I walked on, but somehow I did not feel so much like buying ribbons as before I met Jim. I couldn't help thinking of poor Mrs. Burt, without any comforts for sickness, and no one to take care of her but this half-witted son; however, I comforted myself by supposing the neighbors would not let her suffer, and that Calanthy would likely give Jim something good to take to her. When I got to the store, who should be there but Abby Matilda Stevens and Rhody Mills! Abby is generally thought _a beauty_, because she has great black eyes that are always so bright and shiny I wonder the hens don't try and peck at them; then she is tall and slim waisted, and her hair is as black as a coal, and longer than common; but I never liked such dreadful _sparkly_ eyes, do you? I think the kind that have a sort o' hazy look come into them--like the pond when a little summer cloud passes over the sun--are a great deal handsomer. However, I never dared to say so, for fear people might think I was jealous of Abby Matilda. Rhody Mills is a very good-natured girl, and always ready for a frolic, and the moment she saw me she said, 'Here comes Dimpey Swift now;'--they had been talking about me, I guess;--'oh, Dimpey, are you going to the picnic on Spring Mountain?' 'Our boys were talking about it at noon,' said I; 'I suppose some of us will go--Polly Jane or I; I don't much think Calanthy will.' 'I wish we could go on horseback,' said Rhody; 'that would be real fun; but our Will says we must have a wagon to carry the baskets, so we had better all drive.' 'Who are you going with, Dimpey?' said Abby Matilda. I knew well enough _who_ would be likely to ask me, but as I had no invitation yet, I answered, 'Oh, Joe or Biel, I suppose; father won't trust me with anyone else!' 'Well, thank goodness, _I_ can ride with whoever I please,' said Abby; 'I should think you were old enough to take care of yourself, Dimpey, if you're _ever_ going to be;' and Abby Matilda tossed her head, and rolled up her shiny eyes in that hateful way she has. '_I_ wouldn't ride with some of the boys if they were to ask me, said Rhody; 'Will is a real good hand with horses, and he says that the tricks some people play with their animals are enough to ruin the finest horse ever was raised.' 'Who do you mean by _some_ people?' said Abby, and she looked right scornful. Rhody laughed: 'I didn't mention any names,' said she; 'but I know good driving from harum-scarum, wherever I see it.' '_I'm_ not afraid to ride behind any horses in _this_ part of the country,' said Abby; 'and I think all cowards had better keep off Spring Mountain!'