Now don't you worry, Mrs.Field; I don't believe it's anything." The girl nodded back at her with her pretty smile; then she sped away with a light tilting motion.

Mrs.Field stood a few minutes longer, then she went up the steps into the house.

She opened Amanda Pratt's door instead of her own, and went through the sitting-room to the kitchen, from whence she could hear the clink of dishes.
"Lois ain't got home yet," said she, standing in the doorway.
Amanda set down the dish she was wiping.

"Mis' Field, what do you mean ?" "What I say." "Ain't she got home yet ?" "No, she ain't." "Why, it's half-past one o'clock! She ain't comin'; it's time for school to begin.

Look here, Mis' Field, I guess she felt kind of tired, an' thought she wouldn't come." Mrs.Field shook her head with a sort of remorselessness toward all comfort.