tched the girls as they went out one by one. She was quite sure
that she could never make a courtesy, and as each girl passed out, her
turn to go came nearer and nearer.

What should she do? If her Aunt Emma had only been there, Ruby might
have asked her to let her stay in the school-room, for she felt as if
she would a great deal rather go without her dinner than try to make a
courtesy when she did n't know how, with all those girls looking at
her. What if she should tumble down in trying to make it? It seemed
very likely that she would, the very first time she had ever tried to
do such a thing. The very thought of such an accident made Ruby's face
grow redder than ever. Only three more girls and then Miss Chapman's
eyes would be fixed upon her, and it would be time for her to get up
and go out. Now only two more girls, and then the last one had gone,
and Ruby knew that she must go.

She walked over to the door, feeling as shy as Ruthy had ever felt, and
stood there a moment. How could she ever try to courtesy with all
those girls looking at her?

She hesitated so long that all the girls looked up to see why she did
not go out.

Ruby stood in the door one moment longer, and then she turned and ran
down the passage-way as fast as she could go, feeling as if now she
must surely go home, for she had disgraced herself forever.

She had come out of the room without courtesying, or even saying
good-morning as all the other girls had done, and then her running away
had of course made all the girls laugh at her.

What would Miss Chapman do to her? Would she give her bad marks, or
put her at the foot of her class, or keep her in after school?
Anything would be bad enough, but the worst of all to proud little Ruby
was the thought that she had failed in doing something which all the
other scholars seemed to have done so easily.

She sobbed aloud as she ran down the passage-way with her hands clasped
tightly over her face, and as she turned the corner to go into the
house, she ran straight into somebody's arms.

She uncovered her face and looked up as a familiar voice said, "Why,
Ruby, where are you going so fast? I was just coming to look for you.
But are you crying? Why, what is the matter?"

But Ruby was crying so hard that Aunt Emma could not understand what
she said. She could only make out that it was something about
courtesying, so she led Ruby up to her room, and quieted her down a
little, and would