and
actually became interested in the small affairs preceding the ringing of
the bell, and forgot him altogether till it was time to call the roll.

Jacob Ransom's name came last on the list. A titter ran around the room
when it was called. The tone of reply was louder than the rest and defiant
of manner. Elizabeth looked around the room with frank inquiry and the
titter died down. She let her gaze wander quietly and naturally down the
aisle to the seat of the bully and was surprised to find that she liked
the boy.

Closing the roll book and following an instinct rather than a formulated
plan, Elizabeth walked slowly down the room to his desk. A faint giggle
behind her spoke of the hushed expectations of trouble.

"If I hear any more laughing in this room, I shall inquire into the
matter," she said sternly, facing about beside Jake's desk.

The instant response to that remark gave her confidence in her own powers.
It was the first time she had ever used the tone of authority and she
instinctively recognized that the quality of her personality in that
position was good. Both she and Jake Ransom were on trial in that room.

"So you are the 'Jake' I have heard about?" she said, looking him frankly
in the face and letting him see that she was measuring him openly. "Is
your name Jake or Jacob?" she asked, as if it were an important matter to
get settled.

"Don't call me Jacob," the boy snapped.

"I think I like the nickname better myself," Elizabeth replied easily. Her
good fairy beckoned her on. "These children are all laughing because they
think we are going to pull each other's hair presently. We will show them
at least that we are a lady and a gentleman, I trust. Let me see your
books." She looked at him with such straightforward sincerity that the boy
returned the look in the same spirit.

The books were produced in surprise; this was walking into the middle of
the ring and bidding for an _open_ fight, if fight they must. The boy
loved a square deal. Jake Ransom's sting had been drawn.

"You are in advance of the rest of the school. Are you preparing for the
high school?" Elizabeth asked, emphasizing her surprise.

"Lord, no!" the boy blurted out.

Elizabeth looked through the book in her hand slowly before she asked:

"Why don't you? I was only about as far along as this in arithmetic last
year. Some one said you were ready for it."

"Oh, I kin do 'rithmetic all right, but I ain't no good in nothin'
els