian, but she wouldn't write regularly, so we dropped it," volunteered Beth Broadway. "I believe Gertrude had somebody too." "Yes, a girl in Canada. I never got farther than one short letter and a picture post card, though. I do so loathe writing," sighed Gertrude. "Ulyth's the only one who's kept the thing up." "And do you mean to say this New Zealander's actually coming to our school?" asked Stephanie. "That's the joysome gist of my remarks! I can't tell you how I'm pining and yearning to see her. She seems like a girl out of a story. To think of it! Rona Mitchell at school with us!" "Suppose you don't like her?" "Oh, I'm certain I shall! She's written me the jolliest, loveliest, funniest letters! I feel I know her already. We shall be the very best of friends. Her father has a huge farm of I can't tell you how many miles, and she has two horses of her own, and fords rivers when she's out riding." "When's she to arrive?" "Probably to-morrow. She's travelling by the _King George_, and coming up straight from London to school directly she lands. I hope she's got to England safely. She must have left home ever such a long time ago. How fearfully exciting for her to----" But here Ulyth's reflections were brought to an abrupt close, for the train was approaching Glanafon Ferry, and her comrades, busily collecting their various handbags, would lend no further ear to her remarks.