money was the most powerful antiseptic known. "Of course Johnnie will be
too pleased. I'll send him any time you say."

Secretly glad that her mother had so promptly overcome her fear of the
fever, but also ashamed that her motive should be so flagrant, Tavia
slipped on her things and joined her companion.

"I wouldn't keep you another minute," she began, "for I know just how
anxious you are. But I'm going along to help. I can go on errands at
least, and keep you company."

"Oh, Tavia, dear, perhaps you had better go to school. On account of the
trouble yesterday, teacher will think we are both defying her."

"Then let her send the Lady Sarah to find out," retorted Tavia. "I would
show her if I had freckles on my tongue."

"Please don't talk so, Tavia, it is wrong--"

"Wrong? My father says there are some men in this world too mean to
bother the law about. He says he knows one he would like to thresh only
he is sure the sneak would not hit him back, but would have him
arrested. Physical punishment is the kind for such, father declares. And
that's just the way I feel about Lady Sarah. I would not tell teacher on
her, for that would give her a chance to 'crawl,' as Johnnie calls being
mean. So sticking my tongue out at her is the nearest I can come to
physical punishment."

This doctrine did not in any way coincide with the upright views of
Dorothy, but she knew argument would be useless. Besides, her head and