"Oh, no, Mother, she had to stay in the same class, and she was so disappointed."
"Then the work you are doing now is not new to her," said the Doctor. "Small wonder that she is able to rattle off her tables and spell all the words without any trouble! She would have good reason to be ashamed of herself if she could not do so. Sister Florian's ideas on the subject seem to be the same as mine; so you may leave Mildred out of the race until she begins new work after Christmas."
"You mean, Uncle, that we all have just as good a chance for the medal as Mildred has?"
"A better chance, Mary."
"Then I am going to get it again next month."
"Don't be too sure of that," warned Mrs. Selwyn.
"But I did it once, Mother, so why can't I do it again? I wasn't thinking of the medal, either, when I studied my lessons. I just studied so I would know them."
"That is the best way to do and the surest way to win the prize. Sometimes, little girls work themselves up to a great pitch over a reward; and if they do not win it, they are almost sick over their failure."
"Dear, me, how silly! As if they couldn't try again, Mother. Mildred didn't act that way. She seemed not to mind it a bit."
"Sister probably explained to her that she could not expect to get the medal until after Christmas."