deserved more than they got. And yet they aren't to blame, either,
after the bringing up they have had. I suppose--it's up to me--to do
the apologizing act--myself--this trip."

Drying her eyes and taking a firm grip on herself, she descended from
her refuge and sought out the boys in their room.

"Come in," Billiard called gruffly in response to her knock, though
inwardly he was quaking with fear lest it might be the sheriff or Uncle
Hogan, whose authority he had never but once dared to defy. So he was
visibly relieved when he saw Tabitha standing alone on the threshold,
but waited uncertainly for her to state her errand.

She was as anxious as they to have the ordeal over with, and plunged
into the middle of her carefully framed speech, saying briefly, "I came
to ask your pardon for my rudeness of a few minutes ago. I forgot
myself. It was wrong of me to speak and act as I did, no matter how
great the provocation."

Her wandering gaze suddenly fell upon Billiard's face, just in time to
see him wink wickedly at Toady, and her good resolutions abruptly took
wing. "But you deserved every bit you got," she finished fiercely,
"and the next time I'll _souse you in the rain barrel_!"

Slamming the door in their surprised faces, she marched majestically
away to the kitchen, and furiously began beating up a cake, so
chagrined over this new defeat of her plans that she could not keep the
tears from her eyes.

Suddenly a meek voice at her elbow spoke hesitatingly, "Say, Tabitha,
we've apologized to Gory Anne--Gloriana, I mean. Will you--excuse--me
for what we said about you, too?"

Toady's big, beseeching, brown eyes met hers unflinchingly--he
certainly knew how to look angelic when occasion demanded it--and
Tabitha relented.

"Yes, Toady, I'll excuse _you_," she said with meaning emphasis, which
was not lost on the older brother, keeping well in the background.

"I--I'm ready to be excused, too," Billiard gulped at length, shuffling
forward a few steps, but not raising his eyes from the floor.

"Very well," she answered coldly. "But don't you dare bother Gloriana
again. I won't stand for it!"

"No, ma'am," Billiard responded meekly; and the two boys made good
their escape, feeling very virtuous indeed.

CHAPTER V

IRENE'S SONG

"Miss Davis gets home to-day," sang Tabitha under her breath, as she
drew on her slippers that bright, hot morning. "Do you know that,
Gloriana Holliday?"

"Haven't I