He had never seen a coloured man before.
It was Betty's first meeting with the Walton girls.

She had looked forward to it eagerly, first because they were the daughters of a man whom her little hero-loving heart honoured as one of the greatest generals of the army, who had given his life to his country, and died bravely in its service, and secondly because Lloyd's letters the winter before had been full of their sayings and doings.

Mrs.Sherman, too, had told her many things of their life in Manila, and she felt that children who had such unusual experiences could not fail to be interesting.

There was a third reason, however, that she scanned each face so closely.

She had given them parts in the new play, and she was wondering how well they would fit those parts.
They in turn cast many inquiring glances at Betty, for they had heard all about this little song-bird that had been taken away from the Cuckoo's Nest.