coming, she rushed out on the piazza, down the steps, and across the
lawn to an open space where nothing could obscure the light. Already it
was growing lighter, and she lifted the hand-mirror. A look of horror
swept over her little face.

"Oh, what a fright!" she cried, as she stood staring at the reflection.

Her face was scarlet, and if the freckles had disappeared, it was
because they had taken the skin with them when they went!

For a moment she stood as if rooted to the spot, then realizing that
some restless pupil might be up and chance to see her from the window,
she turned and ran at top speed toward the house. The big door stood
open as she had left it, and she raced across the hall and up the
stairway, entering her room just as footsteps echoed along the hall.

She closed the door and sat down.

"Why _did_ I see that horrid old advertisement?" she exclaimed. Her
smarting, burning cheeks were enough to bear, but worse than that was
the thought that she would be compelled to appear in the class-room.

How the girls would stare at her! What would they say among themselves?

[Illustration: "OH, WHAT A FRIGHT!" SHE CRIED.--_Page 73._]

Vera believed herself to be the only girl at Glenmore who had even the
slightest reason for worrying. Ida Mayo possessed the same idea.

* * * * *