then she bowed her head--she had to cry! Dorothy was at her side
instantly.

"Dear Miss Ellis," she murmured, "don't take it so seriously. It will be
all right. I'm sure those two girls are well able to take care of
themselves, and I suspect Alice went more for mischief than for
anything. Perhaps I had better run down to father's office, and tell him
about it; he will know exactly what to do."

The girls all looked on with sad faces. They had never before seen Miss
Ellis cry in school. But she raised her head now, and seemed better able
to control her feelings.

"I think, Dorothy," she said, "it may be better to wait awhile.
Something may happen to--save the girls from really going to his
office. We will try to study, and perhaps we may have our picnic yet."

But it was a difficult matter to apply minds to books that morning; too
much had happened to be turned readily aside for mere school work. Such
whispering had never been permitted before, although the girls did try
to be kind to Miss Ellis, she looked so sad and worried.

Meanwhile the two girls, Tavia and Alice, had been having their own
experiences.

Upon reaching the street they stepped up along side the squire, so that
persons in passing thought they were merely walking along to keep the
aged man company.

But Ralph Willoby was not so easily misled.