"Yes," answered Billy, "I didn't think you would want it."
"And when you got home, you thought I would want it?" she asked.
Billy nodded. The tears had come to his eyes, though he had tried to keep them back.
"Thank you, Billy," she said in a low voice as she smoothed out the crumpled worsted and put it in the case. It was a little soiled but she did not seem to notice that. She put her arm around Billy and drew him close to her. "I am glad you brought the worsted back, Billy," she said, "for it shows me that you are a brave little man! It makes me love you very much."
Billy looked up at her with shining eyes. "I love you too!" he declared.
She kissed his forehead. "Now run home to your dinner!" she said. Billy ran as fast as he could until he saw the grasshopper. Then he stopped.
"You look very happy, Billy," said the grasshopper, "I guess you must have told your teacher all about it!"
"I did," cried Billy, "but how did you know it would make me happy? I did not think it would."
The grasshopper jumped over to another blade of grass, put his head on one side, and sang,
"Oh, I am a grasshopper, very, very wise!