'See that star over the mountain, Dimpey! don't it look handsome up there all alone? By the by, who is going to wait on you to the picnic--you didn't say, did you?' I was so vexed at the question, I'd a great mind to answer,'It's none of _your_ business, Race Miller, who I go with,' but just then, I can't tell why, the thoughts I'd had in the morning out in the orchard all came back to me, and I remembered how Race had given up coming to ask me because his mother wanted him; and then I thought how good he was to his mother, and waited on her as if she was a pretty young girl. And what would _my_ mother say, if she was living, to hear me speak so. Father always said _she_ never gave any one a cross word in her life! I looked up at the star, and it appeared to me that mother might be up there watching me, and knowing all my thoughts; and instead of answering Race, I put down my head and burst out crying. I'd wanted to have a good hard cry all day, and now I would have given the world to stop, and I couldn't. 'Why, Dimpey!' said Race, 'what _is_ the matter?' I couldn't speak; we were passing a big maple tree, and I stopped and hid my face against it, so that Race couldn't see it. He let me cry a few minutes, and then took hold of my hand as gentle as a little child, and whispered, 'Don't cry, Dimpey! I can't bear it. I'm afraid I shall do something rash, if you don't stop soon!' I didn't know what he meant by 'something _rash_,' but his voice sounded so earnest, it frightened me. I took my hand out of his, and wiped my eyes; and then I said, 'It's very shallow to cry when one's head aches; but I couldn't help it.' 'Does your head ache, Dimpey?' said Race; 'oh, how sorry I am I haven't my wagon here. I'm afraid you can't walk home.' Now, my head _did_ ache; but it was because I had been crying; but you see, if one leaves the truth ever so little, how deceitful one has to be to keep it up. I felt real _mean_ when Race showed so much concern about me, and told him I could walk very well. 'Won't you take my arm?' said he; 'that will help you.' I couldn't refuse, though I was dreadfully afraid we might meet somebody. We walked on in silence for a while, and I could feel Race's heart beat against my hand that lay on his arm, for he held me close to his side, as if I was in danger of falling. Presently he said: 'I only asked who you were going with, Dimpey, because I wanted you to have a good time; if I can't have _your_ company, I don't care to go; but I hoped you would enjoy yourself.' Race spoke so honest it made me feel ashamed of my ugly spirit, and I answered: 'Edward Hassel asked me to go with _him_; but father's got a notion he drives too fast, and perhaps he won't let me ride with him.' I felt Race give a kind of shiver; and when he spoke again, his voice trembled like everything.