"She's better," said Susy; "she's bewitching. See; she gave me this."
Here she pointed proudly to the Irish diamond brooch, which she had
stuck in the bosom of her dress. The diamond had been polished, and
flashed brightly; the silver setting was also as good as was to be
found. The girls crowded round to admire, and "Oh, my!" "Oh, dear!" "Did
you ever?" and "Well, I never!" sounded on all sides.

"You will be so set up now, Susan Hopkins, that we won't be able to bear
you in the same class," said Clara Sawyer.

"Go on," exclaimed Hannah Johnson--"go on and tell us what you want.
Your horrid brooch doesn't interest us. What have you got to say?"

"You are mad with jealousy, and you know it," answered Susy. "Well, I am
coming to the great news. The Irish girl's name is Kathleen O'Hara, and
she comes from a castle over in the wild west of Ireland. Her father is
very rich, and he keeps dogs and horses and carriages and--oh,
everything that rich people keep. Compared to the other girls in the
school, she is ten times a lady; and she has a true lady's heart. And
she has taken a dislike, as far as I can see, to Alice Tennant."

"And I'm sure I'm not surprised," said Rosy Myers.

"Stuck-up thing!" said Clara Sawyer.

"Dirt beneath our feet!" exclaimed Hannah Johnson.

"Well; she doesn't like her either, though she doesn't use that kind of
language," continued Susy. "Anyhow, she wants to befriend _us_--Oh, do