call Marcus to force it open."

Ida opened the door with a jerk.

"There!" she cried, angrily. "I don't see why I could not stay alone in
my room until I looked fit to be seen!"

Mrs. Marvin thought the raw, scarlet face denoted some desperate
illness, but chancing to look toward the dresser, she caught sight of
the bottle, uncorked, and with its showy label bearing the legend:

"TONIC. TWELVE-HOUR BEAUTIFIER."

Mrs. Marvin sat down upon a low seat, and drew Ida down beside her, and
patiently she listened to the story of the longing for beauty, the
reading of the advertisement.

"I s'pose I put on too much," Ida concluded. "They said, 'Just a bit on
the tip of the fingers rubbed into the skin each night for two weeks
would work wonders.

"They said used generously you'd be surprised at the result! I guess I
was.

"I thought if a little would do so much, a lot of it would do more, so I
put it on thick, and went to bed.

"O dear! It has been a comfort to tell you, but I can't face those girls
while I look like this!"

"I shall not ask you to," Mrs. Marvin said. "I will bring you some
cooling ointment to heal your face, and I'll send old Judy up with your
meals.

"I will tell her to say to any pupils who may question her, 'Miss Mayo
feels so miserable that she'll not come down to her meals for a few
days.' Judy is absolutely trustworthy."

Judy proved herself quick-witted, for when an inquisitive pupil tried to
peep into the room as she entered with the tray, Judy turned sharply,
remarking:

"Ah don' s'pose yo wants ter ketch anythin' what's 'tagious, does ya?"

The pupil backed away from the door, when at a distance she said: "You
don't seem to be much afraid."

"Ah isn't 'fraid, 'cause I's had dis same ting."

She had indeed suffered in the same way. True it was not freckles that
annoyed her. It was a longing to rid herself of her black skin that had
tempted her to purchase a bottle of a so-called beautifier, warranted
to produce a new skin.

That was some years before, but Judy remembered it.

CHAPTER V.

A SLEIGHING PARTY

Dorothy was never inclined toward mischief, and now, when her mother was
away traveling for change of scene, and much-needed rest, she felt very
eager to send each month, a fine report of her progress. Dorothy was
full of life, and loved a good time, if Nancy, her dearest friend might
enjoy it with her.

When the news was circulated that the great sleigh at th