that. I hate rats."

While Clematis and Deborah were having such a good time in the
kitchen, Mrs. Snow took Miss Rose to her room.

"Well, Miss Rose, have you found out anything about that strange
little child?"

"Not very much yet. She talks very little, and has had very little
care."

"What makes you think so?"

"Why, the poor child didn't know what a tooth brush was for. She
said she always left her clothes in a pile by the bed, because she
could find them all in the morning."

Mrs. Snow sighed.

"Dear me, she will need much care, to teach her how to do things
well. But I guess her folks will come for her before long."

"I don't know who her folks can be. She has never learned any
prayers."

"Poor child, she must be a sad case." Mrs. Snow sighed again.

"But she is very fearless. This morning, before I went to her room,
she had climbed out of the window and broken off a piece of the
maple tree with buds on it."

"What, way up there at the roof?"

"Yes, she said that was nothing, for she had hold of the blind."

"What did she want the branch for?"

"She wanted it for the red buds. She broke them off and put them in
her cup, like flowers."

"Well, Miss Rose, take her out to walk this afternoon, and ask her
some questions. Perhaps you can find out where she lives."

CHAPTER V

CLEMATIS BEGINS TO LEARN

Clematis played with Deborah all the morning. She forgot about
helping Katie, and when Katie asked her if she wanted to help her
peel some potatoes, she said:

"I don't know how."

[Illustration: "Didn't you ever peel potatoes?"]

"Didn't you ever peel potatoes?" asked Katie.

"No, I never had to do any work."

"Well, you will have to be doing some work round here. It's lucky
for you that Mrs. Snow is good to little girls. You would have a
hard row to hoe in some homes, believe me."

Clematis was busy tying her hair ribbon round Deborah's neck, and
did not answer.

The morning went fast, and the dinner was ready before Clematis was
ready to leave her kitten.

For dinner they had soup, in the little yellow bowls, with a big
piece of Johnny cake, and some ginger bread.

As soon as dinner was over, Miss Rose brought Clematis a brown
coat.

It was not new, but it was neat and warm, much better than the one
she had worn the day before.

"Come, Clematis," she said, "I am going out to walk. Don't you want
to go with me?"

"Where are you going?" asked Clematis, shrinking back.