“I couldn’t help myself; you spoke so loud. I didn’t want to, but you did speak very loud. Why do you say those horrid things about her?”
“They are true,” said Harriet. “I don’t mean to be unkind to her. I wouldn’t be unkind to anybody, but, at the same time, I want to warn you in case you are taken in by her ways and choose her as your school-mother.”
Ralph was quite silent. After a minute he said in an altered voice:
“Let’s do something now—what shall we?”
Harriet suggested that they should visit the farmyard at the back of the house and coax Jim, the groom, to let them ride on some of the horses. This, of course, was most fascinating, and no sooner had it been thought of than it was done. The ride was followed by something still more exciting. Jim was going to drive to the nearest town with the spring cart, and he offered to take the two children with him.
Harriet no sooner heard this proposal than she accepted it, and she and Ralph had a glorious drive to town. There she spent sixpence—all the money she possessed—on different sweetmeats.
“I wish I had some more,” she said. “I’d give you all my money—I would, indeed!”
“There are quite enough sweeties there,” said Ralph; “but if you really want to buy other things, Harriet, I have got money.”
“Have you? Let’s see what you’ve got,” said Harriet.
Ralph put his hand into his breeches pocket, and took out a handful of coppers, a shilling, and two sixpences.