He's
gone! He's gone!" His eye and his hand had speedily proved the fact.
He had even thrown open a little cupboard.

Presently he came flying out. He grabbed his hat, and hurled the outer
door back upon its hinges. Then he tumbled headlong into the night. He
was yelling: "Docteh Trescott! Docteh Trescott!" He ran wildly through
the fields, and galloped in the direction of town. He continued to
call to Trescott, as if the latter was within easy hearing. It was as
if Trescott was poised in the contemplative sky over the running
negro, and could heed this reaching voice--"Docteh Trescott!"

In the cabin, Mrs. Williams, supported by relays from the battalion of
children, stood quaking watch until the truth of daylight came as a
reinforcement and made the arrogant, strutting, swashbuckler
children, and a mother who proclaimed her illimitable courage.

[Illustration: "The Door Swung Portentously Open"]

XVI

Theresa Page was giving a party. It was the outcome of a long series
of arguments addressed to her mother, which had been overheard in part
by her father. He had at last said five words, "Oh, let her have it."
The mother had then gladly capitulated.

Theresa had written nineteen invitations, and distributed them at
recess to her schoolmates. Later her mother had composed five large
cakes, and still later a vast amount of lemonade.

So the nine little girls and the ten little boys sat quite primly in
the dining-room, while Theresa and her mother plied them with cake and
lemonade, and also with ice-cream. This primness sat now quite
strangely upon them. It was owing to the presence of Mrs. Page.
Previously in the parlor alone with their games they had overturned a
chair; the boys had let more or less of their hoodlum spirit shine
forth. But when circumstances could be possibly magnified to warrant
it, the girls made the boys victims of an insufferable pride, snubbing
them mercilessly. So in the dining-room they resembled a class at
Sunday-school, if it were not for the subterranean smiles, gestures,
rebuffs, and poutings which stamped the affair as a children's party.

Two little girls of this subdued gathering were planted in a settle
with their backs to the broad window. They were beaming lovingly upon
each other with an effect of scorning the boys.

Hearing a noise behind her at the window, one little girl turned to
face it. Instantly she screamed and sprang away, covering her face
with her hands. "What