"No; but he said it was mighty queer a man could miss seeing a package as big as that. There was no use looking for it, or advertising for it; he knew that it was on that wagon-seat. I fired up and said, 'Do you think I took it?' He didn't answer; and that settled it." "Well, if ever he does find it, I'll never have anything to do with them," said mother. "Suspect you of keeping her fork-money!" "It's very odd where it went," repeated father. "I am glad you've spoken at last. It's been on my mind more than anything. I thought you might have misunderstood him, and was over touchy; but--her money!" Father made no reply; and from that time mother stopped looking down the road. Finding out just what Mr. Ridlet accused father of, made the estrangement between Bub and me seem worse. Our going together would never be fixed up now. I had hoped our fathers would, some time, settle things. It was tough. I couldn't put my mind to anything, mother noticed. "What's the matter, Seth?" she asked. "Aren't you well?" she went on, seeing I didn't answer. "You don't eat much, and you are moping all the time. How would you like your Cousin Mel to visit you a while?" I rushed off. Mel was a real softy, with shining shoes, slick hair, and all that. About as ready to go on a tramp as a girl. I couldn't bear the thought of him. I went under the grape vine that grows over the trellis between Mr. Ridlet's garden and ours. I threw myself down, looking up into the leaves, making a mat overhead, and counting the green bunches, as if that was great fun. It was a hot day--such a day as one likes to creep along barefooted in the wet grass by the brooks, fishing-pole in hand. I thought of Bub, and how, if things had been all right, we'd been ready to start off, and, well-- Then I heard some one pulling apart the vines against the fence, and the next minute I sprung up as if I was shot, for Bub's voice, rather shaky, called: "Seth!" I turned my back on him. "Please, Seth!" I wouldn't speak. "Say, father will give me a licking, and if you'll only speak to your father--say, Seth! Seth!" I was half-way to the house. His voice ought to have made anybody turn back, but I wouldn't stop. He hadn't spoken to me for over six months and his father was to blame, and now he spoke because he was going to get a licking. I didn't think any boy would be such a coward. It didn't seem like Bub. Once I felt like running over to his house--I had seen him sneak back--then I was mad at myself for wanting to go there. What wouldn't I have given afterwards if I had gone? After supper, as father and I were passing the Ridlets', we heard Bub's howls. They came from the barn. Father had been almost as fond of Bub as of me. When he heard the cries, he stopped short. For a minute we didn't hear any more, only Mr. Ridlet scolding hot and heavy, and Bub trying to put in a word or two. He was a dreadful quick-tempered man, and, when angry, hardly knew what he did.