Gordon."

The owner of the name could not believe her ears. She had to be poked
twice by Rosie before she finally arose and took her place beside the
velvet boy, overcome with wonder. It was as though one had suddenly
been called out to be a Joan of Arc without any warning. Lottie Price
giggled. Everyone knew Lizzie Gordon couldn't spell c-a-t without a
couple of mistakes, and she saw her victory assured.

But there was one thing Elizabeth could do, and that was name all the
spellers in the room. Who knew them as well as she, when each one was
a reproach to her? When the velvet boy's turn came, he looked at her
and she proved a fine support. Rosie came first, of course, but then
Rosie not only knew every word in the Complete Speller, but was a
Complete Speller herself in curls and a pink pinafore. John and
Charles Stuart were next. Elizabeth was devoutly thankful she could
ask them with a clear conscience. She longed for Susie Martin and
Eppie Turner also, but Susie had had five mistakes yesterday, and Eppie
seven; it wouldn't be fair to the velvet boy. An exalted position, she
realized, brought heavy responsibilities. She really made a very fine
campaign, for she had almost all the Senior Fourth girls at her
command, seeing that Lottie disdained to call them. She whispered
their names to Horace, and as he summoned them to his ranks Lottie's
face grew dark with anticipation of defeat.

At last everyone in the three highest classes was on the floor and the
battle began. From the first the sullen face of the lady-captain, and
her rapidly thinning ranks, showed upon which side the laurels were
likely to rest.

Of course Elizabeth fell at the second volley, but as she left,
overcome with humiliation, the velvet boy whispered: "Never mind. It
was a beast of a word." Further comfort came to her when he himself
went down on the next word and smiled at her sympathetically. But they
left behind them plenty of veterans to carry on the war, and at last
Lottie was left alone and there still stood on the other side a
splendid array of six, headed by John Gordon. It was the hour for
closing, and Miss Hillary announced the spelling match won by Horace
Oliver; and Lottie Price almost tossed her head out of the window, the
girls declared, as she passed Jessie and Teenie on her way to her seat.

When school was dismissed, the new boy paused at Elizabeth's seat,
where she and Rosie were putting their books together.