"Right," returns Mr. Purple, who has not heard a word, but never contradicts William because his father is on the committee.--"Next: Soil of Kentucky?" "Flat-boats and flat-irons," replies one of the twins, just loud enough to set the boys laughing three seats before and behind him. "Very well, _ver_-y well.--Less laughing.--What is the capital? Speak up distinctly." "Capital punishment," responds the other twin, cracking an acorn. "Correct.--Next may answer, a _little_ louder: Where is Frankfort?" And that was the way the lesson went. There had been a great deal more noise than usual, and Mr. Purple was almost distracted, for he saw the large boys were "in league," and he dared not call them to account. Meanwhile active little Patty, who thought she was standing perfectly still, studying that dreadful Ladies' Accidence, had really been spinning about on one foot; and just then she darted forward to tear a bit of shining bark from a white birch stick in the "ears" of the fireplace. "Master," cried out a mean-spirited boy on the front bench, "Patty's pickin' gum off that ar log; I seed her." Master Purple strode quickly across the room. He had been longing for a whole hour to give _somebody_ a terrible whipping; and here was a good opportunity. Of course it was the unmanly little tell-tale he was going to punish? No, indeed; it was Patty. He seized upon the bewildered little creature with the greatest fury. "Patty Lyman, what do you mean, young woman? Haven't I laid down a rule, and how dare you disobey? It was only yesterday I feruled Ozen Wiggins for chewing gum." "I didn't," wailed Patty. "What? Do you contradict me? We'll see about that! Hold out your hand, you naughty, wicked child!" The tone was so fierce, and the clutch on her shoulder hurt her so much, that poor Patty screamed fearfully. "Hold out your hand!" repeated the master. Patty gave him her slender baby-palm, poor little creature! while Dorcas and Mary, up in the back seats, both drew in their breaths with a shudder. Down came the hard-wood ferule, whizzing through the air like a thing of life. No time then to tell Mr. Purple she _couldn't_ have picked gum off a hard-wood stick if she had tried; he wouldn't have believed her, and wouldn't have listened, no matter what she said. One! two! three! Patty had never been struck like this before. The twins looked at each other, and almost rose from their seats. Indignation flashed from thirty pairs of eyes, but the master was too excited to see it. Four! five! six! Patty's little figure bent like a broken reed, when there was a shuffling of boots in the aisle, and a voice shouted, "Stop that, sir!" It was William Parlin's voice. He had sent it on ahead of him, and was following after it as fast as he could. "Let that child alone, Master Purple." [Illustration: LITTLE GRANDFATHER SPEAKS.--Page 138.] Master Purple was so utterly surprised and confounded that he stood stock still, with his ferule high in the air.