He caught sight of my offending pantalets, and thinking me some child who had come with her sister, was about to pass me by. But I was not to be slighted in that way, particularly when I knew the answer; so, with the air of one who, always at the foot, accidently spells a word right and starts for the head, I spoke out loud and distinctly “Alleghany and Monongahela,” glancing at my father just in time to catch a nod of encouragement. “The Nine” were taken by surprise, and instantly three pair of eyes with glasses and six pair without glasses were brought to bear upon me. For reasons best known to themselves, they asked _me_ a great variety of questions, all of which I answered correctly, I believe; at least they made no comment, and were evidently vastly amused with their new specimen, asking me how old I was, and exchanging smiles at my reply, “Thirteen, four weeks ago to-day.” One of my fellow-teachers, who sat near me, whispered to her next neighbor, “She’s older than that, I know;” for which remark I’ve never quite forgiven her. Arithmetic was the last branch introduced, and as mathematics was rather my forte, I had now no fears of failing—but I did! A question in Decimals puzzled me, and coloring to my temples, I replied “I don’t know,” while two undeniable tears dropped into my lap. “Never mind, sis,” said one of the nine. “You know most everything else, and have done bravely.” I was as sure of my certificate then as I was fifteen minutes afterwards, when a little slip of paper was given me, declaring me competent to teach a common school. I thought it was all over, and was adjusting mother’s shawl and tying on Juliet’s veil, when they asked me to write something that they might see a specimen of my penmanship. Taking the pen, I dashed off with a flourish “Rosa Lee,” at which I thought they peered more curiously than need be—and one of them, Dr. Clayton, a young man, and a handsome one, too, said something about its being “very poetical.” He hadn’t seen the _negro song_ then. The shadows of evening had long since fallen when we stopped at our door, where we found mother anxiously waiting for us. Very wistfully she looked in my face ere she asked the important question. “Yes, I’ve got one,” said I, bounding from the buggy, “and I’d like to be examined every day, it’s such fun.” “Didn’t you miss a word?” asked Juliet. “Oh, I’m so glad!” cried Lizzie. “Feel _big_, don’t you?” suggested Charlie, while Anna inquired “if I’d lost her pocket handkerchief!” CHAPTER V. PINE HILL.