But she did not try to speak to Ralph again about
'Lias, not even after school, when she saw 'Lias going home with a new
cap on his head which she recognized as Ralph's. She just looked at
Ralph's bare head, and smiled her eyes at him, keeping the rest of her
face sober, the way Cousin Ann did. For just a minute Ralph almost
smiled back. At least he looked quite friendly. They stepped along
toward home together, the first time Ralph had ever condescended to walk
beside a girl.
"We got a new colt," he said.
"Have you?" she said. "What color?"
"Black, with a white star, and they're going to let me ride him when
he's old enough."
"My! Won't that be nice!" said Betsy.
And all the time they were both thinking of little 'Lias with his new
clothes and his sweet, thin face shining with cleanliness.
"Do you like spruce gum?" asked Ralph.
"Oh, I LOVE gum!" said Betsy.
"Well, I'll bring you down a chunk tomorrow, if I don't forget it," said
Ralph, turning off at the cross-roads.
They had not mentioned 'Lias at all.
The next day they were to have school only in the morning. In the
afternoon they were to go in a big hay-wagon down to the village to the
"exercises." 'Lias came to school in his new blue-serge trousers and his
white blouse. The little girls gloated over his appearance, and hung
around him, for who was to "visit school" that morning but Mr.
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