"I hardly know whether you or I feel the most relieved because the
forenoon session is
half finished. If it was any other time than immediately before the
holidays, I should think it my duty to inflict extra tasks upon you
all; but, under the circumstances, I propose to do just the reverse, by
increasing the length of recess, giving you half an hour instead of
fifteen minutes. After that time, I expect you will be in a more
fitting condition to give proper attention to your studies; if such
should not be the case, it will become my duty to remind you forcibly
that you must not try to unite your amusements with your studies."

The boys, headed by Si, rushed out with their customary shout of joy,
and the girls went at once into one of the classrooms, where an
indignation meeting was held, but not called to 'order.

" It's all Si Kelly's doings!" exclaimed Aggie. " The other boys would
have been in favor of the party if he hadn't said they shouldn't. I
should think they would be ashamed of themselves to come and go at his
beck and call!"

Si's ears must have tingled during that recess, . if there is any truth
in the old saying that those useful members grow warm when their owner
is being spoken ill of, for every girl present seemed to think it her
duty to say something against him before she could discuss the matter
with calmness.

"It's no use standing here talking about that Kelly boy," Maria Gilman
said, at last. "The
bell will ring, and we sha'n't have anything settled. The question is,
what are we going to do? Of course it is foolish for us to say that we