Mother haven't really said it, Dad, but Chet and I
will be able to go to boarding school, won't we?"

"I should think so--on four thousand dollars," her father answered
dryly, and so Billie's cup of happiness was filled to the brim.

But Billie, young as she was, was beginning to learn that no matter how
perfect a thing seems, there is almost sure to be a fly in the ointment
somewhere; and it was not long before she discovered the fly in the
present case.

It was one beautiful bright day, the kind that only early autumn knows,
and the chums were walking down the main street of North Bend eagerly
discussing plans and talking of the fun they would have at Three Towers
Hall when suddenly Billie espied Miss Beggs, the English teacher whose
statue she had broken, coming out of a drug store.

With a great wave of happiness that now she could pay for the statue, or
at least replace the one she had broken, she hurried forward and spoke
to the English teacher as she was about to enter another store.

"Why, how-do-you-do!" cried the latter, evidently surprised and very
much pleased at the meeting. "I didn't know you were back yet."

"We left Cherry Corners on Monday," Billie replied, then added eagerly
as Laura and Violet came hurrying up: "I'd like to tell you what
happened to us there; that is, if you have time enough."

"Indeed I have," replied Miss Beggs heartily, and after she had greeted
the other girls they all walked down the street together while Billie
launched into the wonderful tale of her good fortune.

"Over four thousand dollars!" cried the teacher when Billie stopped for
lack of breath. "Why, Billie, isn't that marvelous? It sounds like a
story. What," she added, smiling down into the eager face, "do you
intend to do with all that wealth?"

"Buy a statue for you, first of all," said Billie promptly, and Miss
Beggs flushed.

"I had forgotten all about that statue," she said. "I told you it had
already been broken, anyway."

"I know you did. But since you had mended it so it looked all right, it
was almost as good as new, wasn't it? You mustn't say 'no,'" she added
quickly, as she saw Miss Beggs was about to interrupt, "for it won't do
the slightest bit of good. I'm not going to buy anything for myself till
I replace that statue."

Miss Beggs gave a little helpless shrug of her shoulders.

"I can see that nobody has a chance to change your mind, Billie Bradley,
when it's once made up," she said with