"I have changed my mind. I will tell you a story now, but no one else shall listen; it's a lovely, true, true fairy tale. We'll just sit under that tree, and you shall all hear it." They followed her, clinging to her skirt and one of them trying to grasp her hand. Harriet's face grew black. Frederica said: "Well, Harriet, you don't look too well pleased; but for my part, I think Robina was quite right; you ought not to have taken poor little Annie's place." "Do you mind telling me," answered Harriet, "what right those children have to interfere with us? They belong to the first form; let them stay in their nursery." "Oh, as to that," said Rose Amberley, "they have as good a right to the lawn as we have. They are always allowed to play here every afternoon; and Robina invited them to tea; she bought a lot of sweeties, chocolates and cakes for them. They are Robina's guests; they just worship her." "Worship her, indeed!" said Harriet. "Well--_I_ don't worship her." "Anyone can see that, Harriet, and it is a great pity," said Rose Amberley. "Robina is a very nice girl, and as good as gold." "Oh, is she!" said Harriet. "Jane, what do _you_ think?" "I know what I know," said Jane, nodding her little head with great firmness. Frederica looked very hard at Jane; then she glanced at her own sister. "Look here," she said suddenly; "we have all been very happy at school, haven't we?" "Who says we haven't?" answered Harriet. She felt crosser than ever, for there were such peals of laughter coming from under the shelter of that tree, where Robina was telling the babies her fairy tale. "Who says we haven't?" she repeated. "The reason we have been happy," continued Frederica, "is simply this: we have been--or at least we have tried to be--good. It would indeed," continued the young girl, "be very difficult to be anything but good here--here, where things are so sweet and everyone is so kind, and even lessons, even lessons are made such a pleasure. Why shouldn't we all keep on being good? why should we be jealous?" "Who says anyone is jealous?" said Harriet. "Oh, Harriet!" said Frederica; "you know you are, just a little bit." "I don't wonder she's jealous!" suddenly burst from Jane. "Robina has taken her place in class. Harriet is our clever one; she doesn't want to--to--" "Oh, I am sure she is not small-minded enough for that," said Frederica at once. "If a cleverer girl comes to the school--" "She is _not_ cleverer!" burst from Harriet. "Well, Harriet, you've got to prove it. If you are clever, work still harder, and resume your place in the class, and I'm sure we'll all be delighted: fair play is fair play, and it's very mean of you to be angry about nothing. Ah! here comes tea, and I am so thirsty. Let's help to lay it out, girls!"