short for Charlotte,” Tatty said. She was fascinated by the smell of perfume and the sight of Mrs. Singlittle’s plump pink face coming closer and closer to her.
“Charlotte!” Mrs. Singlittle exclaimed, and everyone jumped.
“Charlotte,” she said a second time, only a little less loudly. “That’s one of the most beautiful names in the world.”
Tatty stared at Mrs. Singlittle. No one had ever told her that.
“Much too pretty not to use,” Mrs. Singlittle declared. “Tatty, indeed. While I am here, I would like to call you Charlotte. Would that be all right?”
Tatty nodded. Then she noticed the tiny gold earrings that hung on thin gold wires from Mrs. Singlittle’s pierced ears. She had never seen earrings like that before.
“Of course it will be all right,” Mrs. Singlittle echoed heartily. “Such a good girl—my good Charlotte.” Then she gave Tatty a hug and a kiss. She did not notice that some of the other girls were beginning to giggle and nudge each other.
But Tatty noticed. She saw the girls giggling and whispering and looking over at her. “Good Charlotte!” Elsie May said in a loud mocking whisper. The girls laughed more than ever.
Tatty hung her head miserably. The girls were right. How long could Mrs. Singlittle go on calling her good Charlotte? Tatty, who was last to the table at mealtimes, who chewed her pencils and got holes in the knees of her stockings. . . . How long before Mrs. Singlittle would realize her mistake?
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