"Tabitha Catt! What a funny name!" Jerome exclaimed; and Tabitha, darting a swift glance at him from the corner of her eye, saw that he was looking at her with an amused smile on his lips. "Ain't it, though? She don't like it a bit, and took a different one; but her father made her take it all back. She's teacher's pet, so we daren't tease her." "Huh!" declared the other with a swagger of bravado, "'twould take more than that to make me stop teasing her if I wanted to." "Guess you don't know Miss Brooks very well." "I don't care a hang about Miss Brooks. I'd tease if I wanted to." "I dare you!" "Taken!" Tabitha was almost too shocked to move, but at this opportune moment, Carrie came running up to her desk with the news, "Sam Giles has just brought in a bucket of water. Don't you want a drink before recess is over?" Glad to escape further observation, Tabitha followed blue-eyed Carrie over to the corner of the room where the bucket stood, surrounded by the thirsty boys and girls, all clamoring for a turn. "Hurry up, Jack Leavitt, it's almost time for the bell and I want a drink!" "Give me that dipper, you Jim Gates; I want another swig!" "Wait your turn, stingy!" At last Tabitha stood beside the pail with the dipper in her hand, but just as she lifted the big cup brimming over, someone behind her tweaked her long braid, and she heard Jerome's laughing voice saying, "'Tabby Catt, Tabby Catt, where have you been?' 'I've been to London to see the queen.' 'Tabby Catt, Tabby Catt, what saw you there?'--" "I saw a sneaking boy with a shock of red hair," finished the enraged Tabitha whirling toward him with the dripping dipper, and before he had a chance to divine her intentions or dodge to one side, she let its contents fly straight into his face. "Tabitha Catt!" An ominous hush had fallen over the room while this little scene was transpiring, but the angry child had not noticed the unusual silence, nor perceived that Miss Brooks had entered in time to see the deluge. "Tabitha Catt!" repeated the astonished teacher. "I am surprised at you. Ask Jerome's pardon for being so rude." Tabitha still stood beside the water bucket, quivering in every limb, eyes blazing, nostrils flaring, and clutching the empty dipper fiercely in her hand. "I will not!" The teacher was shocked; no one had ever defied her in this manner before, and the angry blood mounted to her forehead. She would have obedience at whatever cost. "Tabitha, I insist that you beg Jerome's forgiveness." "I was to blame some, too, Miss Brooks," interrupted the boy shamefacedly. "I'm sorry." "I'm not," declared the little rebel, more hurt and grieved at finding her idol shattered than angry at his teasing words. Plainly Miss Brooks was puzzled. She could not ignore such open defiance; it must be punished in some way. What should she do? A bright thought occurred to her. "Jerome, take your seat. Tabitha, come here."