r Third." "Lizzie Gordon?" The
teacher looked round vaguely. The swelling list of new names was
puzzling her. "Where is Lizzie Gordon?"

Elizabeth did not move. To be forgotten utterly was the best she hoped
for; to be noticed was the worst thing that could happen. Mary
indicated her sister by a nod, and Miss Hillary grew haughty again.

"Oh," she said, "never mind her at present. We will let Lizzie Gordon
remain where she is for the rest of the morning." And on she went with
her work, while Lizzie Gordon, the outcast, too wicked even to be
included in a disgraced class, sat and hung her head in a very
abasement of soul.

She came out of the depths once at a thrilling remark of the teacher.
The double-class crowded and shoved this way and that, and Miss Hillary
said, just as they were about to return to their seats: "There are four
or five too many in this class. I shall examine the Seniors thoroughly
this afternoon, and shall allow the best four to go into the Junior
Fourth."

Elizabeth fairly jumped off her penitent form. Her hopes soared to the
highest pinnacle.

She would be one of the four! She must! Not only would it mean escape
from Mary, but she would be but one class behind John and Charles
Stuart! Yes, she would pass in spite of fate. If only Miss Hillary
would not examine them in arithmetic or spelling or grammar it would be
easy. She was equally deficient in all three, with a few disgraces in
favor of spelling. But who knew but she would ask questions in history
or literature! Or even make them write a composition! Elizabeth could
not help knowing that in this one last subject at least she far
surpassed her classmates.

Perhaps they would have to write one, and when the new teacher read it
she would say: "Lizzie Gordon, you are too good for the Junior Fourth
even. You may go into the Senior Fourth with your brother John and
Charles Stuart MacAllister."

Elizabeth fairly ached for some distinction that would reinstate her in
the teacher's good opinion. She began to build airy castles and grew
positively happy with hope. She was thankful even for the unkind fate
that had brought her to the front seat, for now Mary would never be
able to say, "Lizzie and I were once in the same class, and she's a
year and four months older than I am." Noah Clegg had said last Sunday
that people should be thankful for trials, as they often brought
blessing. Elizabeth devoutly agreed with him. She