"Please write it," said Calista. "She will only rave at me." "Perhaps it would be better." Mr. Settson wrote his note. Calista put it in her pocket and walked away, with her head fuller of thoughts than it had ever been before. She was so absent in school, and made so many mistakes that Miss Jessy observed to Miss Meeks that Calista's head was far too full of her fancy work, and Miss Meeks returned with a sarcastic smile, that she had never expected anything else. CHAPTER SIXTH. THE SECRET DRAWER. FOR several days Calista went about like one in a dream. She was so absent that Miss Druett wondered what had come over the child; and she made so many blunders in school that she brought down on her head a sharp reprimand from Miss Meeks. "It is just what I predicted when this nonsense fair was first gotten up," said that lady. "Your head is so full of your fancy work that you can think of nothing else." "Eh! What is that?" asked Miss McPherson. "It is that Miss Stanfield is so careless that there is no bearing it, ma'am," answered Miss Meeks. "Her exercise is just a disgrace with blots, and the writing looks as if a powowet * had wagged over it." Miss Meeks was apt to get to her Scotch when excited. "I tell her, ma'am, it is a poor return for your kindness about the knitting work," pursued the teacher; "verra ungrateful, I must needs say." * A tadpole or pollywog, as we call it hereabouts. "It was not the knitting work," said Calista, very much hurt, but trying to speak civilly, as she knew how Miss McPherson was vexed by any rudeness to poor Miss Meeks. "I have had a great deal to think of this week, Miss Meeks, and I know I have been careless, but I will try to do better. I handed you the first copy of the exercise instead of the second—that is all. Here is the right one." Miss McPherson took it from her hand and looked it over. "That is not bad," said she; "but you should not allow yourself to write carelessly at any time. However, Miss Meeks will excuse you this once." "Of course," said the teacher, not very graciously however, and as she went away, she murmured something about favorites and absurd indulgence. Miss McPherson only smiled. She understood Miss Meeks's good qualities, and she knew that the poor lady's irritability had a better excuse than that of most people. "Really, Calista, my dear, you must try to do better, for your own sake," said she, gently. "Remember that you are losing opportunities which you may not have very long, and for which you are responsible. Whatever it is that's occupying your mind, put it aside in school time and give your whole attention to your lessons."