earnest and feel badly about it."

Peace eyed the older girl, as if trying to fathom her meaning, but
Faith's face was like a mask, and after a brief pause, the child
answered, "I don't mean to; but ain't I glad she can't guess all my
thinks! Just s'posing everyone knew what everyone else was thinking,
wouldn't some folks be scrapping all the time? Brains are queer things.
I used to wish I could see one when it was doing its thinking, but I
guess God knew his business when he put them inside our heads, where no
one else can watch them."

"Peace, Peace! Where are you?" called an excited voice from below, and
the brown-eyed philosopher jumped up from her burlap couch with the
shout, "Coming, Allee! I hope you find your senses pretty soon, Faith,
for the doctor says when that happens you will be all right and not have
any more headache."

The faded red coat disappeared down the ladder, and Faith was left alone
again. But she read no more. The sad story had lost its interest, and
she cast aside the magazines without another glance. Was what Mr. Jones
had told Peace true? Was there a possibility that the home must be
broken up? Was the doctor right in his verdict? Did all the sisters feel
that she could be spared the easiest? That was a fierce battle Faith
waged with herself in the barn, but when it was ended a
determined-faced girl rose from the dusty floor, descended the old
ladder, and hurried away toward the village. It was noon before she
returned, and the five sisters, anxious over her unusual absence, were
just sitting down to a frugal dinner of mush and milk when she entered
the door, looking excited and queer, but with a happier light in her
eyes than had been there for months.

The minute grace was said, Peace demanded suspiciously, "Where have you
been all this time?"

"Drumming up trade," was the startling answer. "I've got six regular
cake customers, and several who promised to buy of me when they needed
anything in my line."

Faith was awake at last.

CHAPTER X

COMPANY FOR SUPPER

"Cherry, do you know it's 'most night, and those girls aren't at home
yet? They said they'd sure be here by four o'clock, and here 'tis five
and they haven't come." Peace was plainly worried, and with a
half-impatient sigh, Cherry closed her fascinating story book and joined
her sister watching at the window for the belated girls who had gone in
town with Mrs. Grinnell that morning.

"P'r'aps the horse run away,