"Oh, I am not big enough yet," said Hetty, blushing.
"Now I'll tell you what I'll do. If you will ask Miss Martin to go, I'll take you both, for, you see, I want to be sure that she doesn't hold any ill-will against me; and if she goes, all the people hereabouts will know that I was not the mean sneaking coward who tried to frighten her."
"All right," said Hetty. "I understand; and I will go on now as fast as I can, and coax Miss Martin to go."
"Let me know what she says when you come back, and I'll get the horse hitched, for father said he'd let me have the wagon."
"I will," said Hetty, already hastening on her way.
The teacher was sitting in rather a lonely and dejected mood at her window as Hetty's bright face appeared before her. She was a young girl, with soft brown eyes and a patient expression. It was her first experience at district-school teaching, and she found it laborious. Hetty soon told her errand, and in her eagerness so mixed up the concert and the custard and Matilda Ann's new bonnet that Miss Martin was bewildered, but after a while made out what it all meant.
"So James Stokes wants me to go to the concert?"
"Yes, ma'am, and me too."
"Have you permission?"
"I'll get it, Miss Martin. I'm sure mother'll say 'yes,' and I sha'n't tell any one but her. I want to surprise Matilda Ann, and I will get ready and come here, so that Jim Stokes needn't go to our house."