story about the candy. Because it was
just what she told me."

"Then the child must be taught that we don't like such fooling,"
responded Annette, with what she felt was a very grown-up and impressive
manner.

"Sit here, Ruth," said Betty, wondering at the manner of the older
girls, "and, Winifred, come and sit beside her."

Winifred was quite ready to change her seat as Betty suggested, but
Annette's hand clasped her arm, and it was Annette who answered: "Winnie
would rather sit here, beside me."

"All right," responded Betty. "Then I'll have Ruthie for my helper. I
can always depend on you, Ruth, can't I?" she added, smiling at her
young friend.

"Always," whispered Ruth, gratefully; and it was she who helped Betty
serve the other girls with the excellent cold chicken, and bread, and
butter, the jelly-filled tarts, and squares of molasses gingerbread, so
that Annette's proposed "lesson" bid fair to be defeated.

"What's the matter, Ruthie?" Betty found a chance to whisper, as they
sat down together a little way from the larger group.

Ruth told the story eagerly. "I don't know why I thought Winnie had put
the basket there, or why I was so horrid as to say that she told a
story," confessed the unhappy little girl. "Do you suppose it really was
the fairies, Betty?"

Betty looked rather sober for a minute. She was thinking to herself that
her May-day party bid fair to be a failure unless her guests could
realize that Ruth had only made a mistake for which she was sorry. She
blamed Annette more than she did Ruth, feeling sure that Winifred and
Ruth would have come to a friendly understanding if Annette had not
interfered.

"I have a plan, Ruthie, that perhaps will make it all right. Will you do
just what I tell you?"

"Yes, indeed I will," responded Ruth gratefully.

Mrs. Hastings had left the girls to themselves and gone over to the
May-pole.

"Come here, Winifred," called Betty, and this time Annette made no
objection, and in a moment Winifred was sitting beside Ruth, and both
the little girls were thinking that Betty was much nicer than any other
"grown-up" girl in the party.

"Ruth Pennell is going to tell us a story," announced Betty. "She
doesn't know if it really is true or not. For a little while she thought
her best friend had taken the part of a fairy, but afterward she was
sure she had not. Now, Ruth," and Betty turned smilingly toward her
little friend, "stand up and tell us all about it; ab