This was the sort of remark which could not fail to interest Robina profoundly. She had been an only child all her life, and although she had now and then played with another child, and although the one dream of her existence was to be surrounded by other children, she had never enjoyed this pleasure daily and hourly until she came to school. Robina was full of faults, but she had a kind and generous nature. There was nothing mean about her, and she was, for an only child, absolutely unselfish. Vivian's remark in a low tone was not heard by either Rose or Patience. Robina took an opportunity to draw the little girl aside, and to ask her what she meant. "It's about Ralph," said Vivian. "What about Ralph?" asked Robina. "I dare not tell," said Vivian. "Very well," said Robina; "then there is no use in questioning you." "But I am very, very unhappy, all the same," said Vivian. Robina looked at her longingly. "Sit down," she said suddenly. They had come to a wooden seat under an old oak tree. Vivian popped down at once, but Robina still stood. "I don't know much about school," said Robina. "I have not been here long. I am not a specially good girl; I was often very troublesome at home, but I think I know a few things, and perhaps I learnt those things at home." "What are they?" asked Vivian. "I have learned," said Robina, "to know a good girl when I see her. There are some girls in this school who are not good." "Oh, yes; oh, yes!" said Vivian. She turned white, and clasped her small hands tightly together. "And there are some girls in this school," proceeded Robina, "who are not strong," and she fixed her grey eyes on Vivian's face. "Yes," said Vivian again, falteringly. "I won't name them," said Robina; "but I will only just say this: that if I were a weak girl in the school, I'd just make up my mind that I was. I would not pretend that I was strong, for instance, and I'd go and tell anything that made me unhappy to the person who ought to know." "Oh, but you wouldn't, if you were me," said Vivian, suddenly speaking in great excitement. "Does the cap fit?" asked Robina. "Yes, yes," answered Vivian; "it fits. But I can't, I can't!" "I haven't the least idea what is the matter," said Robina; "but you are unhappy, for you have said so, and you are weak, not strong, for you admit it and, anyhow, I know. Now, being weak in a school like this, where there are some girls who are not good, you have no chance at all, unless you go to someone stronger than yourself to help you." "Who ought I to go to?" asked Vivian, trembling very much. "You ought to go to some of your teachers." "Oh, I can't do that--it would be quite too dreadful; you don't know what they would say of me." "That is what you _ought_ to do," said Robina; "but if you haven't courage for that, you ought to go to one of your school-fellows. You have your two sisters."