"Pay attention, Louise," came from the porch, and Louise's startled, dark eyes were turned to the front again.
When the children were seated in their room it developed that Miss Barclay had been temporarily called away, and that a scared-looking girl from the teacher training-class was in charge of the third grade.
The new teacher did not miss Rudolph, but the children did, and there was smothered excitement in consequence.
Louise, who had not breathed a word of what she knew, sat grasping her desk with both hands. Rudolph Kreisler had refused to come under the flag! Of course they had taunted him, but the stark fact remained that he had refused. And then no human being had ever seen inside those bulging pockets. Rudolph Kreisler, bulging pockets and all, was in the engine-room, right under their feet!
And then a new fear suddenly laid its grip upon her heart. Suppose that German boy should do something to the flag! She tried to shift her position so that she could see out of the window, but found it impossible.
"Oh-o-o, teacher!" Louise jumped at the sound of excitement in the voice from behind her, but quieted somewhat when she realized that it was Tinsie Willis who spoke. "Louise has left her hat on the front lawn!"
"Louise, go and get your hat," said the substitute, looking all about the room to see which one of the many little girls might be the one reported.
Louise rose from her seat with fear and trembling and left the room.
But the first glimpse of the out-of-doors dispelled her great new fear—her flag was still there!
The stately lawn looked vast and awe-inspiring now that one had to face its darkly waving greens all alone, but Duty called. She had left her hat by the flagpole, and she now went timidly up to get it. She mounted the green knoll. She looked up.