"There isn't any other one!" retorted Peggy. "Yes, there is. I believe in him, and so do you, every one of you!" countered Isabelle. "He was just as real as Mr. Benjamin. You said so yourselves." "But he's only made up." "Oh, can't you see that the things you make up are lots realer than the things that are?" cried Isabelle with such conviction that they were all silenced. "The matter comes to this, doesn't it? Isabelle, not intending to lie, misled all of ye about her father," said Mr. Benjamin, gravely. "Yes, and we adored him so! When that little wizened man came in, we almost died!" blurted out Peggy. The light broke upon the Benjamins, but they tried not to smile at each other. "Isabelle's imagination can prove a gift or a curse," Mr. Benjamin continued. "Its possession lays a great obligation upon her. If it is used to mislead, or to obscure the truth, it is a dangerous power. Whatever the extenuating circumstances, it comes to this, that Isabelle lied to her friends. Phoebe, what does thee think about this situation?" "I think thee is right in saying that this is a very serious matter. I agree with Isabelle, that she should be punished, if only to remind her that such misuse of a talent is a very ugly thing." "I have been punished by the way the girls have treated me! I am punished when Mr. Benjamin says I have told a lie! But I want you to do something to hurt me! I wish Mr. Benjamin would beat me, or put me on bread and water. I hate myself. I'm just a common, mean liar! Whatever you decide to do to me is all right, and I deserve it!" As she denounced herself, she fairly glowed with indignation; she was radiant with humility. The girls were hypnotized by her! "I think Isabelle should miss the recreation hour for a month," said Mr. Benjamin. The girls gasped, for this was the extreme penalty, but Isabelle never flinched. "I will, Mr. Benjamin. I'll go to bed alone, in the dark, for a month and pray the Lord not to let me be a liar." "I think thee must not rely too much upon divine power, Isabelle. Set a watch upon thy tongue thyself," he said--very severely for the gentle Adam. "Thee may go to bed now." Condemned, abased, like a prisoner en route to the gallows, Isabelle walked from among them. She was disgraced, but, Isabelle-like, she wore her shame like a rose in her hair! CHAPTER SIXTEEN Isabelle was not forced to abrogate her reign, after all. Somehow her cleverness and her oddity always kept the spotlight focussed upon her. Needless to state Wally did not repeat his visit, and the spring term came to its end. With its expiration came a letter from Mrs. Bryce asking whether the Benjamins would keep Isabelle at Hill Top until the end of August, as the Bryces were going to Europe and did not wish to take her with them. It never occurred to Mrs. Bryce to consult the girl's pleasure in the matter, but Mrs. Benjamin carried the letter to her at once.