"I don't think I need any vacation," said she, smiling constrainedly.

She pushed gently past Mrs.Babcock, with the children at her heels.
"You'd better take a little one," Mrs.Babcock called after her.
Lois kept on as if she did not hear.

Her face was flushed, and her head seemed full of beating pulses.
One of the children, a thin little girl in a blue dress, turned around and grimaced at Mrs.Babcock; another pulled Lois' dress.
"Teacher, Jenny Whitcomb is makin' faces at Mis' Babcock," she drawled.
"Jenny!" said Lois sharply; and the little girl turned her face with a scared nervous giggle.

"You mustn't ever do such a thing as that again," said Lois.

She reached down and took the child's little restive hand and led her along.
Lois had not much farther to go.