"Don't move a step!" called Alice, while Miss Ellis looked on
helplessly.
"Now, that settles it," cried out the squire, red with anger. "I'll take
you, too. Come right along here!"
Alice shot a meaning look at Miss Ellis and stepped out.
"Come, Tavia," she said, "the more the merrier. Girls we will be back in
time for the picnic," and, taking the "cue" from Alice, Tavia also
stepped out, and with her, marched off behind the squire.
CHAPTER XIII
A QUEER PICNIC
And that was to be picnic day!
A queer holiday, indeed, with two girls taken from the classroom--
arrested!
Yes, that was what it amounted to, in spite of the jolly way Tavia and
Alice trooped off, making "faces" and doing fancy "steps" back of the
squire.
Miss Ellis sat at her desk dazed, and stunned. She could not realize it
all--a squire coming into her room--threatening her with dismissal, and
taking two girls off to the common police court for a "hearing."
She was not a woman given to showing her feelings, but this seemed more
than she could bear; tears came into her eyes, fell upon her books and
then she bowed her head--she had to cry! Dorothy was at her side
instantly.
"Dear Miss Ellis," she murmured, "don't take it so seriously. It will be
all right. I'm sure those two girls are well able to take care of
themselves, and I suspect Alice went more for mischief than for
anything.
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