"Oh, Bert, what made you fight?" said his twin sister. "I told you not to."
"I couldn't help it, Nan. He told everybody that you were afraid of the ghost."
"And what is Mr. Tetlow going to do?"
"I don't know. He told me to stay in after school this afternoon, as he wanted to talk with me."
"If he expels you, mamma will never get over it."
"I know that, Nan. But—but—I couldn't stand it to have him yelling out, 'Afraid of a ghost!'"
After that Nan said but little. But her thoughts were busy, and by the time they were returning to the school her mind was fully made up.
To all of the school children the principal's office was a place that usually filled them with awe. Rarely did anybody go there excepting when sent by a teacher because of some infringements of the rules.
Nan went to school early that afternoon, and as soon as she had left Bert and the two younger twins, she marched bravely to Mr. Tetlow's office and knocked on the door.
"Come in," said the principal, who was at his desk looking over some school reports.