to school without any dinner."

"I don't see as there is anything for dinner but bread and apple-sauce,
and I'm sure I don't want any."

"I should think you'd be ashamed of yourself, actin' so."

"I think there are other folks that ought to be ashamed of themselves.
Before I'd go into folk's houses that way--"

"Ruth Whitman, they'll hear you!"

"I don't care if they do. I've got to go, anyway. It's late. I couldn't
stop for dinner now if I wanted to."

She went through the kitchen, where Serena now tended the stew, only
stopping to take her shawl off the peg.

"Why, you going?" Serena called after her.

"I've got to; it's late," replied Ruth, shortly. She faced about for a
second and gave a stiff nod, which seemed directed at the stew-kettle
rather than at the Wigginses. "Good-bye," said she. Then she went out.

It was raining with a hard, steady drizzle. Ruth had no rubbers nor
water-proof--they were not yet invented. She sped along through the rain
and mist. She had to walk half a mile to the little house where she
taught the district school, and before she got there she felt calmer.

"I suppose I was silly to act so mad," she said to herself. "I know it
plagued mother."

It was early in the spring; the trees were turning green in the rain.
Over in the field she could see one peach-tree in blossom, showing pink
through the mist. "I suppose Mr. Wiggins couldn't work out to-day, and
that's how they happened to come. They could have the horse. But they
ought to have come earlier," reflected Ruth. "There are a good many of
'em for Mrs. Wiggins to get ready," mused Ruth. "There's old Mrs.
Wiggins and Johnny and Sammy and Mary and Mr. Wiggins."

By the time Ruth was seated at her table in the school-room, and the
scholars were wriggling and twisting before her on their wooden
benches, she saw the matter quite plainly from the Wiggins side. She
made up her mind that she would behave just as well as she knew how to
the Wigginses when she got home. She planned how she would swing little
Mary out in the barn and play with the boys, and how she would help her
mother get tea.

When school was done and Ruth started for home the rain had stopped and
the sun was shining. The rain-pools in the road glittered, and she
noticed a cherry-tree in blossom. When she reached home Serena met her
at the door.

"Oh, Ruth Whitman!" she cried, "we have had such a time!"

Ruth stared. "What do you mean?" said she. "Where are th