"She didn't; she never struck me in her life," said Ella.
"I know better; she did," said Sallie.
"That's a lie, and you know it is," said Ella, growing very angry.
"So I suppose you'll go and tell dear Miss Layton, that Sallie Barnes has been telling lies about you."
"No, I'll not," said Ella. "You know I won't, or you wouldn't dare to talk so. I don't tell lies nor tales either; I would not stoop to do anything so mean and wicked."
"So you mean to say I'm mean and wicked, a liar and a tell-tale! Never mind, miss, I'll pay you for your impudence, one of these days."
"I don't think your stories hang together very well, Sallie," said Mary Young. "First you say Miss Layton pets Ella, and then you say she whipped her for what I know she wouldn't whip any other scholar for."
Sallie was saved the necessity of replying, for at that instant the bell rang, and all hastened to the house.
"You have all recited very well excepting Ella," said Miss Layton, as she dismissed the grammar class to their seats. "Ella, you must learn this lesson over and recite it to me after school is dismissed."