The boys began to hurrah.  The mercury was away up the glass now.

“A white shield, that will mean something.  That means purity, honesty, every thing good and fair, and that your beautiful white shield will be your defense against harm.  You are my knights of the white shield.”

The applause following this was almost tumultuous.

“You are the Up-the-Ladder Club, that is, boys who are always going ahead in every thing good; climbing up, not lazy or bad, but boys, with an ambition—­a true Up-the-Ladder Club—­”

“Or,” suggested Sid, impressively, “the Knights of the White Shield.”

How Charlie did admire the ready wit of the president!  The enthusiasm of the club increased.  As in that reputed story of Maria Theresa, where her nobles are said to have surrounded her, and, waving their swords enthusiastically, pledged her their support, so the Up-the-Ladder Club waved their caps around this their young queen.  The excitement became so intense it was necessary to open the door to give it suitable vent, and out into the open air went these newly-dubbed knights.

“There go Bertha Barry’s boys, I know,” growled Timothy Scriggins, who chanced to meet this band of knights issuing from the yard of their queen.  “I never saw sich a teacher.”

Well, the boys loved her.  There was now a rush for the barn.  When they had all safely arrived in the chamber, Charlie suddenly and soberly exclaimed, “There!”

“What’s the matter?” inquired Sid.  “You look pale.  Has any one put his sword—­I mean his shield into—­I mean on you?”

Charlie did not feel like joking.  A dark thought had overshadowed him and changed a peaceful to a threatening sky.

“What is it?” asked Gov.  Grimes.

“I did not,” replied Charlie, “ask Aunt Stanshy if we might have the barn!”

That was an omission indeed, and the club appreciated it, as “Aunt Stanshy” was well known by the boys.  All the sunshine seemed to disappear suddenly and a cloud was on every thing.

Aunt Stanshy’s name in full was Constantia, but, like the crown-jewels of England, it was only used on very important occasions.  The house and barn both belonged to Aunt Stanshy, property that had been willed her by her father, Solomon Macomber, whose body slept under the wings of a blue-stone cherub in the cemetery.  Her nephew, Charles, on the death of his wife, came to live with Aunt Stanshy, bringing his infant heir.  When the father died, little Charlie was left in Aunt Stanshy’s care.  She was a tall, resolute woman, so tall that Simes Badger told Charlie that when he wanted to put colors on a flag-staff, he needn’t go out of the house.  That made Charlie mad.  Aunt Stanshy had sharp, black eyes, and spectacles made them look all the sharper.  As Charlie said, “Aunt Stanshy’s eyes sometimes look as if they had snappin’ crackers in ’em.”  Aunt Stanshy was really kind at heart and really loved Charlie, and