se of most, Miss Hillary smilingly granted the request.
Jessie, however, nodded her head significantly. She wasn't surprised,
not she. Why, the top-buggy had come early in the morning yesterday
and stayed both to dinner and tea, and she thought it was just horrid
mean of Lottie Price, so she did. She had done it just because she
knew Jessie couldn't spell.

Meanwhile, the spelling match was being arranged. Of course, Lottie
was sent as captain to one side, and then Miss Hillary asked would the
school choose a boy for captain on the other side. A swarm of hands
went up, and almost unanimously the new boy was chosen.

This was indeed a triumph for Lottie, and as the two took their places
she swept a glance of disdain towards a seat where two young ladies sat
gazing with averted faces far out of the window.

Rosie was "mad at" Katie Price, so she also stared in the opposite
direction. But Elizabeth never had time nor opportunity to quarrel
with anyone, and she gazed at Lottie with frank admiration, and wished
she could spell half so well. It seemed such a pity that the grand
stranger should find out so soon how stupid she was. She was always
chosen the very last in a spelling match, except when Mary or Rosie
happened to be a captain and selected her for private reasons.

The captains were in place, and Miss Hillary smilingly nodded to
Lottie. Since the age of chivalry had dawned, the girl-captain in a
spelling match was always given the first chance to select. Lottie
hesitated. She had her beau, but he could not spell, and her bosom
friend, but they had vowed never to speak again so long as they both
should live. Miss Price was too wise to allow sentiment to injure her
campaign, but too bad-tempered to permit any magnanimity to assist it.
Therefore, she called Hannah Clegg. No one ever quarreled with the
Cleggs, not even the Prices; they were too good-natured. Besides,
Hannah was a fair speller.

Miss Hillary nodded approvingly and turned to the boy, who was standing
regarding the sea of strange faces in a puzzled manner. He had been
relying upon Hannah as first choice. Miss Hillary came to his aid.
"Now, Horace, you are in a rather difficult position, as you do not
know who are our best spellers. So you may call up anyone you like who
will help you in your further selection." The visitor's face
brightened. He looked right across the school and electrified everyone
by calling out, "Elizabeth Jarvis