bsurd
things merely in sport; but you must not be so foolish as to believe
them."

Down dropped Flaxie's head in grandma's lap, her hair falling over
grandma's black silk apron in a golden shower.

Mrs. Prim looked surprised. She did not know that Flaxie really _had_
believed in those gold teeth, and had been comforted by thinking how
Phil would outshine everybody by-and-by! And now the poor little girl
was crying because it was all a mistake, and because Mrs. Prim had said
she was "foolish."

"Run and let in the cat," said grandma; "don't you hear her mewing?"

When Kitty Gray was let in, she came bringing a mouse, and Flaxie
laughed to see her run right up to grandma and rub against her dress.

"Good pussy, pretty pussy," said grandma, stroking the cat, who almost
purred her heart out for joy. Not a mouse did she ever catch but she
brought it to grandma or mamma to show it; but she never brought one to
Mrs. Prim. I wonder why not.

"Now let her out, Mary," said grandma to Flaxie. "And go ask Dora if it
isn't almost time to make the gravy for dinner."

When Flaxie skipped away, grandma said to Mrs. Prim, "The poor child is
lonesome, with nothing to do."

"She ought to do something," replied Mrs. Prim, making a knot in her
silk. "If she were my little girl, I should send her to school, to
occupy her mind."

"Should you?" said Grandma Gray, hesitating, and patting her white
curls. "Her mother said there were some naughty children about here,
and she might be led into mischief at school, while Julia is away."

"I'm sure she is led into mischief at home," said Mrs. Prim.

"Very true. Perhaps she would be quite as safe at school. I will talk to
her father about it," said Grandma Gray.

And of course Dr. Papa said, "Just as you please;" and Flaxie was sent
to school with her satchel and books.

She came home the first day very dirty, after the dinner was cold, and
Auntie Prim wondered if such a child ought to have any pudding.

"Oh, auntie," said Flaxie, shaking her flying hair, "I saw a little girl
down under the hill, and says I, 'What's your name?' and says she,
'Patty C. Proudfit.' And I thought you'd want me to go down and play
with her, and I did."

This was the first Mrs. Prim had ever heard of "Patty C. Proudfit," and
grandma knew nothing about her either; but Preston said the Proudfit
family had just moved into town, "a whole army of 'em, and lived in that
black house under the hill."

Next day,