o feel happier then, but there were so many things
to learn, and so few days to learn them in, that she hardly dared to
hope very much.

She found it very hard to learn to play happily with the other
children, and liked it much better just to get Deborah all by
herself and play with her.

July went by, and the children began to come back again. They told
stories of the wonderful things they had seen, and now Clematis was
only too glad to sit near them and listen.

[Illustration: Clematis is better]

"Oh," said Sally, who had been to Maine, "Mr. Lane had a field
almost as big as a whole city, full of long grass and daisies."

"Would he let you pick the daisies?" asked Clematis.

"Of course he would; all you wanted."

"Where is Maine?" asked Clematis, eagerly.

"Hear her talk," said another girl, named Betty, with a sniff. "She
needn't worry, she'll never get a chance to pick any."

Betty was not very kind, and did not like Clematis. She often made
fun of the younger children.

Clematis turned red. Her eyes flashed, and she was about to answer,
when the supper bell rang.

They had just sat down at the table, when Betty said to a girl near
by:

"You ought to hear Clematis. She thinks she is going to the country.
Just as if anybody would have her around."

Betty sat next to Clematis, who heard every word.

She had tried to be a good girl and learn, just as Miss Rose asked
her to.

Her face burned, and her eyes flashed more than ever.

Before she stopped to think, she turned and waved her spoon before
Betty's face, saying:

"You can't stop me. You'd better keep quiet, you old pig!"

Betty was so startled that she moved back. Her arm struck her bowl
of milk, and the milk spilled out, all over the table.

Part of it spilled down into her lap.

Then Clematis began to cry. When Miss Rose sent her away from the
table, and up to her bed, she went willingly.

She was glad to get away from the other children.

Miss Rose saw how sad she was, and knew how naughty Betty had been,
so she did not punish her.

"I am very sorry you have not learned to behave more politely,
Clematis. Perhaps this will be a lesson to you."

That was all she said before Clematis went to bed, but Clematis
cried quietly a long, long time.

She felt that she had made every one look at her, right in front of
Mrs. Snow. What would Mrs. Snow think of her now?

CHAPTER X

TWO DOCTORS

It was very late before Clematis fe