burt was turning in their direction. Instantly Phebe raised her
hand, shaking it slightly and clearing her throat to attract attention.

"Well? What is it, Phebe?"

"Please, how do you pronounce p-h-t-h-i-s-i-c?"

"Phthisic. Where do you find anything about it, Phebe?" Miss Hulburt
felt that she was developing in craftiness.

"In my--geography."

Miss Hulburt's smile showed that she believed she had caught the young
sinner napping.

"But my book doesn't have any such word."

Isabel raised her hand in support of her friend.

"If you please, Miss Hulburt, we're reading in the back part, about the
South Sea Islands. It says it's very common there."

"Phebe," Isabel whispered, a little later; "what is it?"

"What's what?"

"P-h-t-h-You know."

"I d' know, something to eat, I guess. We had it in spelling, last term,
and I happened to think of it. Oh, Isabel!" For the door opened, and the
teacher of the room below came into the room.

An hour later, Hubert and Theodora sat on the edge of the piazza,
discussing a coming entertainment to be given by the pupils of the high
school. The piazza came to the side of the driveway, and now they curled
up their toes to allow the doctor to pass them, driving his new and
favorite horse, Vigil.

"What a beauty she is!" Hubert said, as the carriage passed them.

"Isn't she? I'm dying to ride her."

"Better not," Hubert cautioned her. "She wouldn't stand the things old
Prince does, and you wouldn't have any show at all, if you tried to
manage her."

"I don't believe it," Theodora returned. "Papa said I was a good
horsewoman, and I mean to try Vigil, some day. 'Tisn't strength that
counts with a horse, anyway; it's gumption."

"What'll you take for the word?" Hubert asked lazily. He was lounging in
the sun with his hands in his pockets and his back against a pillar, and
he felt too comfortable to be inclined for a discussion.

"The word's all right." Theodora tossed her book into a chair behind
her. "It means exactly what I want. It isn't common sense, nor
knowledge, nor reasonableness; it's just gumption and nothing else.
It's what Miss Hulburt hasn't," she added, as she glanced up the street.
"Here she comes, Hu. How we used to hate her, when we were in her room!
Why, she's stopped papa, and he's coming back with her. Babe must be in
some fresh scrape."

Hubert rose hastily.

"That settles it. If she's coming here, I'm off."

"Where going?"

"I don't know. Ove