taking an oath. He was getting more interested now
in her talk; up to this time her beauty had dazzled
him. "Never! So help me--" he mumbled impressively.

"Well, one day we were walking out to the park--
Now you're sure you won't tell sister, she's so easily
shocked?" The tone was the same, but the inflection
was shaded to closer intimacy.

Again Bart cast up his eyes.

"And all the girls were in a string with Miss
Griggs, the Latin teacher, in front, and we all went
in a cake shop and got a big piece of gingerbread
apiece. We were all eating away hard as we could
when we saw Miss Sarah coming. Every girl let her
cake go, and when Miss Sarah got to us the whole
ten pieces were scattered along the sidewalk."

Bart looked disappointed over the mild character
of the scrape. From what he had seen of her he
had supposed her adventures would be seasoned with
a certain spice of deviltry.

"I wouldn't have done that, I'd have hidden it
in my pocket," he replied, sliding down on the sofa
until his head rested on the cushion next her own.

"We tried, but she was too close. Poor old Griggsey
got a dreadful scolding. She wasn't like Miss