Highacres

side of the study-room door. Jerry did not wait for Gyp to "think." "My name's been drawn f

t fu

thy. "Not fun at all!

fe; since coming to Highacres she had listened, with fascination, to the weekly discussion of current topics, envying the ease with which the boys and girls of the room contributed to it. She had wondered wheth

ven to her an indomitable courage for any challenge. Real fear--that horrible funk that turns the staunchest heart co

d only the briefest moment to decide what to do--if she retraced her steps she must surely be overtaken! Near her was a tall crag of rock that jutted out from the wooded slope of the trail; on this she might be safe. With desperate haste she climbed it and, as she clung to its rough surface, tons of ice and snow thundered past her, shaking

of her, her spirit slowly rose to meet the challenge of the debate. These others had all had

rounded, after school, by a group of inter

ds tight behind you

nd when it came my turn I was so scared I couldn't swallow it and there I had to talk with that thing in my cheek, and every min

speeches and practice 'em. It

ett, whose experience went no farther than reciting four French verses

ice the arts of oratory than that she should build up convincing arguments for her side of the question. From the Westley libr

of the heart that preceded the battle, let us hear the order to advance, let us beh

nothing about the

ld say, 'Let us pause----' and wave your hand--like this! Here, he's used it aga

t must convince her listeners that the Philippine Islands should be given their independence,

Oh, that's splendid! Try it again Jerry--slower. You're going to

rown to such proportions that she ached for some splendid opportunity to serve him. She had told Gyp, one day, that she wished she might save his life in some way (preferably, of course, with the sacrifice of her own), but as Uncle Johnny seemed extraordinarily careful in front of automobiles and street

hich Jerry could not understand at all. She could not know that only the evening before Mrs. Westley

smoothing everything over--it's her sunniness, I think. Gyp is

bel asked Jerry to show her t

es that will help you," she

n to her room and took from her desk the sheets of paper upon which were neat

in school?" Isobel a

iousness that Isobel disliked her; Gyp was her shadow, Tibby her adoring slave, between her and Graham was the knowledge that they two shared Pepper's loyalty, Mrs. Westley gave her exactly the same mother

Lincoln attended; on the platform the faculty made an imposing background for the three judges. Six empty chairs were placed, t

ut the better to show a patent leather pump and a blue silk stocking. For the first time since she had come to Highacres, Jerry grew conscious of her own appearance. Over her, in a hot wave of mortification, swept the realization of what a ridiculous figure she would present, walking up before everybody in her brown poplin tha

e Cora Stanton's; if she could only sit there in her chair smiling--like Cora Stant

Cora Stanton was to outline the conditions in the Philippine Islands before the United States had taken them over, Jerry was to show what the United States had done and how qualified the Islands were, now, to govern themselves, and S

chair with something like relief--the thing had begun. She caught a little smile fr

by the storm of amazement, unbelief and anger that surged over her. For Cora Stanton was pr

h Amy Mathers, their handkerchiefs wadded

was too angry to feel hurt. And, more than anything, she was too

and all that would come was Gyp's "let us pause--let us feel the fluttering of the

on the negative side uttered, but the clapping th

form. A thousand spots of black and white that were eyes and noses and hats danced before her; she heard a suppressed

(no, no--Cora Stanton had said that!) "I mean we must go back (that was quite new) to--I mean--the ideals of America have been transplanted to---

-let us pause----" There was a dreadful sile

th a convulsive movement she rushed back to her seat. If they'd o

ing attention from poor Jerry. And something in the good nature of his act, in his reckless wandering from the subject of the debate to gain his end, won everyone's admiration. A

y. She turned, as she rose again to speak, so that she might look squarely at Uncle Johnny. Now she had no clamor of words jingling in her brain; very simply she set against the arguments of her

uments of the negative side, leaving him only one premise to fall back upon"--and Jerry had decid

nced that the affirmative had won. And there was a

ut seeing Uncle Johnny. She could not, of course, escape Gyp, wh

tell anyone. For, if she did, it must be traced to Isobel, and Isobel was Uncle Johnny's niece. At that very moment Uncle Johnny wa

en searing poor Jerry's soul burst; with furious fingers sh

d! The offending shoes followed the brown dress. "I hate everything about me! I wish--I wish--to-morro