A YEAR WITH NELLIE.

CHAPTER IL

MISS RAYNER’S CA‘.

Se was just over. Mr. nae the
master stood thoughtfully rubbing his
rough gray chin, his lower lip projecting, his
shaggy brows drawn down over his eyes in a
frown. He was.not angry, but this was the
usual expression of his face, fixed on it by
thirty years of teaching in Milbury school.

The children meanwhile were putting away
books and slates, and chattering together as
they hurried here and there, making a deafen-
ing noise with their heavy country boots and
shrill voices.

Suddenly the clatter ceased, and the mouths