a miss," said Harold.

"Oh it's a spelling school--all of girls!" remarked Grace in a low aside
to her little friend Rosie Lacey; they two having chosen a place among
the spectators rather than with the actors on this occasion.

"Yes," returned Rosie; "I wonder why they don't have some of the boys in
the class too."

"When did Columbus discover America, Miss Maud?" asked Harold.

"In 1942," returned Maud with the air of one who is quite confident of
the correctness of her reply.

"A miss for you," said Harold. "Next. When did Columbus discover
America?"

"In 1620, just after the landing of the pilgrims," answered Sydney.

"Another miss," said Harold. "Next."

"Something happened in 1775," said Eva meditatively.

"Oh!" cried Rosie, "Columbus' discovery was long before that--somewhere
about the year 1000, was it not, Mr. Travilla?"

"A miss for each of you," replied Harold, shaking his head. "What year
was it, Lulu?"

"It must have been before I was born," she answered slowly, as if not
entirely certain--"Yes, I'm quite sure it was, and I can't remember
before I was born."

"A miss for you too," said Harold. "You have every one missed and will
have to con your task over again."

At that each girl opened a book which she held in her hand, and for
several minutes they all seemed to be studying diligently.

"Ah, ha! ah ha! um h'm! mis-con," murmured Cousin Ronald, half-aloud;
"vara weel done, lads and lasses. What's the next syllable? strue? Ah
ha, um h'm! we shall see presently," as the books were closed and the
young actors vanished through the door into the hall.

They were hardly gone when Zoe entered, carrying a small basket filled
with flowers which she began to strew here and there over the floor.

"Ah ha! ah ha! um h'm!" cried Cousin Ronald, "she strews the flowers;
misconstrue is the word na doot."

"Ah Cousin Ronald, somebody must have told you," laughed Zoe, tripping
from the room.

"Oh!" cried Rosie Lacey, "I see now why the boys didn't take part this
time; because they couldn't be miss."

"Here they come now, boys and girls too," exclaimed Grace. "Why how
they're laughing! I wonder what's the joke?"

They were all laughing as at something very amusing, and after entering
the room did nothing but sit or stand about laughing all the time;
fairly shaking with laughter, laughing, laughing till the tears came
into their eyes, and the older people joined in without in the least
knowing the e