When he went in he found Aleck watching for him, anxious to hear about the school. So he told him the events of the day, and the conversation he had with Miss Ruth, adding, in conclusion, “and I’m going to try to walk in the light, Aleck. Let us read the Bible the first thing in the morning, before we have a chance to do anything wrong.” “Yes,” said Aleck, “and then we’ll pray.” “And ‘watch,’” added Mrs. Western. “Watch over your thoughts and feelings, and all the little actions of the day. Trust in God, watch and pray, and He will give you the victory.” [Illustration] [Illustration] CHAPTER VII. THE COASTING MATCH--WHO BEAT? Miss Ruth found that Mrs. Keller was mistaken; that, instead of being _torments_, her pupils were little _comforts_, and she loved them all very dearly. The spring and summer days flew by, vacation came, and again in the autumn she gathered the children about her. Much to the annoyance of the little girls, and somewhat to Frankie’s, Ben Field had gained admission. “Oh, dear!” sighed Kate Plummer, “that Ben Field is just going to spoil our fun. I can’t endure him.” “I do wish Miss Ruth had said he couldn’t come,” said Lou White, then, tossing back her brown curls, “there’s one thing about it, _I_ shan’t notice him.” “Nor I,” “nor I,” said they all, excepting Millie Ray. Sweet Millie Ray! “Poor Ben,” she said, “how lonely he’ll be. Don’t you think we _ought_ to be good to him, Frank,” turning to Frankie, who was just entering the school-room. “Don’t you think we _ought_ to be good to Ben Field?” “Of course, Millie,” said Frankie. “Why? Who isn’t?” “Oh, nobody, only some of us are sorry he’s coming to school,” Millie answered. “Ain’t you sorry?” Frankie hesitated a moment, then said frankly, “No, Millie, I’m not sorry when I think about it as I ought to. Ben needs to come as much as any of us. I guess he’ll be pleasant enough if we are good to him.” Frankie’s influence gave Ben a better reception from the girls than he would otherwise have met with, and, for a time, he was quite a pleasant playmate. But after a few weeks, when the novelty had worn off, his old spirit of mischief manifested itself. He delighted in teasing the younger boys and little girls. One day, after the snow came, the boys had a race in coasting, to see which of their sleds was the swiftest. They started at the very top of a long hill. There was Willie Prime on his Reindeer, Joe West on his Express, Ben Field on his Lightning, David Dwight on his Victor, and Frankie on his Light.