t beautiful picture I've ever seen, Bet. Where did it
come from. Was it in the Manor when your father bought the place?"

"No, the picture was painted by Gilbert Stuart, the artist who made so
many pictures of Washington, and it was handed down by several people
and finally sold at auction."

"Think of anyone who owned it being willing to sell it at auction!"

"I'm glad they did, because that was how Dad got it. A number of
people wanted it. That's the time Peter Gruff bid against Dad and
finally had to give up, as Dad ran the price up too high for him. He
stormed and raved. But my mother had said she would like to have it
for her reception hall and after that, Dad insisted on having it. And
you know he usually gets what he wants. Don't you think he's
wonderful, Kit?"

"Indeed he is, Bet. Your father has been so good to me that I'd be a
very ungrateful girl if I didn't think he's the best ever."

There was a scratching at the door and Bet ran to open it. "Well
here's old Smiley Jim, come to see Kit! Nice old Smiley!"

The dog came in with a bound, switching his bushy tail about and
smiling up at his friends. Then after he had received their petting,
he went as he always did, directly under the portrait of Lady Betty
and, raising his head, barked three short, joyous barks.

"He always does that, Kit, always, just as if he knew her and had to
greet her."

"I think it's the finest thing I've ever seen a dog do."

"I really believe he thinks she's alive, for he's done that ever since
he was a tiny pup."

That afternoon Joy and Shirley came. "Hurry up and come back to
school, it's frightfully lonely without you," exclaimed Shirley. "Half
the life is gone from the class."

"For which the teachers consider themselves lucky."

"Maybe so," laughed Joy. "Oh dear, I've only been back for a few days
and I've been in trouble twice."

"What did you do?" laughed Bet. "Tell me about it."

"It wasn't much. Miss Owens sent me to the board with half a dozen
others and I was working the problem all right, but I forgot and began
to twirl on my toes. Just a few innocent dance steps, you know it
makes me think better."

"I was wondering how she ever kept still in school," said Kit, drawing
the girl to her.

"She doesn't," whispered Bet. "Between Joy's dancing and my dreaming,
those poor teachers have a time of it. We've been telling each other
all summer, that we were going to turn over a new leaf."