't,"
Mrs. Farnshaw cried, caught on the other horn of the argument and even
more deeply offended than before. "She'll most likely get all your love
just like she got all your father's money last winter. You needn't mention
her here no more. Th' school directors 'll be over to see you about
fillin' out that term, to-night," Mrs. Farnshaw ended shortly, and turned
the subject of conversation to other channels.

"Me? To fill out the term?" Elizabeth exclaimed in surprise. "What's gone
wrong with the school here? I don't want a piece of a term, and I don't
want, ever, to teach in this district where I've gone to school."

"Well, you're goin' to," was the brief reply. "Your pa an' me told 'em
you'd take it."

"But how does it happen that the school is without a teacher?" Elizabeth
asked with curiosity, ignoring the curt disposal of her services. She was
accustomed to the peremptory measures of her parents.

"Jake Ransom run him out. He just piked off after he got his money order
cashed last Saturday mornin'."

"And you expect me to take a school that's all upside down from that kind
of handling--and me without any experience?"

"You'll take it an' You'll do your best, an' we won't hear no more about
it. Here, ma, tie up this finger," Mr. Farnshaw said. He had just come in
from the barn in time to hear his daughter's objections.

Later in the evening the directors came. Family pressure was strong, and
with reluctance Elizabeth accepted the month yet to be taught. It would
help with the interest, and that interest clouded the family sky to the
horizon on every side now. Elizabeth was divided between a fear of
inability to manage a demoralized school and the desire to add twenty-five
dollars to the family revenue. In anticipation she saw the unruly boys
supported and encouraged in insubordination by such as Sadie Crane, who
was jealously ready to resent her--a former playmate--in the role of
authority. And to put herself right with the governing board Elizabeth
told the new director--Sadie's own father--her fears on that score.

"They have played with me and we have had the sort of quarrels all
children have, Mr. Crane, and I may not be able to manage them."

Lon Crane was ignorant and uncouth, but big of heart, and the openness of
the discussion pleased him.

"You jest take that school, young lady, an' I'll see that my end of th'
thing's kep' up. I'll come over there an thrash every mother's son of 'em
if I have t'.