“How! How!” followed this agreeable statement, and the umbrella whirled again.
“Change!” shouted Zan at the word, and some of the girls did change the step correctly while others were in doubt.
“Here—a forfeit from each one of you!” demanded Zan, and the punishment made the game more exciting.
“The next time the same one mistakes she pays double!” added Zan, placing the forfeits in a basket. But the girls were beginning to learn how it was played, and the first game ended with everyone laughing or jesting. Miss Miller had Mrs. Baker take a paper from a bag and read out a name.
“Elena Marsh,” read Mrs. Baker.
Everyone looked eagerly at the laden stick opposite her, and Jane called: “Here it is, in front of me.”
“Jane removes it and runs about the circle with Elena after her,” added Miss Miller.
Twice around the ring flew Jane, and Elena, fleet-footed, after her, until in the third round the pursuer caught up and held her captive.
Great interest was shown as Elena opened the package and showed a small box of French pastels.
“Oh!” sighed she in ecstasy, “I’ve wanted one of these ever since I was born!”