esterday."

"Mollie, I don't want to be a croaker," began Bab, after a little
hesitation, "but have you noticed that mother seems worried about
something? When I was talking yesterday about how crazy I was to go to
Vassar some day, mother looked as though she wanted to cry. I stopped
there and then. She has seemed so gay and cheerful until recently. I
wonder whether she is worried about money."

Mollie nodded her head and frowned. "Now you speak of it, Bab, I believe
I have noticed that she seems depressed at times. I think she is tired
out and needs a complete change. She had a long letter from Cousin Betty
in St. Paul yesterday, asking her to make a visit. I think mother should
accept. You and I are certainly big enough to look after ourselves until
school commences. Let's beg her to go."

"All right, Mollie, we will," said her older sister, "but if the family
funds are even lower than usual, where is the money to come from for such
an expensive trip? Just the same, I shall question mother, and find out
what's the matter."

Bab was walking on bravely, trying to forget her horror of snakes.

"I am sure," she thought, "that I can feel my feet trembling inside my
boots; I am so afraid of stepping on one of the wretched little pests."

It had rained the day before, and the ground under the thick tangle of
trees and underbrush being unusually marshy, the girls had to pick their
way carefully. Mollie walked ahead while they were talking. Barbara
jumping from the twisted root of one tree to another half a yard away,
felt something writhe and wriggle under her foot. Without stopping to
look down, she shrieked--"A snake! a snake!"--and ran blindly forward.
Before Mollie had time to look around, Barbara caught her foot under a
root and tumbled headlong into the wet mud.

"Bab," cried Mollie, "you certainly have gone and done it this time! How
wet and muddy you are!"

She picked up a stick and raked in the leaves near her sister.

"See, here's what you have made such a fuss about, a tiny garter snake,
that couldn't hurt a thing. You've crushed the thing with your heel."

Mollie turned suddenly. "Barbara, what is the matter with you?" she
asked, as she caught a glimpse of her sister's face. "Why don't you get
up? Can I help you?" She leaned over her sister.

Poor Bab's face was white as a sheet, and she was trembling.

"Yes, do help me if you can," she answered. "I can't get up by myself.
I'm afraid I have turned my