"She needn't find out. What she doesn't know won't hurt her!"
"But—it is stealing!"
Mrs. Coombe laughed. "What a baby you are, Esther, for all your solemn eyes and grown-up airs. Stealing—the idea! Anyway you need not worry since you are not the thief." She yawned again, rose, and declared that she felt quite tired enough to go to bed.
When she had gone, Jane left her lessons and came to her sister's side.
"Esther, do I really have to go away with Mother?"
"It looks like it, Janie. But you'll like it. Mrs. Bremner has a little girl."
"I don't like little girls."
"Then you ought to! The change will probably do you good."
Jane looked dubious. "Things that I don't want never do me any good.
Will you help me with my 'rithmetic?"
"I will when I come back."