started off down the dusty road.

He went straight to town and to Judy.

"Oh, oh," said Judy, when she had listened to his tale of woe, "what a
mean old thing she is--I hate her--" and her dark eyes flashed.

"I don't think Miss Mary is mean," said Launcelot, "but the children
_are_ restless, and she isn't very strong, and when she feels badly she
takes it out on the scholars."

"But to punish Anne," said Judy, and her voice trembled, "dear little
Anne--"

"She might at least have listened to Tommy's explanation," said
Launcelot.

After a pause he said: "I came to you because I thought you might go
and see Anne after school. It would do her a lot of good. She will be
all broken up."

"I will go to school and get her," cried Judy, eagerly. "Is it very
far?"

"I am afraid you couldn't walk," said Launcelot, doubtfully.

"I'll drive over in the trap," said Judy. "Grandfather says I can use
Vic whenever I want to."

"It was pretty mean of Miss Mary to pile it on, I must say," said
Launcelot, as he rose to go. "She might have let Anne be in the
entertainment."

"What?"

"She isn't going to let Anne be in it."

"Not be 'Cinderella'?" Judy's tone was ominous.

"No."

"Oh, oh, oh." Judy's hands were clenched fiercely. "I'll get even
with her, Launcelot. I'll get even with that teacher yet."

Launcelot smiled at her vehemence.

"But you can't," he said.

"Can't I?" with a shrug of her shoulders.

"No."

"Wait," said Judy, and not another word could he get out of her on the
subject.

The afternoon dragged along its interminable length, and Anne, with
bursting head, thought that it would never end.

"Tick, tock," proclaimed the old school clock, as the hands crept
slowly to one, to two, to three.

"In five minutes I can go," thought poor little Anne wildly, and just
then the school-room door opened, and on the threshold appeared a
self-contained young lady in pale violet gingham, and the young lady
was asking for Anne Batcheller!

"Judy!" said Anne's heart, with a bound, but her lips were still.

Miss Mary had seen the Judge's grand-daughter at church the day before,
and had been much impressed, and now when Judy asked sweetly if Anne
could go, she gave immediate consent.

"Of course she may," she said. "Anne, you are dismissed."

But her eyes did not meet Anne's eyes as she said it, for Miss Mary's
head was better, and she was beginning to wonder if she should not have
investigated