CHAPTER IV.
FARTHER PROCEEDINGS IN BUCHBERG.
Oscar's suspicions were correct; as soon as the school-house door was opened, the nimble Fani had slipped out among the very first; and had joined Emma, who at once claimed his attention by saying:-- "Come, Fani, I know of a splendid tree for you to draw, and I have the paper and everything all ready." Fani was more than willing; and off they scampered, first down the road, and then by a path across the meadow to a small green hill, known as Oak-ridge.

As they slackened their pace in the ascent, Emma explained her plan.

A short time before, the two higher classes in the school had begun to take drawing lessons, a new experiment.

Emma and Elsli were in the fifth class, and so was the studious Fred, who, though more than a year younger, was so much in advance of those of his age that he had quite outstripped the fourth class to which he properly belonged, and was, indeed, more clever than most of the members of the fifth.

Not in drawing, however.