was fairly settled, a month had passed. It was not so bad now; in fact, a good deal of it was very pleasant, she was obliged to admit. Her geometry was a constantly progressing joy;

n absurd way when there was nothing left to conquer. That had always exasperated Peggy, "because if he had had any sense, he would have gone on, and found out for himself what a lot more there was, that his old books and seers and things had never found out." But now, she found Alexander in the first place a boy who knew about horses, which in itself was a great thing, and in th

aimed her for its own, and she proved an apt and ready learner in this branch of study. Less swift than Grace Wolfe, who seemed a thing compact of steel and

f yielding more and more-often against her own judgment-to the fascination of the lawless g

it was now October. Apples were ripe in the neighbouring orchards; and though it was perfectly practicable and allowable to b

way it was. Peggy had been a good deal startled when the first merry party, with noiseless steps and stifled giggles, came stealing into her room, and, nodding to her, made their way out of the window and down the fire-escape. It

and she ate it with a little thrill of vicarious guilt which was certainly not unpleasant. The two Owls never came with these parties; and somehow Peggy did not mention the matter to them, though she saw them constantly, and loved them always more and more. Sometimes the expeditions were headed by

me when Grac

d, a law-abiding citizen. She was groping about, not yet used to the half-light of the growing moon, when the door opened, and Grace glided in with her u

gsley should catch us! You know she goes around and listens at the doors e

ce!" sai

if she knew it. That isn't her own style, you see. The fun of it is,

hing outside the door. It was only for an instant, if, indeed, it had been at all; yet in another moment a board cr

rily on one foot, looking in the

aghast. "Was she-could she ha

" replied the Scapegoat. "Indeed, she was. I saw

red you? Surely, you will get

r. And even if she did, Miss Russell would ask her what I said, and she would be sad and sorry to relate

road, the bat,

the cata

ither? One has one's responsibilities toward one's names. Come, I

very beautiful, was unbraided for some reason-one never knew what whim would seize the whimsical one-and hung like a mantle ab

Peggy had never heard sw

t to?" stammered the freshm

ls,-well, they will be abroad!" she added, with a low laugh. "

eing Ishmael) as the companion of one of her solitary rambles was perhaps the most thrilling thing that had ever come into Peggy's simple life. Probably she would have had courage to resist an invitation from any

ne of her sudden movements

be, Innocent? Shall we climb up into the tower and ring the fire-bel

n't know. I cannot. I'll go

she announced, "soda seems to be the thin

town?" ga

s the time Granny Button has sheltered me from the wrath to come. Besides, I have had no marshmallows for a wee

nsed soda-water, candy, and cakes to the students of school and college. She was a little old woman, with

ear. What do you want? I declare, I've most of a mind not to give it to you, for a wild slip a

e, coolly. "She's gone to a lecture, y

go; one hor

f both hung

s were on

d, might pop out, granny, if I didn't have some soda. Two pineapple creams, ple

haking her head all the time, and mutter

ed on the door, and every moment she expected to see it open, and Miss Russell or one of the teachers enter. But no

ry to look cross, Granny Button, for you don't know ho

hours. I know well enough I ought to tell that good lady of all the times you've been here out of hours. Yes, dear, I know it well enough, and

her large eyes were full of tender grav

body ever called you serpent, did they, dear? Wait till you

ard to stay where one isn't wanted, and the only t

naughty girl, and so I always tell her, though I never can say no to her, and that's the truth. But you are different, dear, and a fres

st!" said Grace, kissing her hand a

naturally; in a moment, now, they would be back, safe back, and she would never do it again, no ma

silver in the moonlight. Nothing would do but that Grace must have a run t

d, Innocent, our souls starve for want of poetry. There is poetry in all that s

of nothing but her cousin Rita, as she used to dance in the old days at Fernley. What a pair she and Grace would make! What a mercy they had never come together. Moreover, her heart, the heart of a farmer's daughter, sm

satisfied, and Grace came flyi

ocent, you haven't much soul, have you? Still,

between them and safety, and the relentless moonlight lay full upon the hedge which had lain in shadow when they came out. Peggy braced herself to meet the shock; but Grace laid a hand on her arm, and then made a gesture. A great tree stood just by the gate of Pentland School; a chestnut-tree, with low-jutting, wide-spreading branches. With

directly under the chestnut-tree; Peggy could have dropped a nut down exactly on the crown of Miss Russell's

ss Russell. "I do mos

ortlandt. "Miss Pugsley seemed quite positive; I know she

had hoped," she continued, "that the whole business would be over when Wilhelmina Lightwood-well, I suppose she will always be 'Billy,' even to me-when

o tell her all about it, and put her on her guard. Being a new girl, she might not feel at liberty to stop the older ones when they came; and she cou

I get too far away from that point of view myself that I make mistakes.

oward the school,

uction!" she said. "It was Grace who ga

Miss Cortlandt; and t

; her face was grave, but perhaps no graver than usual. Still, she did not speak; as for Peggy, she was too bowed down with shame and wretche

was going up a story higher on the fire-

her face for a moment. Peggy could not speak, could only shake her head. A singl

ook from her pocket the packet of marshmallows, and deliberately scatte

compliments of the Goat, the Wolf, and the Serpen