Pray, miss, on what do you found your most absurd opinion ?" "Upon his conduct, sir," replied Lulu, returning the man's stare unblenchingly, while her cheeks reddened and her eyes flashed with anger; "he has treated me to-day as no gentleman would ever treat a lady or a little girl." "How ?" "Scolding and storming when I was doing my very best, and going on to actually strike me--me whom he was forbidden from the very first ever to strike.

Both Grandpa Dinsmore and Grandma Elsie--I mean Mrs.
Travilla--forbade it when they put me in his class; for I had told them I wouldn't be taught by him if he was allowed to treat me so; and they said he should not." "Ah! he should not have done so; I do not allow girls to be punished in that manner here.

I shall speak to the signor about it.

But you will go and finish your lesson." Lulu made no movement to obey, no reply except a look that said plainly that she had no intention of obeying.
"Did you hear me, miss ?" he asked wrathfully.
"I did; but I have already said several times that I would never be taught by that man again." He made a step toward her and a threatening gesture, but paused, seemed to consider a moment, then saying, "We will see what your guardians have to say about that," turned and left the room.
Every one seemed to draw a long breath of relief, and smiles, nods, and significant glances were exchanged.
"The hour for the closing of school has arrived, young ladies, and you are dismissed," said Miss Diana; and she also sailed from the room.
Instantly the girls, some twenty in number, flocked about Lulu with eager, excited exclamations and questions.
"Did he really strike you, Lu ?" "How did you take it ?" "I hope you returned the blow?
I certainly shall if ever he dares to lift his hand to me." This from a haughty-looking brunette of fourteen or fifteen.
"Brings it down, you mean, with a snap of his pointer on your fingers," laughed a merry little girl with golden hair and big blue eyes.
Neither Rosie nor Evelyn had spoken as yet, though the one was standing, the other sitting, close at Lulu's side.
Lulu's left hand lay in her lap, her handkerchief wrapped loosely about it.

Eva gently removed the handkerchief, and tears sprang to her eyes at sight of the wounded fingers.
"Oh, Lu!" she cried in accents of love and pity, "how he has hurt you!" A shower of exclamations followed from the others.