Melchisedec

           ThethirdpersoninthetriowasLottie.Shewasasmallthinganddidnotknowwhatadversitymeant,andwasmuchbewilderedbythealterationshesawinheryoungadoptedmother.ShehadhearditrumoredthatstrangethingshadhappenedtoSara,butshecouldnotunderstandwhyshelookeddifferent—whysheworeanoldblackfrockandcameintotheschoolroomonlytoteachinsteadoftositinherplaceofhonorandlearnlessonsherself.TherehadbeenmuchwhisperingamongthelittleoneswhenithadbeendiscoveredthatSaranolongerlivedintheroomsinwhichEmilyhadsolongsatinstate.Lottie’schiefdifficultywasthatSarasaidsolittlewhenoneaskedherquestions.Atsevenmysteriesmustbemadeveryclearifoneistounderstandthem.

           "Areyouverypoornow,Sara?"shehadaskedconfidentiallythefirstmorningherfriendtookchargeofthesmallFrenchclass."Areyouaspoorasabeggar?"Shethrustafathandintotheslimoneandopenedround,tearfuleyes."Idon’twantyoutobeaspoorasabeggar."

           Shelookedasifshewasgoingtocry.AndSarahurriedlyconsoledher.

           "Beggarshavenowheretolive,"shesaidcourageously."Ihaveaplacetolivein."

           "Wheredoyoulive?"persistedLottie."Thenewgirlsleepsinyourroom,anditisn’tprettyanymore."

           "Iliveinanotherroom,"saidSara.

           "Isitaniceone?"inquiredLottie."Iwanttogoandseeit."

           "Youmustnottalk,"saidSara."MissMinchinislookingatus.Shewillbeangrywithmeforlettingyouwhisper."