may excuse me for it."

But it was a vain hope. Miss Day had no sooner seated herself at
her desk, than she called, "Elsie, come here and say that lesson;
and bring your copybook and slate, that I may examine your work."

Elsie tremblingly obeyed.

The lesson, though a difficult one, was very tolerably recited;
for Elsie, knowing Arthur's propensity for teasing, had studied it
in her own room before school hours. But Miss Day handed back the
book with a frown, saying, "I told you the recitation must be
perfect, and it was not."

She was always more severe with Elsie than with any other of her
pupils. The reason the reader will probably be able to divine ere
long.

"There are two incorrect figures in this example," said she,
laying down the slate, after glancing over its contents. Then
taking up the copy-book, she exclaimed, "Careless, disobedient
child! did I not caution you to be careful not to blot your book!
There will be no ride for you this morning. You have failed in
everything. Go to your seat. Make that example right, and do the
next; learn your geography lesson over, and write another page in
your copy-book; and, mind, if there is a blot on it, you will get
no dinner."

Weeping and sobbing, Elsie took up her books and obeyed.