Alice shot a meaning look at Miss Ellis and stepped out.

"Come, Tavia," she said, "the more the merrier. Girls we will be back in
time for the picnic," and, taking the "cue" from Alice, Tavia also
stepped out, and with her, marched off behind the squire.




CHAPTER XIII

A QUEER PICNIC


And that was to be picnic day!

A queer holiday, indeed, with two girls taken from the classroom--
arrested!

Yes, that was what it amounted to, in spite of the jolly way Tavia and
Alice trooped off, making "faces" and doing fancy "steps" back of the
squire.

Miss Ellis sat at her desk dazed, and stunned. She could not realize it
all--a squire coming into her room--threatening her with dismissal, and
taking two girls off to the common police court for a "hearing."

She was not a woman given to showing her feelings, but this seemed more
than she could bear; tears came into her eyes, fell upon her books and