Highacres

o the precious childhood of her girls and boy. Graham called it "inspection." It had begun when the youngsters had first started school, Isobe

ere; sometimes it was Isobel who was sent back to smooth her hair or Gyp to wash her teeth or Tibby for her rubbers. But a

ingly pulled Graham's ears, smiled reminiscently at Isobel's primness, smoothed with a loving hand Gyp's rebellious black locks and thought, as she looked at Jerry, of what Uncle Johnny had said about her eyes reflec

yp as she and Jerry swung down the

control her voice. "

ldren I'm just going to leave them plumb a

ove them. If our mothers didn't love us so much I su

Gyp into a crowd of noisy girls, all rushing for space in the dressing-rooms. Then, at the ringing of a bell, she was hurried with the others up the wide stairway. She caught a glimpse of Gyp ahead, surrounded by chums, all tryi

re was stirring music until the last pupil had found her place. Then, just as Dr. Caton, the dignified principal, rose to his feet, a boy whom Jerry from her corner recognized

hought it all very jolly. She wondered if "assembly" was always like this. She recalled suddenly how agitated

er--on the end--Barbara Lee," whi

ler's Notch, of course, had no gymnasium, therefore it had not needed any gymnasium assistant. Jerry had imagined that a gym. teacher

"guardian." Before assembly, Isobel had read her name on the lists and had promptly declared: "I just won't! Let her get along the best way she can." So, when assembly was over, Jerry found herself drifting helplessly, forlornly elbowed here and there, too sh

d Barbara Lee beside her. The kind smile on Miss Lee's

, my

't know--

w girl? What

uld T

ke Miss Lee stepped to the bulletin board tha

t is strange that she has left you alon

girls" to find their places--they had had guardians. She tried t

s golden morning, was empty. Miss Lee

other school--so we can place you." And she p

e had covered back at the Notch. Miss Lee listened with interest and, k

straight into the Junior

ry in dismay. "Gyp Westley, I mean. You s

d, as a teacher should, could remember well how much it meant in school lif

she said in a tone that indicated that she

erm, at least." Accordingly she led her into one of the smaller study rooms. And there was Gyp smiling and beckoning her to an empty desk beside her. But Miss Lee took Jerry to her classrooms; she introduced her to Miss B

d Miss Lee as they left the last classroom, "Now go back to your

yness vanished as though by magic. During the long recess that followed, the bad half-hour forgotten, with a budding confidence

t?" So sincere was her interest that Jerry felt as though she was suddenly surrounded by a wealth of friendship. Patricia seemed to know everyo

rry from across the

I'll call Mary Starr." She rushed away and before Jerry could catch her breath she return

y's name in it

o another book. Another girl waylaid her. She signed for swimming. She noticed that the others around her were doi

b, Miss Travis?" she asked with a dign

ever debated in her life--but then sh

it's awfully exciting," pleaded Patr

going to be dumb in that," cried Jerry, that evening, to the Westle

y, himself, to hear the children's experiences of the day. Though they all

irl, what did you

ut her eyes were shining. Gyp broke in. "Jerry could be a Junior if she wanted to, but she's

n traditions, did not kno

everything else, she would find

got? Sp

. "I will not have you speaking

is was a point upon which his m

ght--I like her, but all t

e they'll nick

r! Uncle John had, then, to hear all about her. He was much inte

esn't seem a bit s

m asked Jerry: "Say, Jerr

sobel. She did not want to answer; even the ethics of the litt

. She couldn

e of Lincoln, why had Isobel, alone, stood aloof? She looked at Isobel--she was so pretty now as she talked, with animation, to Uncle Johnny. Jerry thought, as she watc

ny new school-books. And that solemn vow was to help