t mind," said the comforting Dorothy. "She gave you the list of
sov-runs. You've got them, anyhow."

"But I _do_ mind!" declared Tess. "She is just one of the nicest ladies
I ever met. Of course I want----"

But who is this bursting into the dining room like a young cyclone,
and late to lunch? "Oh, Agnes! you are late again," said Ruth,
admonishingly. Aunt Sarah glared at the newcomer, while Mrs.
MacCall said:

"You come pretty near not getting anything more than cold pieces,
child."

All their wrath was turned, however, by Agnes' smile--and her beauty.
Nobody--not even Aunt Sarah Maltby--could retain a scowl and still look
at Agnes Kenway, plump and pretty, and brown from the sea air and sun.
Naturally she was light, blue-eyed and with golden-yellow hair. The hair
was sunburned now and her round cheeks were as brown as fall leaves in
the woods.

"Oh, dear! I couldn't really help being late," she said, dropping into
the seat Uncle Rufus pulled out for her. The old darkey began at once
heaping her plate with tidbits. He all but worshipped Ruth; but Agnes he
petted and spoiled.

"I couldn't help being late," she repeated. "What do you think, Ruth?
Eva Larry was just telling me at the front gate that Mr. Marks has
threatened to forfeit all the basket ball games our team won in the
half-series last spring against the other teams of the Milton County
League, and will refuse to let us play the series out this fall. Isn't
that _awful_?"

"I don't know," said Ruth, placidly; she was not a basket ball
enthusiast herself. But Agnes had secured a place on the first team of
the Milton Schools a few weeks before the June closing. She was
athletic, and, although only in the grammar grade then, was big and
strong for her age.

"I don't know just how awful it is," repeated the oldest sister. "What
have you all done that the principal should make that ruling?"

"Goodness knows!" wailed Agnes. "I'm sure _I_ haven't done anything."

"Of course you haven't, Aggie," put in Dot, warmly. "You never _do_!"

This made the family laugh. Dot's loyalty to Agnes was really
phenomenal. No matter what Agnes did, it must be all right in the little
one's eyes.

"Well, I don't care," repeated Dot, sturdily, "Agnes is awful good!
'Course, not the same goodness as Ruthie; but I know she doesn't break
any school rules. And she knows a lot!"

"I wish she knew who my gray lady is," put in Tess, rather
complainingly.

"What gray lady?" dem