CHAPTER I.OPENING THE SCHOOL.Mrs. Merriman and Lucy were standing at the white gates of Sunnyside,waiting for the arrival of the girls. Mrs. Merriman had soft brown hair,soft brown eyes to match, and a kindly, gentle face. Lucy was somewhatprim, very neat in her person, with thick fair hair which she wore intwo long plaits far below her waist, a face full of intensity anddetermination, and a slightly set and formal way of speaking."Aren't you at all excited about their arrival?" said Mrs. Merriman,turning to her daughter as she spoke. "It will make a great change inthe house, will it not?""How many of them are there, mother?" was Lucy's response."Oh, my dear child, how often I have explained all to you! There's LauraEverett, my dear friend Lady Everett's only daughter; then there isAnnie Millar, whom I do not know anything about--but she is a friend ofLaura's, and that alone is recommendation enough.""Laura Everett, Annie Millar," quoted Lucy in a low tone. "Have you seeneither of them, mother?""No, dear, of course not."