miserable for her in a hundred ways. They hid her crutch in
the most out-of-way places, adroitly misplaced her cooking utensils, or
whatever article she was about to use, causing her many a long and
annoying search when she was in a hurry. They stopped the clock or set
it ahead with aggravating frequency; and discovering that the plucky
girl grimly bore their tormenting in silence, they grew bolder, jumping
out at her from unexpected corners, tweaking her long braids, tripping
her up, and calling her "Carrots," or "Red-top," when Tabitha was out
of hearing, for they still entertained a wholesome fear of that
strong-armed, hot-tempered little housekeeper, who demanded instant
obedience from her charges, and was able to enforce her authority by
main strength if necessary.

Also, they felt a certain boyish admiration for the tall, lithe girl
who bore such a record for bravery, though not for the world would they
have admitted the fact, even to each other; and they could not resist
plaguing her on the sly whenever a chance presented itself. But to
tease her openly was out of the question; so Gloriana received a double
share of tormenting, which she bore with such uncomplaining fortitude
that the boys forgot to be cautious, and one afternoon while Tabitha
was in town on an errand, Mercedes came upon them as they were limping
about the kitchen in an exaggerated fashion chanting with tuneless
voices,

"Baa-baa, black sheep, have you any wool?
Yes, sir, yes, sir, three bags full;
One for the master, one for the dame,
And one for the 'gory head' who limps awful lame."

Tears were standing in the tired gray eyes, but Gloriana, with her back
resolutely turned toward her tormentors, scrubbed her pan of vegetables
more vigorously, and tried not to hear the taunting words, though she
knew from the sound of their steps that the boys were circling nearer
and ever nearer, and would soon jerk off her hair-ribbon or poke her in
the back.

"Cowards!" exploded Mercedes wrathfully. "You'd never dare do that if
Tabitha was here! I'm going to tell her just how mean you are!"

"Tattletale, tattletale!" jeered Billiard, taking a rapid survey of the
yard as he limped past the door, to see if the other housekeeper had by
any chance returned from the post-office.

"You wait and see what you get when Tabby finds out what you have been
doing," threatened the girl; and the little name slipping inadvertently
from her tongue gave