Again Peace came to the earth with an abruptness that left her breathless and quaking. "Yes, ma'am," she responded meekly.
"You weren't paying attention, were you?" demanded the long-suffering teacher.
Peace pondered. She could scarcely say "yes" truthfully, and yet her intentions were good. She had not meant to lose herself again, nor did realize how very little she had heard of the story which the teacher had been reading.
"Were you?" repeated Miss Phelps relentlessly.
"Partly," Peace responded haughtily.
The woman gasped; then as the scholars giggled, she said sternly, "Tell us what the story was about."
Peace opened her mouth. "Gan—" she began and halted. What had the story been about? Rapidly she searched through her memory. It was such a funny word. How could she have forgotten it?
The children sniggered audibly.
"Gan—what?" urged the weary teacher sarcastically.
O, yes, now she remembered it! "Gandermeats and pigeons," triumphantly finished Peace, with a saucy toss of her head.