"Good arternoon," said the old woman, in a very shrill voice. "Good afternoon," said Miss Melville, politely. "I come to see the young uns," piped the old woman. "I ben deown teown fur some eggs, an'clock I heerd the little creaturs a sayin'clock of their lessons as I come by, an'clock thinks says I to myself, says I, bless their dear hearts, I'll go in an'clock see 'em, says I, an'clock I'll thank ye kindly for a seat, for I'm pretty nigh beat out." The scholars all began to laugh. Miss Melville, somewhat reluctantly, handed her visitor a chair by the door, but did not ask her upon the platform, as the visitor seemed to expect. "There's a drefful draught here on my neck," she muttered, discontentedly; "an'clock I'm terribly afflicted with rheumatiz mostly. Can't see much of the young uns here, nuther." "I doubt if there is much here that will interest you," observed Miss Melville, looking at her keenly. "You may rest yourself, and then I think you had better go. Visitors always disturb the children." "Bless their dear hearts!" cried the old woman, shrilly. "They needn't be afraid of me--_I_ wouldn't hurt 'em. Had a little angel boy once myself; he's gone to Californy now, an'clock I'm a lone, lorn widdy. I say--little gal!" and the stranger pointed her finger (it trembled a little) at Sarah Rowe, who had grown quite red in the face with her polite efforts not to laugh. "Little gal, whar's yer manners?--laughin'clock at a poor ole creetur like me! Come out here, and le's hear ye say that beautiful psalm of Dr. Watts--now!" "How doth the little busy bee!" But just then something happened for which the old woman and the scholars were equally unprepared. Miss Melville looked through the green veil straight into the old woman's eyes, and said just one word. She said it very quietly, and she said it without a smile. It was "Gypsy!" There was a great hush. Sarah Rowe was the first to break it. "Why, that's my sack turned wrong side out!" "And those are my mitts!" said Agnes Gaylord. "If you please, Miss Melville, that's my black shawl,--I know it by the border," piped a very little girl in mourning. "I do believe that's my waterproof, and Lucy's plaid shawl," giggled Delia Guest. "Did you _ever_?" "And my green veil," put in somebody else, faintly. Miss Melville quietly removed the veil, and Gypsy looked up with her mischief bright all over her face. Her eyes fell, however, and her cheeks flushed crimson, when she saw the look about Miss Melville's mouth. "You may go and put away the things, Gypsy," said Miss Melville, still without a smile. Gypsy obeyed in silence. The girls stopped laughing, and began to whisper together behind the desk-covers. "The school will come to order," said Miss Melville. "Cely, what is the largest river in New England?--Next."