h ter your likin'. 'Rill
Scattergood ain't got no way with her, as I sez before; an' folks that
can afford it have got in the habit o' sendin' their young'uns over to
Middletown School. Walky Dexter takes 'em in a party waggin, and brings
'em back at night."

"But there must be some nice girls in Poketown!" cried Janice.

"Ya-as--I guess there be. But wait till I kin git around an' interduce
ye to 'em."

This promise, however, offered Janice Day but sorry comfort. If she
waited for Aunt Almira to take her about she certainly _would_ die of
homesickness!

But she refused to be driven out of the Poketown School by the
unkindness and discourtesy of the larger girls. Her unpopularity,
however, made her respond the more quickly to 'Rill Scattergood's
advances.

The school-teacher showed plainly that she appreciated Janice's
friendliness. Janice brought her luncheon and ate it with the teacher.
They walked down High Street together after school, and on Friday the
pretty little school-mistress invited the new girl home for tea.

"Mother wants to see you again. Mother's took quite a fancy to you,
Janice--and that's a fact," said Miss 'Rill.

"Of course, we're only boarding; but Mrs. Beasely--she's a widow
lady--makes it very homey for us. If mother stays we're going to
housekeeping ourselves. And I believe I _shall_ give up teaching school.
I'm really tired of it."

Janice gladly accepted the invitation, and she bribed one of the
youngsters with a nickel to run around to Hillside Avenue and tell Aunt
Almira where she was.

Miss 'Rill's boarding place was on the same side street where was
located Hopewell Drugg's store. Janice had thought often of poor little
Lottie and her father during this week; but as they neared the store and
she heard the wailing notes of the man's violin again, she felt a little
diffident about broaching the subject of the storekeeper and his child
to the school-mistress. It was Miss Scattergood herself who opened the
matter.

She half halted and held up her hand for silence, as she listened to
"Silver Threads Among the Gold."

"That's a dreadful pretty tune, I think," she said. "It used to be awful
pop'lar when--when I came here to Poketown to teach school."

"Mr. Drugg likes it, I guess," said Janice, lightly. "I've heard him
play it before."

"Have you?" queried Miss 'Rill, with that little birdlike tilt of her
head. "So you know Mr. Drugg--and poor little Lottie?"

"I've met them b