To all of the school children the principal's office was a place that usually filled them with awe. Rarely did anybody go there excepting when sent by a teacher because of some infringements of the rules.
Nan went to school early that afternoon, and as soon as she had left Bert and the two younger twins, she marched bravely to Mr. Tetlow's office and knocked on the door.
"Come in," said the principal, who was at his desk looking over some school reports.
"If you please, Mr. Tetlow, I came to see you about my brother, Bert Bobbsey," began Nan.
Mr. Tetlow looked at her kindly, for he half expected what was coming.
"What is it, Nan?" he asked.
"I—I—oh, Mr. Tetlow, won't you please let Bert off this time? He only did it because Danny said such things about me; said I was afraid of the ghost, and made all the boys call out that we had a ghost at our house. I—I—think, somehow, that I ought to be punished if he is."
There, it was out, and Nan felt the better for
