“Yas’m.  I sho’ will ’member,” and with a smile at Sylvia, Estralla tiptoed toward the open door and disappeared.

It was a very grave teacher who watched her pupils return to their seats that morning.  It was a time when all the people in the southern city were anxious and troubled.  There had always been slaves in South Carolina, and now the Government of the United States was realizing that the black people must not be kept in servitude; that they had the same rights as white people; and it was difficult for the Charleston people to acknowledge that this was right.

Miss Rosalie was a South Carolinian, and she was sure that Charleston people did right to insist on keeping their slaves, even if it meant war.  And it now seemed likely that the North and South might come to warfare.  The word “Yankee” was as hateful to Miss Rosalie as it was to Elinor Mayhew, and for that very reason she determined that Elinor should make a public apology for calling one of her schoolmates a “Yankee.”  To the Carolinians the name meant the name of their enemies, and it seemed to Miss Rosalie a very dreadful thing to accuse this little northern girl of being an enemy.

After the girls were all seated she said in a very quiet tone: 

“Elinor, please come to the platform.”

For a moment Elinor hesitated.  Then she walked slowly down the aisle and stood beside Miss Patten.

“Now, young ladies, I do not need to explain to you the meaning of the word ‘courtesy.’  You all know that it means kindness and consideration of the rights and feelings of others.  You know as well the meaning of the word ‘hospitality’; that it means that any person who is received beneath your roof is entitled to courtesy and to more than that, to protection.  Even savages will protect any traveler who comes into their home, and give the best they have to make him comfortable.”  Miss Rosalie stopped a moment, and then said:  “If there is anyone of you who has not known the meaning of the two words to which I refer, will she please to rise.”

The girls all remained seated.

“Elinor, you will now apologize for having failed in courtesy and in hospitality to one of my pupils.”

Elinor stood looking out across the schoolroom.  Her mouth was tightly closed, and apparently she had no intention of obeying.

“Do I have to apologize for speaking the truth?” she demanded.

The girls held their breath.  Was it possible that Elinor dared defy Miss Patten?  Grace and Flora were sadly puzzled.  They were the only pupils who did not understand the exact reason, Elinor’s treatment of Sylvia, for Miss Patten’s demand.

The teacher did not respond, and Elinor did not speak.  Then after a moment Miss Patten said, “Take your seat, Elinor.  I shall make this request of you again at the beginning of the afternoon session.  If you do not comply with it you will no longer be received as a pupil in this school.”