"See here is a nice dry hollow; it will just be as safe
as in my drawer at home."
"Yes, I suppose so," answered Emma, rather impatiently. "Only I shall not be here for the first few days. We are going to the city this afternoon, and may not be home till Thursday or Friday. There's the first bell. Oh, dear, I wish, it was all over! Come, Tilly, we shall be late."
The school exercises went on as usual in the morning. At noon, Tilly walked home by the street, discussing with the other girls the chances of promotion for one and another, and came back the same way. In the afternoon the whole school, boarders and all, were assembled in the large room. The trustees, with the president of the school at their head, took their seats on the raised platform, and the friends of the pupils had a place by themselves. There was a prayer and some singing; and then Mr. Richard Hausen, the president, rose to read the reports, amid a profound silence. The little girls came first, and then the elder ones. Florry and Emma, seated together, listened breathlessly till Mr. Hausen came to the "promotions" and read:
"Promoted to the fourth grade: Flora Lester, Eva Church, Anna Talbot. Highest standing for all things, Flora Lester."
Poor Emma! She had succeeded in persuading herself that she should certainly pass this time, and it was a terrible disappointment not to hear her name. And such a mortification, too. She must stay behind—in the baby-room, as she disdainfully called the Kindergarten, while two such little things as Eva Church and Anna Talbot mounted over her head. They would learn their lessons in the great class-room, and go out sailing and riding with the young ladies, while she would remain, the only large girl in the room, except Tilly Mansfield.
"It is too bad! It isn't half fair!" Thus, in the short recess given to the younger girls, Emma loudly complained of the injustice done her.
"I don't believe Miss Van Ness keeps the book right!" she exclaimed. "I don't believe I have been imperfect as many times as that."
"I am afraid there is no mistake about it," said Florry, sorrowfully. "Have you kept an account this term, Emma?"
"No. I can never remember to set the things down at the time."
"I didn't believe you would, and so I kept your credit along with my own," said Florry. "And, Emma, I am afraid Miss Van Ness is right. Her account is just like mine. You know I told you two or three weeks ago—"