An Australian Lassie

"EMILY UNDERWOOD, 19; Stanley Smith, 20; Cyril Bruce, 21; Nellie Underwood, 22; Elizabeth Bruce, 23-bottom of the class!"Mr. Sharman took off his eyeglasses, rubbed them, and put them on again. Then he looked very hard at the little girl at the end of the furthest form, who was hanging her head and industriously biting a slate pencil."Stand up, Elizabeth Bruce. Put down your pencil and fold your hands behind you."Elizabeth did as she was told instantly. Her rosy face looked anxiously into the master's stern one."Yesterday morning," the master said, "you were head of the class. This morning I find your name at the end of the list. How was that?"Elizabeth hung her head again, and her dimpled chin hid itself behind the needlework of her pinafore.A small girl, a few seats higher, held up her hand and waved it impatiently."Well?" asked the master."Please sir, she was promptin' Cyril Bruce.""Silence!" thundered the master sternly. Then his gaze went back to the bent head of the little culprit."Stand upon the form," he said, "and tell me in a clear voice how it is you went down twenty-two places in one afternoon."The rosiness left the little girl's face. She raised her head, and her brown eyes looked pleadingly into the master's, her white face besought him, for one second. Then she scrambled up to the form by the aid of the desk in front of her