y
when she learned that Sherm would be coming soon. She quizzed Chicken
Little carefully as to what studies Sherm would take.

"Geometry and Latin, I think. I asked Mr. Clay and he said he could.
Maybe bookkeeping, too."

"I was just thinking I ought to go on with my Latin. I had Beginning
Latin last year, and I really ought to take Caesar right away before I
forget."

Jane regarded her thoughtfully. She happened to know that Sherm was
planning to study Cicero. How mad Mamie would be if she started Caesar
all alone! She had half a mind to let her go ahead. Mamie had spent the
entire morning recess telling her how the boys bored her hanging round.
Yes, it would do Mamie good to have to recite alone. Chicken Little shut
her lips firmly for a second. When she opened them, she replied that she
understood Caesar was a very interesting study.

Mamie bridled and said condescendingly: "It's a pity you haven't had
Latin so you could come into the class, too."

"Oh, I see enough of Sherm at home!" returned Chicken Little
maliciously. Mamie had the faculty of always rubbing her up the wrong
way.

Mamie gave her shoulders a fling. "Of course, I always forget you are
just a little girl, Jane. You're so big and----" Mamie didn't finish her
sentence. She merely glanced expressively at Jane's long legs. "I think
I'll go in and talk to Mr. Clay. He must be sick of having all those
kids hanging round him."

Mamie sailed off in state, leaving Jane feeling as if she had run her
hand into a patch of nettles. She was standing there in the sunshine
looking after Mamie resentfully when Grant Stowe came along.

He nodded toward the schoolhouse door through which Mamie had vanished.
"What's Miss Flirtie been saying to make you so ruffled? She's begun to
sit up nights now fixing her cap for the teacher. Bet you a cookie he's
too slick for her."

Chicken Little laughed, but retorted: "Humph, how many times have you
sat on her front porch this summer?"

Grant reddened. "Oh, we're neighbors, and a fellow has to kill time
summer evenings. Father and mother always go to bed with the chickens
and it's no fun listening to the frogs all by yourself. Suppose your
folks wouldn't let anybody come to see you--I hear they're all-fired
particular."

Jane did not have an opportunity to answer. One of the little girls came
begging her to play Blackman with a group of the younger children. Grant
suggested that she choose up for one side, and he wou