happily. Probably a little girl could not be as
brave as a great soldier, she thought, but if her father was pleased it
would not be so hard, after all, to tell Luretta about Trit and Trot.
But Anna again firmly resolved that she would take all the blame
herself; Melvina should not be blamed in any way for the loss of the
rabbits.

CHAPTER X

AN AFTERNOON WALK

At the turn by the blacksmith shop Mr. Weston said good-bye, and Anna
went on alone to Luretta's home. The front door was open, and before she
reached the house she heard someone crying, and when she stood on the
doorstep she realized that it was Luretta, and that Mrs. Foster was
endeavoring to comfort her.

"The rabbits are much happier to be free to run back to the woods.
Perhaps by this time they have found their mother, and are telling all
their adventures to their brothers and sisters," she heard Mrs. Foster
say.

"But Danna and Melvina may have taken them," sobbed Luretta; and then
Anna rapped at the door.

"Come in," called Mrs. Foster, and Anna, a little timidly, entered the
sitting-room.

Luretta looked up, but did not speak.

"Come right in, Anna," said Mrs. Foster pleasantly. "Luretta has bad
news for you; the rabbits are gone."

Anna did not look up, and there was an uncomfortable silence for a
moment. Then she began her story:

"If you please, Mistress Foster, I am sorry I broke my promise to you
this morning. You bade me to wait with Melvina by the big log, and I did
not."

"You came and took my rabbits," wailed Luretta, "and I s'pose you gave
one to that stuck-up Melvina."

Anna nodded. "Yes, I did take them; but I meant to bring them back,
Luretta, truly I did. But they got away."

A fresh wail from Luretta made Anna look pleadingly up at Mrs. Foster,
whose eyes rested kindly upon her.

"Luretta, stop thy foolish crying," said Mrs. Foster, "and let Anna tell
you all the story of the rabbits." Then she rested her hand on Anna's
shoulder and said kindly:

"I am glad, Anna, that you and Luretta are friends, for thou art a brave
and honest child. Now, I must attend to my work, and I will leave you,"
and the two little girls found themselves alone in the room.

Luretta was sitting in the big cushioned wooden rocker, with her face
hidden against the back. Anna was standing in front of her, trying to
think of something to say that would make Luretta forgive her. Then