She caught up her books and started running in the direction of Ruth Craven.
"How tiresome of her to have gone so fast!" she said to herself?
Presently she shouted Ruth's name, and Ruth was obliged to stop.
"Why, Ruth," said Cassandra, "what is the matter with
you? You generally wait to talk to me after school is over. Why are you in such a hurry?"
"I am not," said Ruth, who was not going to get out of her difficulty by telling an untruth.
"Well, if you are not in a hurry, why are you running across this field at the rate of a hunt? It looks as if you were—" Cassandra paused, and the color came into her cheeks—"as if you were running away from me."
Ruth was silent. Cassandra came close to her and looked into her face.
"What is the matter, Ruth?" she repeated.
"I have promised granny that I would help her with some darning this afternoon."