se
was wholly that of justice victorious. Margaret had insidious ways of
stating a case; and her point of view, no matter how absurd or unjust,
was almost always adopted by Mr. and Mrs. Schofield in cases of
controversy.

Penrod became uneasy. Perceiving himself to be in danger, he decided
that certain measures were warranted. Unquestionably, it would be well
to know beforehand in what terms Margaret would couch the charges
which he supposed he must face in open court--that is to say, at the
supper-table. He stole softly up the stairs, and, flattening himself
against the wall, approached Margaret's door, which was about an inch
ajar.

He heard his mother making sounds which appalled him--he took them for
sobs. And then Margaret's voice rang out in a peal of insane laughter.
Trembling, he crept nearer the door. Within the room Margaret was
clinging to her mother, and both were trying to control their hilarity.

"He did it all to get even!" Margaret exclaimed, wiping her eyes. "He
came in at just the right time. That GOOSE was beginning to talk his
silly, soft talk--the way he does with every girl in town--and he was
almost proposing, and I didn't know how to stop him. And then Penrod
came in and did it for me. I could have hugged Penrod, mamma, I actually
could! And I saw he meant to stay to get even for that ammonia--and, oh,
I worked so hard to make him think I wanted him to GO! Mamma, mamma, if
you could have SEEN that walk! That GOOSE kept thinking he could wear
Penrod out or drop him behind, but I knew he couldn't so long as Penrod
believed he was worrying us and getting even. And that GOOSE thought I
WANTED to get rid of Penrod, too; and the conceited thing said it would
turn out 'gloriously,' meaning we'd be alone together pretty soon--I'd
like to shake him! You see, I pretended so well, in order to make Penrod
stick to us, that GOOSE believed I meant it! And if he hadn't tried to
walk Penrod off his legs, he wouldn't have wilted his own collar and
worn himself out, and I think he'd have hung on until you'd have had to
invite him to stay to supper, and he'd have stayed on all evening, and
I wouldn't have had a chance to write to Robert Williams. Mamma, there
have been lots of times when I haven't been thankful for Penrod, but
to-day I could have got down on my knees to you and papa for giving me
such a brother!"

In the darkness of the hall, as a small but crushed and broken form
stole away from the crack in