the fire with the
tongs and threw it out of the window, and several of the bigger fellows
swooped down upon the malicious youngsters and bundled them out of the
schoolhouse in a hurry--and in no gentle manner--while others, including
Lucas, stripped off their coats and set to work to repair the stovepipe.

An hour was lost in repairs and airing the schoolhouse, and then everybody
trooped back. Meanwhile, the Bray girls had made many acquaintances among
the young folk.

Mr. Somers, the teacher, was plainly delighted to meet Lyddy--a girl who
had actually spent two years at Littleburg. He was seminary-bred himself,
with an idea of going back to take the divinity course after he had taught
a couple of years.

But it suddenly became apparent to 'Phemie--who was observant--that Sairy
looked upon this interest of the school teacher in Lyddy with "a green
eye."

Mr. Somers, who allowed the boys and young men to repair the damage
created by his pupils while he rested from his labors, sat by Lyddy all
the time until the meeting was called to order once more.

Sairy, who had begun by bridling and looking askance at the two who talked
so easily about things with which she was not conversant, soon tossed
her head and began to talk with others who gathered around. And when
Mr. Somers went to the desk to preside again Sairy was not sitting in
the same row with the Bray girls and left them to their own devices for
the rest of the evening.

Lucas, the faithful, came back to 'Phemie's side, however. Some of the
other girls were laughing at Sairy Pritchett and their taunts fed her ire
with fresh fuel.

She talked very loud and laughed very much between the numbers of the
program, and indeed was not always quiet while the entertainment itself
was in progress. This she did as though to show the company in general
that she neither cared for the schoolmaster's attentions nor that she
considered her friendship with the Bray girls of any importance.

Of course, the girls with whom she had wrangled on the schoolhouse steps
were delighted with what they considered Sairy's "let-down." If a girl
really came to an evening party with a young man, he was supposed to
"stick" and to show interest in no other girl during the evening.

When the intermission came Mr. Somers deliberately took a seat again
beside Lyddy.

"Well, I never!" shrilled Sairy. "Some folks are as bold as brass. Humph!"

Now, as it happened, both Lyddy and the school te