70 THE CINDERELLA FROCK.

At this moment the little marked girl was
discovered slowly approaching.

‘«¢ Ah, Louise !”’ cried Alice, leaving her
father’s hand and bounding forward to meet
her ‘¢ particular friend.” She had not observed
Rovina.

‘‘Ah, Alice !’’ was Louise’s greeting, ‘‘then
you are alive; I was afraid that wretch of a
Rov ’’—(alas, like all favorites, Louise said
heartless things, alas, that | must say it,—
and she was getting spoiled).

‘Hush, hush!’’ whispered Alice, laying
her hand on her mouth.

Poor Rovina had looked in, but now she
paused outside the gate as though wanting
courage to enter. ) °

«© You may well stop there,” called out a
little girl who had caught the tone of insult
from Louise, pointing her finger, while hisses