to ask again. Go away, please, and let me alone."

"No, I won't!" said stout Peggy. "You never would let me explain, but
now you are going to let me. I couldn't show you my example, and I
wouldn't, and I never will; but I could make you see how to do your own
right, and that's what I am going to do now."

Down she sat without more ado; took the pencil from the unwilling hand,
and set to work on an imaginary problem. Rose Barclay sat still for a
moment with averted face, pride and shame doing their best to silence
the better voices within her. At length she stole a glance at Peggy's
face, and there beheld such a shining expanse of goodwill and
friendliness that Pride and Co. gave up the battle, and retreated into
their dens. Heaving a long sigh of relief, she bent forward, and soon
was following with all her might Peggy's clear and lucid explanation.

"Why, yes!" said Rose, at last. "Why, I do see. Why, I do believe I
could do that myself."

"Of course you can!" said Peggy. "Here, take the pencil, and I'll give
you one."

She did so, and, after some screwing of the mouth and knitting of the
brows, Rose actually did do it, and felt like Wellington after Waterloo.
Then, at Peggy's instigation, she tackled the actual lesson, and,
steered by Professor Peggy, went through it triumphantly. Then she
turned on her instructor.

"What made you come and help me, Peggy Montfort? I've been perfectly
hateful to you, you know I have. I wouldn't have helped you, if you had
acted the way I have."

"Oh, yes, you would," said Peggy, good-naturedly.

"Why--why, you have been crying, too!" said Rose, examining her
benefactress more closely. "Peggy, you have been crying awfully, I know
you have."

"Yes, I have," said Peggy; "I have cried my eyes out, and I never was so
happy in my life. Come on, and have a game of ball!"

CHAPTER XI.

DECORATION--AND OTHER THINGS.

The Junior Reception was "on." In fact, it was to take place this very
evening, and an air of subdued excitement hung over the whole school.
All the other classes were invited, as well as the Faculty and many
friends from outside; it was sure to be a delightful occasion. Peggy was
fortunate enough to be one of the auxiliaries called in by the Snowy Owl
to help in the decorations, and she counted it a high privilege, as
indeed it was. As a general thing, there is more sympathy between
juniors and freshmen than between any other two classes in school or
colleg