ght of home made a lump come into poor Marjorie's throat, and
the tears came plentifully as she fumbled vainly about the lock of the
door.

"Oh, dear," she said to herself, "just s'pose I have to stay here all
night. I _won't_ go upstairs again. I'll sit on the steps and wait till
morning."

But at last something gave way, the latch flew up, and Marjorie swung
the big door open, and felt the cool night air on her face once more.

It was very dark, but she didn't mind that, now that she was released
from her prison, and, after making sure that the door was securely
fastened, she put the key safely in her pocket, and started off toward
home.

The church clock struck eight just as she reached her own door, and she
could hardly believe she had made her whole trip in less than an hour.
It seemed as if she had spent a whole night alone in the schoolhouse.
She rang the bell, and in a moment Sarah opened the door.

"Why, Miss Marjorie, wherever have you been?" cried the astonished maid.
"I thought you was up in your own room."

"I've been out on an errand, Sarah," answered Midge, with great dignity.

"An errand, is it? At this time o' night! I'm surprised at ye, Miss
Marjorie, cuttin' up tricks just because the folks is away."

"Hello, Mopsy!" cried Kingdon, jumping downstairs three at a time. "What
have you been up to now, I'd like to know."

"Nothing much," said Marjorie, gaily. Her spirits had risen since she
found herself once again in her safe, warm, light home. "Don't bother me
now, King; I want to study."

"Mother'll study you when she knows that you've been out walking alone
at night."

"I don't want you to tell her, King, because I want to tell her myself."

"All right, Midge. I know it's all right, only I think you might tell
me."

"Well, I will," said Midget, in a sudden burst of confidence.

Sarah had left the room, so Marjorie told King all about her adventure.

The boy looked at her with mingled admiration and amazement.

"You do beat all, Mopsy!" he said. "It was right down plucky of you,
but you ought not to have done it. Why didn't you wait till I came home,
and I would have gone for you."

"I didn't mean to go, you know, at first. I just went all of a sudden,
after I had really started to come home. I don't think Mother'll mind,
when I explain it to her."

"You don't, hey? Well, just you wait and see!"

It was not easy to settle down to studying the speller, after such an
exciting adven