As they got farther and farther away, and no one followed them, they grew less frightened, and then they found themselves very, very tired, with still a long way to go to reach home. It was almost dark when two tired and hungry girls reached the steps of their own home and safety. "I'm half starved!" said Helen, as they dragged themselves up the stairs. "So 'm I," said Bessie. "You go onto my room," whispered Helen, "and I'll go down and see if I can get something to eat--it isn't near supper time." In a few minutes she came up with some cakes which they eagerly devoured, and felt that their troubles were over. They had, however, one more ordeal. At the supper table Helen's mother asked: "How did you find Lottie? Did you have a pleasant time?" Helen hesitated a moment and then said hastily:-- "We didn't go there; we met Jule Dayton going there, so we got out at S---- Street and walked down to the river." Helen's mother eyed the girls sharply. "You must have had a long walk." "We did," answered Helen, "and we're awful hungry;" adding quickly as she saw another question on her mother's lips, "I'll tell you all about it after supper." And she did. Alone with her mother the two girls confessed--told the whole story and promised never, never again to try to deceive. * * * * * "That was a good story," said Kristy, as her mother ended. "You never told me anything about that Bessie before. Do you know anything more about her?" Kristy's manner was rather suspicious and Mrs. Crawford smiled as she answered:-- "Yes; I know a good deal about her and I'll tell you more some day." "Tell me now!" begged Kristy; "I believe I know who she was. Was her name really Bessie?" "No matter about that," answered Mrs. Crawford; "if I told you her real name, perhaps I shouldn't like to tell you so much about her." "Oh, well! then you needn't; but I guess I can guess." "I guess you can guess all you like," said mamma, smiling again. "One thing more I remember now that happened during that famous visit, which was not quite so tragical as the death of the poor kitten." CHAPTER III A SCHOOLGIRL'S JOKE The school to which Helen went--and where Bessie went with her--was not like the great schoolhouses they have now. It had but two rooms, one for girls and the other for boys. Some of the school windows opened on the street, and one morning when all was quiet in the schoolroom an organ-grinder suddenly began to play under the open windows. The girls looked up from their books and listened, the teacher looked annoyed, but thinking he would soon go on, she waited. The girls began to get restless; study was at an end; and at last when the grinder had played all his airs and begun again, the teacher went to the door to ask him to go. In the hall she met the teacher of the boys, who was on the same errand, for the boys were all excited and getting very noisy. In fact school work was stopped in both rooms.