"I won't tell a soul--_not_ a soul, Lav. Oh--" gasping, "is that what you and Mr. Dugald do when you go off like you did yesterday?" Lavender nodded with a sheepish grin. "Yep, that's our school." "Oh, what _fun_! To study like that. _I'd_ learn a lot, too. Mart and I were dreadfully curious and Mart said she knew that Mr. Dugald was painting you and didn't want to do it where anyone might see you on account of--" Poor Sidney stopped, abruptly in sorry confusion. "Oh, that's all right! I don't care what _you_ say because you don't feel sorry for me. That's why I like to have you 'round. _You_ think I can do something. Sidney, Mr. Dugald says there was a man who was an electrical wizard and knew everything and what he didn't know he worked over until he found out and he--he--was--like me--only worse. I'll work--gee, how I'll work--if I get a chance--" Lavender clenched his long fingers together and his dark eyes glared fiercely. "I'd cut and run now from here--if it wasn't for Aunt Achsa." "Oh, yes,--Aunt Achsa." That brought Sidney sharply back to her own troubles. "She's been awful good to me and I can't leave her now even though I don't do much. Mr. Dugald says that just now my job's right here and I must show folks that my back can carry its job even if it is--" "_Don't_, Lav--" cried Sidney, near to the pity that Lavender despised, but he was too engrossed in his own feelings to notice it. "Of course you can't leave Aunt Achsa. Lav, I feel so cheap and--and--horrid. I was very rude to Aunt Achsa yesterday and hurt her feelings which was ungrateful of me after her letting me come and doing everything here to make me happy. It was about my hair. I--I--oh, I won't even _repeat_ what I said--it was so silly. And _that's_ really why I must go home. Trude didn't exactly tell me I had to go--she just said perhaps I ought to go and that I must decide. But of course I know now--after yesterday--Aunt Achsa would not want me to stay--" "Say, is _that_ all! As though Aunt Achsa is holding anything against you! Why, she's the most forgivingest person you ever heard of. She wants to forgive anyone before they've done anything. She's like that. I'll bet the next second after you said it she'd forgotten what you said." "But it's worse to hurt anyone like that!" cried Sidney miserably, yet with her heart lifting. For a thought was taking shape--a reasonable and just thought. "Lavender--do you think--as long as _you_ like to have me here--that that would sort of make up for my rudeness? I mean--can't I go and ask Aunt Achsa to let me stay? I'll tell her how ashamed I am." "Gee, you're square!" exclaimed Lavender, proudly. "I'll tell you--we'll go together and ask her. I know just what she'll say but you'll feel more honest about it."