To-day, as they filed out and down the steps, Elinor whispered to several of her companions.  And suddenly Sylvia realized that she was standing alone.  Grace Waite had lingered to speak to Miss Rosalie; Flora had been excused just before recess, as her black mammy had arrived with a note from Mrs. Hayes.  The other girls were gathered in a little group about Elinor, who was evidently telling them something of great interest.  Sylvia walked slowly along toward a little summer-house where Miss Patten sometimes had little tea-parties.  She hoped Grace would not stay long with Miss Patten.  The other girls were between Sylvia and the arbor, and none of them moved to let her pass; nor did any of them speak to her, as she paused with a word of greeting.

“Now, girls,” she heard Elinor say; and the others, half under their breath, but only too distinctly for Sylvia, called out:  “Yankee, Yankee!” Then like a flock of bright-colored birds they ran swiftly into the summer-house.

For a moment Sylvia stood quite still.  She realized that Elinor meant to be hateful; but she remembered that her father had said that all Americans were called “Yankees,” and she was not a coward.  She went straight on to the arbor.  Elinor Mayhew stood on the steps.

“You are just as much a Yankee as I am.  And you ought to be proud of it,” declared Sylvia, facing the older girl.

“Hear that, girls!” called Elinor to the group about her.  There was a little angry murmur from the others.

“Don’t you dare say that again, Miss Boston,” called May Bailey, who stood next to Elinor.

Sylvia was now thoroughly angry.  She knew of no reason why these girls should treat her in so unkind a fashion.  She felt very desolate and unhappy, but she faced them bravely.

“Yankees!  Yankees!  It’s what all Americans are,” she declared defiantly.

In an instant the little girls were all about her.  Elinor Mayhew was holding her hands, and the others were pushing her along the path to the shore.  The thick growing shrubs hid them from the house.  Sylvia did not cry out or speak.  She was not at all afraid, nor did she resist.

“We ought to make her take it back,” said May Bailey, as Elinor stopped, and they all stood in a close group about Sylvia.

“Of course she’s got to take it back, and apologize on her knees,” declared Elinor.  “She might as well learn that South Carolinians will not be insulted,” and Elinor lifted her head proudly.

“I won’t take it back!” retorted Sylvia, “and you are the ones who will have to apologize.  Yes, every one of you, before I will ever speak to you again.”

“Hear that, girls!  Wouldn’t it be dreadful if she never spoke to us again!” sneered Elinor.

“She means she will tell Miss Rosalie,” said one of the girls.

“I don’t, either.  I can look after my own afffairs,” retorted Sylvia bravely.  “I’m not a tell-tale.  Although I suppose girls who act the way you do would tell.”