e;" and Aunt Emma courtesied.

Ruby was very much pleased to find that it was very easy to draw one
foot behind the other and make a courtesy, and she was quite proud of
her new accomplishment when she had practised it a few times.

"And now, Ruby dear," said Aunt Emma, looking at her watch, "there is
just time before dinner for you to go and tell Miss Chapman you are
sorry that you left the school-room in that way. She will not scold
you, I am sure, so you need not be afraid to go and speak to her. She
is in her own room at the end of the hall, and you had better go at
once so as to have time before the bell rings."

"And then I will make a beautiful courtesy when I come out of her room,
shall I?" asked Ruby, quite ready to go, since she would have a chance
to show how nicely she could courtesy now.

Aunt Emma smiled.

"Yes," she answered.

Tap, tap, tap, went Ruby at Miss Chapman's door, and when she heard the
teacher call, "Come in," she opened the door and walked in quite
bravely.

Miss Chapman was sitting in her large chair by the window looking over
some books.

She held out her hand to Ruby.

"Well, my dear," she said kindly.

"Please ma'am, I came to tell you that I am very sorry I ran out of
school without courtesying," said Ruby, rather shyly, looking at the
beautiful white hair while she was speaking, and wondering if when she
herself grew to be an old lady she would ever have such beautiful
fluffy hair, and if she should wear a little white cap.

"Why did you do so, Ruby?" asked Miss Chapman.

Ruby hung her head.

"I did not know how to courtesy," she answered presently. "And I was
afraid I should fall down if I tried, it looked so hard, and I was
afraid the girls would laugh at me if I tried and tumbled over; and it
was so dreadful to have them all looking at me, and then know that I
could n't do it, that I just could n't help running. But I know how
now. Aunt Emma taught me, and I won't ever forget it now. Please
excuse me for this morning."

"Yes," Miss Chapman answered. "I can quite understand how it happened
this morning, and I am glad you will never do so again. I hope you are
going to be a good little girl, Ruby, and progress nicely in your
studies. You have had a good teacher and have been well taught, and
know how to apply yourself, so I shall hope that you will stand well in
your classes."

Ruby hardly knew what to say, so she blushed with pleasure, and did not
answer.