as, I am going to have him eat. He is so thin and
hungry looking."

Barnabas chuckled. His sister's happiest mission was the feeding of
hungry children.

After breakfast, when Janey's rebellious curls were again being
brushed into shape, M'ri told David he could go to school if he liked.
To her surprise the boy flushed and looked uncomfortable. M'ri's
intuitions were quick and generally correct.

"It's so near the end of the term, though," she added casually, as an
afterthought, "that maybe you had better wait until next fall to start
in."

"Yes, please, Miss M'ri, I'd rather," he said quickly and gratefully.

When Janey, dinner pail in hand and books under arm, was ready to
start, David asked in surprise where Jud was.

"Oh, he has gone long ago. He thinks he is too big to walk with
Janey."

David quietly took the pail and books from the little girl.

"I'll take you to school, Janey, and come for you this afternoon."

"We won't need to git no watch dog to foller Janey," said Barnabas, as
the children started down the path.

"David," called M'ri, "stop at Miss Rhody's on your way back and find
out whether my waist is finished."

With proudly protective air, David walked beside the stiffly starched
little girl, who had placed her hand trustfully in his. They had gone
but a short distance when they were overtaken by Joe Forbes, mounted
on a shining black horse. He reined up and looked down on them
good-humoredly.

[Illustration: "_With proudly protective air, David walked beside the
stiffly starched little girl_"]

"Going to school, children?"

"I am. Davey's just going to carry my things for me," explained
Janey.

"Well, I can do that and carry you into the bargain. Help her up,
David."

Janey cried out in delight at the prospect of a ride. David lifted her
up, and Joe settled her comfortably in the saddle, encircling her with
his arm. Then he looked down whimsically into David's disappointed
eyes.

"I know it's a mean trick, Dave, to take your little sweetheart from
you."

"She's not my sweetheart; she's my sister."

"Has she promised to be that already? Get up, Firefly."

They were off over the smooth country road, Forbes shouting a
bantering good-by and Janey waving a triumphant dinner pail, while
David, trudging on his way, experienced the desolate feeling of the
one who is left behind. Across fields he came to the tiny, thatched
cottage of Miss Rhody Crabbe, who stood on the crumbling do