The new kid, in copious tears, encountered one of the "long-mad-proud-looks" and cringed.
"Why are you late?" demanded Miss Bailey.
"I washes me the face," whimpered the culprit, and the eyes with which she regarded Eva Gonorowsky added tearfully: "Villain behold your work!"
[Illustration: "I WASHES ME THE FACE">[
[Illustration: AIN'T YOU NEVER COMIN' ON THE SCHOOL FOR TO SEE MINE
TEACHER?]
"So I see, but that is no reason for being late. You have been late twice a day, morning and afternoon, for the last three days and your only excuse has been that you were washing your face. Which is no excuse at all."
"I tells you 'scuse," pleaded Yetta. "I tells you 'scuse."
"Very well, I'll forgive you to-day. I suppose I must tolerate you."
"No-o-oh ma'an, Teacher, Missis Bailey, don't you do it," screamed
Yetta in sudden terror. "I'd have a awful frightened over it. I swear,
I kiss up to God, I wouldn't never no more come late on the school.
I don't needs nobody should make nothings like that mit me."
"Oh, it's not so bad," Miss Bailey reassured her. "And you must expect something to happen if you will come late to school for no reason at all."