Family -- Juvenile fiction; Young women -- Juvenile fiction
Belle Miller, otherwise known as "Tinkle," was as "dear and dainty" as
ever, in a creamy white swiss, and May Egner wore lavender, although
fully conscious of the disastrous effects of picnic sun on that
perishable shade. It was a "last year's" gown, so May decided she might
better get a few more turns out of it and this, she thought, would be
one of the rare occasions, when a lavender might be worn, "with
impunity."
All the girls wore appropriate costumes, and, when the classes
assembled, the room presented a veritable holiday look. Study seemed
the last thing to be thought of amid such gaiety.
Even Miss Ellis wore a white collar and cuffs, a relief from her usual
somber black, and as she touched the bell she smiled pleasantly to her
pupils, plainly bidding them a happy holiday.
"Young ladies," she began, "we will take a brief review of last
Friday's work. It is so near closing time we must not waste an entire
day."
Dorothy felt the time had arrived for her to speak.
How she dreaded to mar that happy school hour with such unpleasant
reminders of past troubles!
But she had promised Sarah; moreover it was due the entire class that
the occurrence should be disposed of honorably.
Tavia was waiting anxiously. Alice also fidgeted at her books. Finally
Dorothy raised her hand. The motion was not seen at once by Miss Ellis,
but it is safe to say no other person in the room missed it.
A stir of excitement caused the teacher to look up and she bowed to
Dorothy.
"I am sorry, Miss Ellis," began Dorothy with hesitation, "to refer to
anything unpleasant today, but I have promised Sarah Ford to make an
explanation for her--she of course could not come herself."
"What is it Dorothy?" asked the teacher, although she no doubt guessed
what the girl wished to say.
"I just want to state that Sarah did not intend to blame anyone for her
accident--she had only cried that it was our fault when she was
suffering so, and did not mean that those about her should have taken
it up as they did. She wished me to apologize for her, and to say that
the whole thing was an accident, the reports as well as the injury."
"Thank you," said Miss Ellis as Dorothy sat down. "I am very glad
indeed that the unpleasant happening has been disposed of."
Alice was on her feet next.
"I also want to apologize, Miss Ellis," she broke out in her "boyish
tones," adding: "I should not have spoken as I did, when you asked me
to be silent. I was rude to do so."
"A fault atoned for is a lesson learned," commented the teacher, as
Alice took her seat.
It seemed to the girls the entire session would be given up to
apologies and "love feasts," but when Tavia arose there was a decided
murmur through the room.
"Fluffy!" whispered the girl in the very last seat referring to Tavia's
fancy dress.
"Full bloom!" said another, meaning that the pink and white dress put
the "Tiger Lily," as they called Tavia, in full bloom.
But these remarks had no effect on Tavia.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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