"Indeed I will," was the hearty rejoinder. "I've often told you, Randy, that I'd do anything for you." "Well, this is for me, and for some one else too," said Randy, looking earnestly up into his kind, dark eyes. "And Jotham," she continued eagerly, "you must not mind if I don't tell you _all_ about it, 'tis truly a good reason why I can't." "I'll do whatever you wish, Randy," was the reply, "and I won't ask a question." "Oh, here's Prue coming," said Randy, "and she mustn't hear about it. You meet me at Barnes' store about four o'clock this afternoon and I'll tell you then what I wish you to do." "All right," said Jotham, "I'll be there on time, you may be sure of that." "O, Randy," cried little Prue, "what you tellin' Jotham? Tell me too." "See here, Prue," said Jotham with as serious an expression as he could assume, "I was just telling Randy that I should be at Barnes' store at four o'clock." "Oh, was that all?" said Prue, "I thought 'twas something great," and her look of disgust at finding the conversation to be upon so ordinary a topic made both Randy and Jotham laugh heartily. "Well I don't see why you laugh," said Prue, "'twon't be funny to be going down to the store this hot afternoon. I'd rather stay at home with my Tabby cat, and fan her to keep her cool." Immediately after dinner, little Johnny Buffum appeared in the door-yard and announced that he had come to play with Prue. He wore a blue-checked pinafore, below which could be seen his short snuff-colored trousers and little bare feet. Upon his head jauntily sat a large straw hat with a torn brim through which the sunlight sifted, where it lay, a stripe of gold upon his little freckled nose. "I'm glad you've come, Johnny," said Prue. "Let's play school." "All right," agreed Johnny, "I'll be the teacher." "And I'll play I'm Randy, and Tabby can be me,--you 'member to call her Prue when you speak to her,--and Johnny, this rag doll will be you," said Prue. "That old doll's a girl," objected Johnny. "I won't let no girl doll be me." But Prue argued that it would be enough better to be represented by the despised rag doll, than not to be in the school at all, so half convinced, the game began and the two children were so occupied when Randy started for her walk to the Centre, that her little sister quite forgot to coax to be allowed to "go too." As she trudged along the sunny, dusty road, Randy hummed a merry little tune, her footsteps keeping time to its rhythm and her heart beating faster as she thought of her delightful errand. Arrived at the store she asked Mr. Barnes to show her the piece of cloth from which her father had bought on the night that he had driven to the Centre. "Joel!" called Silas Barnes, "show Randy Weston that second piece of cloth from the top, will ye? I've got ter finish opening this barrel o' sugar." Joel placed the cloth upon the counter, saying, "Is that the piece ye mean?" "Yes, that is it," said Randy.