It all occurred in a moment--the yank, the outcry of Mary, the whispers of the two boys and the subsequent pause in the matter of teaching and the centering of every child's attention upon the exciting incident and wondering what Miss Lee would do with the disturbers of the peace. "Phœbe," the teacher's voice was controlled and forceful, "you may fold your hands. You do not seem to know what to do with them." Phœbe folded her hands and bowed her head in shame. She hadn't meant to create a disturbance. What would her father say when he knew she was scolded the first day of school! The teacher's voice went on, "Mary Warner, you may come to me at noon. I want to tell you a few things about tale-bearing. Phœbe may remain after the others leave this afternoon." "Kept in!" thought Phœbe disconsolately. She was going to be kept in the first day! Never before had such punishment been meted out to her! The disgrace almost overwhelmed her. "Now I won't ever, ever, ever like her!" she thought as she bent her head to hide the tears. The remainder of the day was like a blurred page to her. She was glad when the other children picked up their books and empty baskets and kettles and started homeward. "Cheer up," whispered David as he passed out, but she was too miserable to smile or answer. "Come on, David," urged Phares when the two cousins reached outdoors and the younger one seemed reluctant to go home. "Don't stay here to pet Phœbe when she comes out." "Ach, the poor kid"--David was all sympathy and tenderness. "Let her get punished. Pulling Mary's hair like that!" "Well, Mary tattled. I was wishing Phœbe'd yank that darned kid's hair half off." "Mary just told the truth. You think everything Phœbe does is right and you help her along in her temper. She needs to be punished sometimes." "Ach, you make me tired, standing up for a tattle-tale! Anyhow, you go on home. I'm goin' to hang round a while and see if Miss Lee does anything mean." Phares went on alone and the other boy stole to a window and crouched to the ground. Inside the room Phœbe waited tremblingly for the teacher to speak. It seemed ages before Miss Lee walked down the aisle and stood by the low desk. Phœbe raised her head--the look in the dark eyes of the teacher filled her with a sudden reversion of feeling. How could she go on hating any one so beautiful! "Phœbe, I'm sorry--I'm so sorry there has been any trouble the first day and that you have been the cause of it." "I--ach, Miss Lee," the child blurted out half-sobbingly, "Mary, she tattled on me." "That was wrong, of course. I made her understand that at noon. But don't you think that pulling her hair and creating a disturbance was equally wrong?" "I guess so, mebbe. But I didn't mean to make no fuss. I--I--why, I just get so mad still! I hadn't ought to pull her hair, for that hurts vonderful much." "Then you might tell her to-morrow how sorry you are about it."