Grace and Flora had been told by the other girls what had
happened on the day of Sylvia's disappearance from school. May Bailey
had declared that Sylvia must have "run straight to the teacher," and
that she was a telltale as well as a "Yankee." Grace had defended her
friend warmly.
"I don't know how Miss Rosalie found out, but I'm sure Sylvia did not
tell," she declared.
Flora was unusually quiet. There were many scornful looks sent in
Sylvia's direction that afternoon, which Miss Patten noticed and easily
understood. Before school was dismissed she said that she had a brief
announcement to make.
"I want to say to you that the pupil whom Elinor treated with such a
lack of courtesy did not inform me of the fact. Nor would she say one
word against any of her schoolmates when I questioned her. Someone who
overheard Elinor's unfriendly remarks came and told me."
Flora Hayes smiled and drew a long breath. She did not blame Sylvia for
being a "Yankee," but it had troubled her to think of her new friend as
a "telltale," whatever her provocation might have been. The other girls
began to look at Sylvia with more friendly eyes, and as they ran down
the steps several found a chance to nod and smile at her, or to exchange
some word. So Sylvia began to feel that her troubles were over, if
Elinor Mayhew did not return to school.
"Father, are you sure 'Yankee' doesn't mean anything beside 'American'?"
she asked in a very serious tone, as she sat beside Mr.
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