"But she is very fearless. This morning, before I went to her room, she had climbed out of the window and broken off a piece of the maple tree with buds on it." "What, way up there at the roof?" "Yes, she said that was nothing, for she had hold of the blind." "What did she want the branch for?" "She wanted it for the red buds. She broke them off and put them in her cup, like flowers." "Well, Miss Rose, take her out to walk this afternoon, and ask her some questions. Perhaps you can find out where she lives." CHAPTER V CLEMATIS BEGINS TO LEARN Clematis played with Deborah all the morning. She forgot about helping Katie, and when Katie asked her if she wanted to help her peel some potatoes, she said: "I don't know how." [Illustration: "Didn't you ever peel potatoes?"] "Didn't you ever peel potatoes?" asked Katie. "No, I never had to do any work." "Well, you will have to be doing some work round here. It's lucky for you that Mrs. Snow is good to little girls. You would have a hard row to hoe in some homes, believe me." Clematis was busy tying her hair ribbon round Deborah's neck, and did not answer. The morning went fast, and the dinner was ready before Clematis was ready to leave her kitten. For dinner they had soup, in the little yellow bowls, with a big piece of Johnny cake, and some ginger bread. As soon as dinner was over, Miss Rose brought Clematis a brown coat. It was not new, but it was neat and warm, much better than the one she had worn the day before. "Come, Clematis," she said, "I am going out to walk. Don't you want to go with me?" "Where are you going?" asked Clematis, shrinking back. "Oh, out in the park, and down by the river. I think you will like it." Clematis put on the coat as quickly as she could. Then she took Miss Rose by the hand. "Come on, let's go," she said. "You might wait till I get my coat and hat on." Miss Rose was laughing at her. Soon they were down by the river. Miss Rose sat on the gravel, while Clematis ran along the edge of the water. She sailed bits of wood for boats, and threw little stones in, to see the rings they made. She was very, very happy. "Clematis," said Miss Rose, "don't you remember the street you lived on?" Clematis thought a minute. "How would you know the street you lived on if nobody ever told you?" Miss Rose thought a moment. "Don't you remember your mother's name?" Clematis shook her head. "I don't remember. It was a long time ago." "Do you mean she died a long time ago?" Miss Rose asked her some other questions. At last she said: "Well, tell me the name of the man you lived with." "His name was Smith." "Oh dear, there are so many Smiths, we shall never guess the right one. Dear me, Clematis. I don't know how we shall ever find your home." Clematis threw a big stone into the water, which made a big splash. "I hope you never will," she said. "Why, Clematis! Do you mean that you wish never to go back where you came from?"