"I was going to tell you that Dick Torrington has asked me to go up for his Class Day." "Dick Torrington!" exclaimed Jane, mystified. "Why, Sally, he's ever so much older than you." "Now, Jane, what has--I beg your pardon,--Eugene, but it's hard to remember. But, Eugene, what has the difference in age to do with it? It has never seemed to make any difference to Dick. You know that he's as kind as he can be and probably he just thought that I would enjoy it." They had passed through the crowded corridor--crowded because, in one of the rooms on that floor, there was in preparation what the papers would call a modest collation--and they were out in the yard. Jane stopped short and looked at Sally with a puzzled expression. "I wonder, Sally," he said slowly, "if you know--but you evidently don't," he added. He seemed relieved at the result of his inspection. "Of course you'll go, but I can't help wishing you wouldn't." "Why?" she asked. "I mean to go if I can. Why would you rather I wouldn't?" He hesitated for some moments. "I don't know that I can tell you. Perhaps you'll understand sometime. Hello! What do you suppose they've got?" Ollie Pilcher and the Carlings passed rapidly across their line of vision. "Furtive sort of manner," continued Jane hurriedly. "I'll bet they're hiding something. Let's see what it is. What do you say, Sally?" Sally nodded and they ran, coming upon the three suddenly. The Carlings started guiltily and seemed about to say something; but although they had opened their mouths, no speech issued. "Sing it, you twins. What have you got? Come, pony up. We spotted you. Or perhaps you want the free-lunch committee to swoop down on you." If Sally had not been there the result might have been different. No doubt Jane had made allowance for the moral effect of her presence. The Carlings, severally, were still her slaves; or they would have been if she had let them. They grinned sheepishly and Horry drew something from under his jacket. It was done up in paper, but there was no mistaking it. Jane reached forth an authoritative hand. Ollie remonstrated. "I say, Jane,--" "Filcher," remarked Jane, "for filcher you are, although you may have persuaded these poor innocent boys to do the actual filching--Filcher, you'd better suspend further remarks. Otherwise I shall feel obliged to divide this pie into quarters instead of fifths. Quarters are much easier. It is a pie, I feel sure; a squash pie, I do not doubt. Is it quarters or fifths, Filcher?" As Jane was in possession of the pie, Ollie thought it the part of discretion to compromise. A clump of lilacs hid them from the schoolhouse, and Jane divided the pie, which proved to be filled with raisins, into five parts with his knife.