At last, conscious of pathetic eyes following her about the room and having heard of Aunt Amelia, the teacher again questioned Marian. "What is the trouble, little girl? Is there anything you would like to do? Would you like to write on the blackboard?" Marian's face lighted. "I wish I could sit in that empty back seat all day," she eagerly suggested. The teacher smiled. "You may pack your books, Marian, and sit there until I miss you so much I shall need you down here again." Marian knew what that meant. "I'll be awful good," she promised. "I mean, I'll be ever so good." So Marian sat in a back seat that last day and in spite of her sore throat and headache, she was happy. It was triumph to sit in a back seat. She was glad the children looked around and smiled. They might get bad marks for turning their heads, to be sure, but what of it? At recess Marian walked across the schoolroom once or twice, then returned to her seat. At noon she refused to go to the basement with the children to eat her luncheon. In fact, she couldn't eat. Marian wondered why time seemed so long. When the history class was called to the recitation seat early in the afternoon, one little girl was motionless when the signals were given. "Marian Lee's asleep," volunteered the child who sat in front of her. At that, Marian raised her head and stumbled to her class. "Don't you feel well?" asked the teacher. Marian shook her head. Her cheeks were crimson. She had never felt so wretched. "Don't you think you had better go home?" continued Miss Beck. "Oh, no," answered the child in tones of alarm. "Oh, she wouldn't let me come home before school is out." "There, there, don't cry," begged the teacher. "You may go back to your seat if you wish." Marian did so and was soon asleep again. At recess she awoke to find herself alone in the room with Miss Beck. "You had better go home, dear," the teacher urged. "I am sure you are ill. Let me help you put on your coat and hood." "I can't go home until school is out," and Marian began to cry. "Why not?" "Because on account of my aunt. She wouldn't let me come home." "But you are ill, Marian." "She won't let me be sick," was the sobbing reply, "and I don't dare go home. You don't know my aunt. I guess I feel better. I want to go where it isn't so hot." The teacher was young and hopeful. "Perhaps you will feel better if you go out to play," was her reply.