A laugh followed her to the door. She felt that she hated Robina. She had never really liked her from the very first; and now, with a choking sensation in her throat, she went out into the playground. The first person she saw was Jane. Now Jane in her heart of hearts greatly admired the new pupil. The fact that she was really naughty at home had, it is sad to relate, but added to Jane's liking for her. Harriet, it is true, was Jane's own special friend, but Harriet was not nearly so amusing or so daring as the new pupil. Harriet now called her companion to her in an imperious voice. "Come here, this minute, you silly!" she said. "Why do you stand there with your mouth gaping and your legs far apart? You look for all the world like one of those foolish sheep on the back lawn." "I am not a sheep; you needn't say it," answered Jane. She had reached Harriet's side by this time. "Well, come for a walk with me in the paddock," said Harriet. "I don't want to be cross to you, Jane, but really that new girl, Robina--she is past bearing." "Oh, I like her so much," said Jane. "You do?" answered Harriet. "You mean to tell me, you horrid thing, that you would give me up for her?" "Oh! no, no, Harry, of course not. I like you best, of course. You are my real, oldest friend. But I suppose a girl may have two friends, and I do like her. The thing that makes me so sad is this: she won't be my friend; she snubs me like anything." "There's one comfort," said Harriet; "she'll soon snub herself out of the school if she isn't careful. Think of her correcting Sparkie this morning! I never heard of such cheek in the whole course of my life." Jane began to laugh. "It was very clever of her," she said. "It was very impertinent of her," said Harriet. "But she was right," said Jane, "and Sparkie was wrong." "I have no doubt she was wrong herself," said Harriet, "although," she added, "she did prove her point in that horrid encyclopaedia." The little girls had now reached the paddock. Here was delicious shade and green grass, and the heat of the July sun was tempered by a lovely breeze. Harriet, whose cheeks were hot with annoyance, began to cool down. Jane watched her with eager eyes. "Harriet," said Jane; "you don't think for a minute that I love anyone as much as you?" "I hope you don't, Janie," said Harriet; "it would be awfully unkind of you. But now listen to me. We must do something to stop this." "To stop what?" asked Jane. "That young 'un taking the lead in everything. It is too ridiculous. She hasn't been more than a week in the school, and yet everything yields to her. She struts about with her head in the air and even talks to the girls of the sixth form, and isn't a bit afraid of Sparkie or even of Devigny. The next thing we'll find if this goes on is that Mrs Burton herself is corrected by her. I wish, I do wish, I wish beyond _anything_, I could get her proved in the wrong herself." "Oh, Harriet!" exclaimed Jane.