"Because he, practically, has enlisted. He enters the government service when he enters the academy, and he simply takes his oath of allegiance." Mrs. Morton's questioning was interrupted by the entrance of Sherm, Frank, and Marian, who came in demanding news. "Don't worry, Mother," said Frank, patting her shoulder, "your precious lamb is in good hands. He'll be back next September such a dude the family won't know how to behave in his presence." Frank couldn't resist teasing even when he tried to comfort. Mrs. Morton sighed. "A great many things can happen in a year." "Yes, Mother dear, they can, but most always they don't. The only things you can depend on are bad weather and work." A letter soon followed the telegram, giving details of the examinations, and a glimpse of Ernest's new life, which comforted his mother, because he was forming punctual habits and had to go regularly to chapel whether he wished to or not. He had met Carol unexpectedly, to their mutual joy. "He's an awfully handsome chap--knows it, too, but I think he has too much sense to let it spoil him. It's jolly to have some one I know here," Ernest wrote. School began for Chicken Little at the little brown schoolhouse a mile distant, on the fifteenth of September. Chicken Little and the whole Morton family rejoiced, for she had been a most dissatisfied young person of late. Her mother watched her walk away down the lane, immaculate in her new flower-bordered calico, lunch basket in hand, with positive thankfulness. "Glad to have her out of the way, aren't you, Mother? Jane is too restless a girl to be idle," laughed Marian. Jane had spoken to her father about her plan for Sherm and he had heartily agreed. But Sherm was not to begin until the first of November when the most pressing of the farm work would be over. Chicken Little promptly talked the matter over also with the new teacher, Mr. Clay, a young man of twenty-one, fresh from his junior year at college. He was wide awake and attractive, and while ignorant, as they, of many of the niceties of polite society, seemed a very elegant being to the majority of his new pupils. Mamie Jenkins had concluded to stay at home for the fall term instead of going to the Garland High School. For some reason it took an astonishing number of consultations with the teacher to arrange Mamie's course satisfactorily, especially when she learned that Sherm would be coming soon. She quizzed Chicken Little carefully as to what studies Sherm would take. "Geometry and Latin, I think. I asked Mr. Clay and he said he could. Maybe bookkeeping, too." "I was just thinking I ought to go on with my Latin. I had Beginning Latin last year, and I really ought to take Cæsar right away before I forget."