"Did he know her before she came here ?" "Mrs.Griggs says that room has been locked for ten years.

Ten years ago Miss Reade was just a little girl of ten.

SHE couldn't be the Alice of the books," argued Felicity.
"I wonder if she'll wear the blue silk dress," said Sara Ray.
"And what will she do about the picture, if it isn't hers ?" added Cecily.
"The picture couldn't be hers, or Mrs.Griggs would have known her for the same when she came to Carlisle," said Felix.
"I'm going to stop wondering about it," exclaimed Felicity crossly, aggravated by the amused smile with which the Story Girl was listening to the various speculations.

"I think Sara is just as mean as mean when she won't tell us." "I can't," repeated the Story Girl patiently.
"You said one time you had an idea who 'Alice' was," I said.

"Was your idea anything like the truth ?" "Yes, I guessed pretty nearly right." "Do you suppose they'll keep the room locked after they are married ?" asked Cecily.
"Oh, no.