Of course all the scholars laughed.
Miss Dobbs rapped on the desk sharply with her rule. "Silence!" The house became quiet.
"You must not speak out loud in school again," she said, sternly, to Patty. "I shall punish you if you do."
Patty was very angry. "What right had Miss Dobbs to speak so to her?" she thought.
She began to be afraid of Miss Dobbs, but she was sure Anna would not let any harm come to her little sister. She slipped down quietly off the seat, and sat down on the floor under the big desk. There Miss Dobbs could not see her, and she could free her mind. So again her clear voice rang out, "Miss Dobbs is drefful cross, isn't she, Anna?"
The scholars laughed again, but Miss Dobbs walked quickly up to the desk, pulled out little Patty, and boxed her ears soundly. Then sitting her down hard on the seat, she left her with a stern "Now see if you can keep still!"
Patty was too scared to cry. She found Miss Dobbs was to be minded, and for the rest of the winter she went to school and was as good a little girl as you could wish to see.
M. C. W. B.
Enigmas, Charades, Puzzles, &c.