announcement to make.

"I want to say to you that the pupil whom Elinor treated with such a
lack of courtesy did not inform me of the fact. Nor would she say one
word against any of her schoolmates when I questioned her. Someone who
overheard Elinor's unfriendly remarks came and told me."

Flora Hayes smiled and drew a long breath. She did not blame Sylvia for
being a "Yankee," but it had troubled her to think of her new friend as
a "telltale," whatever her provocation might have been. The other girls
began to look at Sylvia with more friendly eyes, and as they ran down
the steps several found a chance to nod and smile at her, or to exchange
some word. So Sylvia began to feel that her troubles were over, if
Elinor Mayhew did not return to school.

"Father, are you sure 'Yankee' doesn't mean anything beside 'American'?"
she asked in a very serious tone, as she sat beside Mr. Fulton on the
piazza that evening. They were quite alone, as Mrs. Fulton had stepped
to the kitchen to speak to Aunt Connie.

"The girls at school all think it means something dreadful," she added.

"Let me see, Sylvia. You study history, don't you?" responded her father
slowly. "Of course you do; and you know that George Washington and
General Putnam and General Warren, and many more brave men, defended
this country and its liberty?"

"Why, yes," replied Sylvia, greatly puzzled.

"The men of South Carolina were among the bravest and most loyal of the