"Thank you, Arthur," said the little girl, smiling through her
tears; "you are very kind, but it would not be honest to do
either, and I had rather stay at home than be deceitful."

"Very well, miss," said he, tossing his head, and walking away,
"since you won't let me help you, it is all your own fault if you
have to stay at home."

"Elsie," exclaimed Louise, "I have no patience with you! such
ridiculous scruples as you are always raising. I shall not pity
you one bit, if you are obliged to stay at home."

Elsie made no reply, but, brushing away a tear, bent over her
writing, taking great pains with every letter, though saying sadly
to herself all the time, "It's of no use, for that great ugly blot
will spoil it all."

She finished her page, and, excepting the unfortunate blot, it all
looked very neat indeed, showing plainly that it had been written
with great care. She then took up her slate and patiently went
over and over every figure of the troublesome example, trying to
discover where her mistake had been. But much time had been lost
through Arthur's teasing, and her mind was so disturbed by the
accident to her writing that she tried in vain to fix it upon the
business in hand; and before the two troublesome figures had been
made right, the hour was past and Miss Day returned.

"Oh!" thought Elsie, "if she will only hear the others first, I
may be able to get this and the geography ready yet; and perhaps,
if Arthur will be generous enough to tell her about the blot, she