"Well, no more it isn't fair for you not to promise."
By this time they had nearly reached Captain Clifford's, for Isa had walked a long distance out of her way to accompany Grace.
"Isa Harrington, I think you might tell."
"Gracie Clifford, I think you might promise."
"Isa, I'd never dare. 'Twould fly out of my lips when I saw Cassy, and
I couldn't help it. Don't make me tell a lie!"
Grace ate her dinner that noon in silence. What dreadful thing could
Mrs. Hallock have said to her husband?
"Nothing much, I reckon; Cassy wouldn't go and tell stories about me!
I'll trust Cassy as long as I live."
Grace twirled her regard-ring about her finger. "I'd be crazy if I believed my best friend was false!"
Still the thought troubled her. Grace had asked Cassy's views regarding the prize. To her it seemed a thousand pities that Cassy should have gone away, and so missed all chance of it. Cassy's reply was just like her. She didn't care her little finger for the prize. "It wouldn't probably be worth more than five dollars, any way; and as she had five dollars already, what could she want of any more?" She didn't see why Grace should want it, either; but if she did, Cassy hoped she'd get it. "If Mahla feels badly, you can give her something," added Cassy, sagely.
Grace pondered over this letter for some time. It was short and to the purpose, for its writer never wasted words. Grace fancied, too, that it was rather cool; but every time a doubt tried to creep into her mind, she shut it out, saying to herself,—