Then all became very good and very careful, for no one wished to be
standing at the time of dismissal. They knew that the master would be
as good as his word. The clock ticked loudly, and Tommy Jones, who
was standing up for the fourth time, began to feel very uneasy. He
stood on one leg and then on the other, and watched very closely; but
nobody whispered. Could it be possible that he would receive that
thrashing? Suddenly, to his great joy he saw little Lucy Martin lean
over her desk and whisper to the girl in front of her. Now Lucy was
the pet of the school. Everybody loved her, and this was the first
time she had whispered that day. But Tommy didn't care for that. He
wished to escape the punishment, and so he called out, "Lucy Martin!"
and went proudly to his seat.

Little Lucy had not meant to whisper. There was something which she
wished very much to know before going home, and so, without thinking,
she had leaned over and whispered just three little words. With tears
in her eyes she went out and stood in the whisperer's place.

[Illustration]

She was very much ashamed and hurt, for it was the first time that she
had ever been in disgrace at school. The other girls felt sorry that
she should suffer for so small a fault. The boys looked at her and
wondered if the master would really be as good as his word.

The clock kept on ticking. It lacked only one minute till the bell
would strike the time for dismissal. What a shame that dear, gentle
Lucy should be punished for all those unruly boys and girls!

Then, suddenly, an awkward half-grown boy who sat right in front of