eyes grew more and more tender as she talked on about her brother. As
for Nora, she did not lose a word of it all, and evidently lived it over
in imagination with the deepest interest, and when her mother said:--

"Now, Elsli, it is time for you to go; we shall expect you back at four
o'clock," Nora added:--

"And tell your mother that you will not be at home till eight; you will
have supper here."

With a happy heart the little maiden went off to school, and as soon as
school was over, she darted off, not even stopping to speak to Emma,
lest she should be detained. As she was hurrying along the path towards
Oak-ridge, she heard some one calling to her,--

"Wait, wait, I say; why don't you stop when I tell you to?" It was
Feklitus who was running after her:--

"I can't stop, I shall be late," called Elsli over her shoulder, and ran
on; Feklitus followed for a while, very angry, and sending fearful
threats after her; but he grew soon out of breath, and when he stopped
to catch his breath and cough, he saw that she was quite beyond the
reach of even his voice, and that farther chase was useless.

As for Elsli, she never drew a long breath till she had reached the
house at Oak-ridge. Nora had been watching for her from the window, and
she called out eagerly:--

"Come in, Elsli; come here and rest; you shouldn't run so hard." She
found Nora alone, and Nora told her, with great satisfaction, that her