"Yes, I wish you were going to school, too. Say, Sherm, why couldn't you arrange to take one or two special studies under the new teacher? They say he only lacks one year of graduating from college and knows a lot. He's teaching to save the money for his last year. Perhaps you might take some of your freshman work." "I wish I could--I hate to get behind the rest of the boys. But your father is hiring me to work, not to study." "I know, but when winter comes you won't need to work all the time, and you'll have all your evenings--Jim Bart does." "If I could only keep up my mathematics and Latin, I wouldn't be losing so much." Sherm was considering. The nine-mile ride to town seemed shorter than usual to most of the party that afternoon. Ernest, in spite of his joy in actually going away to school, found home and home folk unexpectedly dear now that he was leaving them for many months. Poor Mrs. Morton could hardly tear her eyes from the son who was taking his first step away from her. Chicken Little was feeling disturbingly sober; no Ernest, no Katy, no Gertie--how could she ever stand it? "Sherm, if I start to cry, just wink, will you--that funny way you do sometimes. Ernest bet I would--and I won't, but I know I'm going to want to dreadfully." Chicken Little was as good as her word. She didn't--that is, as long as Ernest could see her. She kissed him good-bye and gave him a playful box on the ear. She threw kisses, smiling as the group at the car window slid by, then the lump in her throat grew startlingly bigger. "Race you to the horses, Chicken Little," said Sherm. "If it's all right with you, Mrs. Morton, we'll go straight home." Chicken Little raced with Sherm and with her tears. She beat Sherm but the tears won out. She could hardly see to untie Calico's rein. Sherm took the strap out of her hand, fastened it, and swung her up. "Shut your eyes and open your mouth," he commanded, as soon as she was securely seated. Jane obeyed meekly and Sherm popped a big chocolate drop in. "Oh!" she exclaimed, smiling through the trickling tears, "was that what you stopped down town for? My, what a baby you must think me!" Sherm reached over and patted her hand. "I think you are several pumpkins and some squash, Chicken Little. Have another?" CHAPTER XV SCHOOL The days crawled by during the next two weeks. "I hate them so by night, I want to shove them off into to-morrow by main force," Jane told Marian complainingly, the third day after Ernest and the girls had gone. "You'll be all right in a day or two. It's always hardest at first," Marian consoled her. "I suppose it doesn't make any difference whether I'm all right or all wrong--the folks have gone just the same." "And you might as well make the best----" "Oh, yes, I might as well! 'Count your blessings, my brethren, etc.' I've done counted 'em till I'm sick of hearing about them! Marian, if you don't find me something new to do I shall bust!"