But just as he turned to leave the stable he saw what made him tremble again.

There was the same sorrel horse with a white left forefoot and a white nose.
To shake off his nervousness, Ralph started to school before the time.
But, plague upon plagues! Mirandy Means, who had seen him leave Pete Jones's, started just in time to join him where he came into the big road.

Ralph was not in a good humor after his wakeful night, and to be thus dogged by Mirandy did not help the matter.

So he found himself speaking crabbedly to the daughter of the leading trustee, in spite of himself.
"Hanner's got a bad cold this mornin' from bein' out last night, and she can't come to spellin'-school to-night," began Mirandy, in her most simpering voice.
Ralph had forgotten that there was to be another spelling-school.

It seemed to him an age since the orthographical conflict of the past night.