won't speak a word--perhaps burst out crying," he groaned
within himself, as he saw her face. But Cathie sat quite still.

"My papa died," she said softly, "and he told mamma before he went, to
take me to town and have me educated. And one of those old aunts gave
the money. And if it hadn't been for him, I'd have run home from the
Salisbury School that first week, it was so perfectly awful."

Clare sat quite still. Then he burst out, "Well, now, Cathie, I think it
was just splendid in you to stick on."

"Do you?" she cried, quite astonished to think any one would think she
was "just splendid" in anything. "Why, the girls call me a goose over
and over. And sometimes I lose my temper, because they don't say it in
fun, but they really mean it."

"Well, they needn't," said Clare indignantly, "because I don't think you
are a goose at all."

"Those two are getting on quite well," said Jasper to Polly. "I don't
think we need to worry about Cathie any more."

"And isn't she nice?" asked Polly, in great delight.

"Yes, I think she is, Polly," said Jasper, in a way that gave Polly
great satisfaction.

But when this delightful evening was all over, and the good nights had
been said, and Mother Fisher, as was her wont, had come into Polly's
room to help her take off her things, and to say a few words to Cathie
too, Polly began to remember the scene in Mrs. Chatterton's room; and a
sorry little feeling crept into her heart.

And when Mamsie had gone out and everything was quiet, Polly buried her
face in her pillow, and tried not to cry. "I don't believe she will ever
forgive me, or let me help her again."

"Polly," called Cathie softly from the next room, "I did have the most
beautiful time!"

"Did you?" cried Polly, choking back her sobs. "Oh, I am so glad,
Cathie!"

"Yes," said Cathie, "I did, Polly, and I'm not afraid of boys now; I
think they are real nice."

"Aren't they!" cried Polly, "and weren't our seats fine! Grandpapa
didn't want a box to-night, because we could see the play so much better
from the floor. But we ought to go to sleep, Cathie, for Mamsie wouldn't
like us to talk. Good night."

"Good night," said Cathie. "A box!" she said to herself, as she turned
on her pillow, "oh, I should have died to have sat up in one of those.
It was quite magnificent enough where I was."

XXII PICKERING DODGE

"Jasper!"

Jasper, rushing down the long hall of the Pemberton School, books in
hand, turned