allowed to talk as much as they pleased.

Miss Day seemed cross, Mrs. Dinsmore was moody and taciturn,
complaining of headache, and Mr. Dinsmore occupied with the
morning paper; and so the meal passed off in almost unbroken
silence. Elsie was glad when it was over, and hastening to the
school-room, she began her tasks without waiting for the arrival
of the regular hour for study.

She had the room entirely to herself, and had been busily engaged
for half an hour in working out her examples, when the opening of
the door caused her to look up, and, to her dismay, Arthur
entered. He did not, however, as she feared, begin his customary
course of teasing and tormenting, but seated himself at his desk,
leaning his head upon his hand in an attitude of dejection.

Elsie wondered what ailed him, his conduct was so unusual, and she
could not help every now and then sending an inquiring glance
toward him, and at length she asked, "What is the matter, Arthur?"

"Nothing much," said he, gruffly, turning his back to her.

Thus repulsed, she said no more, but gave her undivided attention
to her employment; and so diligent was she, that Miss Day had no
excuse whatever for fault-finding this morning. Her tasks were all
completed within the required time, and she enjoyed her promised
ride with her aunt and Miss Allison, and her visit to the fair,
very much indeed.

It was still early when they returned; and finding that she had