"Poor dear Elsie!" Vi said with tears in her eyes, "it's just dreadful that she must have that tooth extricated." "Extracted," corrected Eddie. "Vi, you seem to forget what mamma says:--that you should never use a big word unless you are sure you have it right; or when a little one would do as well." "What little one?" "Pulled." "Couldn't it be pulled and not come out?" "Well then you might say pulled out." "I like the other word best," persisted Vi. "But we needn't be particular about words when Elsie's going to be so dreadfully hurt." Herbert burst out crying at that. "Why Herbie what ails you?" asked Vi, putting her arms round his neck and giving him a kiss. "I don't want the mans to hurt my Elsie," sobbed the little fellow, "maybe dey'll kill her." "Oh, no, they won't! mamma will never let them do that. They'll only take away the naughty tooth that hurts her so." "Come let's go and walk round the garden," said Eddie, taking Herbie's hand, "mamma said we might." The breakfast bell called them in to find the Rosses making a perfect bedlam in their anger and disappointment at being left behind by their parents. Sophie was screaming and stamping with rage, the boys and Kate were whimpering and scolding, and Gertrude walking about with flashing eyes, was saying "I'll never forgive mamma for this, no I never will; for she'd promised to take me along next time she went to the city." Violet, Eddie, and Harold hearing these words, looked at each other in horrified silence. "How could she speak so of her own mother?" Miss Fisk came in, in her quiet, deliberate way and stood looking for a moment from one to another of her pupils in a sort of amazed, reproving silence that presently had the effect of quieting them down a little. Then she spoke. "Young ladies and young gentlemen, I am astonished! especially at your expressions and behavior, Miss Gertrude Ross. How you can permit yourself to indulge in such invectives against parents so extremely indulgent as Mr. and Mrs. Ross, I cannot conceive." Sophie whose screams had sunk to sobs, now permitted the servant to lift her to her high chair, Kate and the boys slunk shamefacedly into their seats at the table, and Gertrude, muttering something about "people not keeping their promises," followed their example. "Come, sit down, my dears," Miss Fisk said, turning to Violet and her brothers; "the tempest seems to have nearly subsided and I hope will not resume its violence." Herbie was clinging to Vi in a frightened way, sobbing "I want mamma!" and Harold's eyes too were full of tears. It took coaxing and soothing to restore their equanimity and then the breakfast proceeded, everybody seeming to grow brighter and more good humored with the satisfying of the appetite for food.