in two."

That was the awful truth-testing formula of the village children.

"Course you have," said Matilda, with indignant backward glances at
the others. "Le'ss go and get that Baldwin apple."

Comfort went with Matilda; but it took more than a Baldwin apple to
solace her; and her first day at school was a most unhappy one. It
was very probable that the other scholars, and especially the elder
ones, who had many important matters of their own in mind, thought
little more about her and her gold ring after school had begun; but
Comfort could not understand that. She had a feeling that the minds
of the whole school were fixed upon her, and she was standing upon a
sort of spiritual platform of shame, which was much worse than the
school-room floor. If she saw one girl whisper to another, she
directly thought it was about her. If a girl looked at her, her color
rose, and her heart began to beat loudly, for she thought she was
saying to herself, "Likely story!"

Comfort was thankful when it was time to go home, and she could
trudge off alone down the snowy road. None of the others lived her
way. She left them all at the turn of the road just below the
school-house.

"Good-night, Comfort," Matilda Stebbins sang out loyally; but the big
girl with red cheeks followed her with, "Wear that gold ring to
school to-morrow, an' let us see it." Then everybody giggled, and
poor Comfort fled out of sight. It seemed to her that she must wear
that ring to school the next day. She made up her mind that she would
ask her mother; but when she got home she found that her Grandmother
Atkins had come, and also her Uncle Ebenezer and Aunt Susan. They had
driven over from Barre, where they lived, and her grandmother was
going to stay and make a little visit; but her uncle and aunt were
going home soon, and her mother was hurrying to make some hot
biscuits for supper.

So when Comfort came in she stopped short at the sight of the
company, and had to kiss them all and answer their questions with shy
politeness. Comfort was very fond of her grandmother, but this time
she did not feel quite so delighted to see her as usual. As soon as
she had got a chance she slipped into the pantry after her mother.
"Mother," she whispered, pulling her apron softly, "can't I wear my
gold ring to school to-morrow?"

"No, you can't. How many times have I got to tell you?" said her
mother, mixing her biscuit dough energetically.

"Please let me, mother. T