o little."

"I ain't too little!"

"Well, then, your mother doesn't like you to be with me, so there!"
cried Nan, in a burst of reckless frankness.

Ruth hung her head. She could not deny it but at sight of her
companion turning to leave her she again started forward, piping
shrilly, "Nannie! Nannie! She won't care this time. Honest, she
won't."

Nan stalked on without turning her head.

The hurrying little feet followed on close behind.

"Nannie! Nannie!"

"See here, Ruth," exclaimed the girl, veering suddenly about and
speaking with decision. "You can't come, and that's all there is about
it. Your mother doesn't like me, and you ought not to disobey her.
Now run back home like a good little girl."

The delicate, small face upturned to hers grew hardened and set, but
the child did not move.

Nan gave her a friendly shove on the shoulder and turned on her way
again. Immediately she heard the tap of hurrying little feet behind,
like the echoing sound of her own hasty footsteps. She stopped and
swung about abruptly.

"Are you going to be a good little girl and go back this minute?" she
demanded sternly, calling to her assistance all the dignity of her
fourteen years, and turning on the poor infant a severe, unrelenting
eye.

The child gazed up at her reproachfully, but did not reply.

Nan felt herself fast losing patience. "Of all the provoking little
witches!" she exclaimed, in an underbreath of irritation.

Ruth's rebuking eyes surveyed her calmly, but she made no response.

"Now be good and trot along back," cajoled Nan, changing her tactics
and stroking the child's soft hair caressingly.

There was a visible pursing of the obstinate little lips, but no
further sign of acknowledgment.

Nan dropped her voice to a tone of honey-sweetness. "See here, Ruthie,
if you'll go home this minute I'll give you five cents. You can buy
anything you like with it at Sam's, on the way back." She plunged her
hand into her pocket and drew forth a bright new nickel, and held it
alluringly aloft.

The azure eyes gazed at it appreciatively, but the hand was not
outstretched to receive it. For a second Nan reviewed the situation in
silence. Then she flung about with a movement of exasperation, and
marched on stolidly, and the smaller feet hastened after her, keeping
pace with difficulty, and often breaking into a little run that they
might not be outstripped.

A chill autumn wind was sweeping up heavil