It was not until they were in the house, that she could tell what
affected her.

Then her mother took her on her lap, and she had her cry out there,
while Florence and Rock, looking much concerned, stood by.

"Tell me, daughter, what ails you," her mother said, pushing back the
curls from the little tear-stained face.

"It was so solemn--and--I was thinking about everybody's going away
to-morrow," she said, between her sobs. "Then they sang--'Where friend
holds fellowship with friend. Though sundered far'--and all that--and I
couldn't stand it any longer," and the tears still rained down her face.

At this Florence's eyes filled up, and she put her arms around Dimple,
and they cried together, while it took Mrs. Dallas, Rock, and Mr.
Dallas, all three, to comfort them.

"You will soon be going to school, Dimple," said her papa, "and then you
will have ever so many playmates."

"And you are coming to see us next winter," said Rock.

"And you will have mamma left, anyhow," said her mother, hugging her up
close.

So among them all, the tears were dried; and before dinner was over,
they were all laughing as joyously as ever.

The only excitement left was to watch for the arrival of Rock's papa
and mamma, who were to come that evening.

In the meantime, while Rock and Florence were reading, Dimple heard
Bubbles her Sunday lesson. She always taught her one of the hymns she
had herself learned, and a Bible verse or two.

Bubbles was not very quick at learning the verses, but delighted in the
hymns, and sang them with Dimple, with great vigor.

This afternoon, however, it was quite wearisome to Dimple, for her cry
had given her a headache, and she cut the lesson very short so as to get
back to Rock and Florence.

"I shouldn't like to be a teacher," she said, throwing herself down on
the lounge.

"I should," said Florence. "I love my teacher at school dearly; she is
the sweetest, dearest thing, we girls almost fight over her."

"Do you? How funny," said Dimple.

"Why, yes, we take her flowers, and candy, and big apples and oranges;
sometimes her desk is full."

"I am afraid I shan't like my teacher," said Dimple.

"Do you know her?"

"Yes, a little; she has been here to tea. She isn't so awful, and I
should like her, perhaps, if I didn't know I had to go to school to
her."

"Do you know many of the girls?"

"One or two. You saw that girl who sat in front of us at church, she is
one."

"You will ge