She looked around her. Miss Ford was nowhere in sight. So much the better. Ralph was called sharply back to her side. He came, Curly Pate trotting after him. "I _ont_ my king," called the school baby. "Then you will do without him," said Harriet roughly. "Go back to your play, you little silly. Run back at once." Curly Pate burst into loud screams and yells, and Ralph, forgetting his allegiance to Harriet, flung his arms round her and comforted her valiantly. In the midst of this scene, Miss Ford hurried up. "What is the matter?" she asked. "Ralph and Pattie and I are going away for a little by ourselves," said Harriet. "Curly Pate wants to come with us; but we don't want her." "Yes, I want her," said Ralph. "Why can't the child go with you?" asked Miss Ford. "No, she can't," said Harriet, looking very cross. "Very well, darling," said Miss Ford, catching the child in her arms and kissing her. "I've got something so nice to show you." She carried the weeping baby away, and Ralph, with a great pain at his heart, followed Harriet. His school-mother! Oh, yes, she was that. But did he like her? He was not sure. She puzzled him extremely. She was not half as interesting as on that wonderful day when she had devoted herself to him, and told him stories about the gipsies. As soon as ever Miss Ford had turned the corner, and had carried the weeping Curly Pate out of sight, Harriet turned to Pattie. "Now we must be very quick," she said. "If you don't mind, we will run all the way." "Where is we going?" asked Ralph. "We are going to have a jolly time," replied Harriet. "Now, Ralph, you clearly understand; you are going to be put on your honour." "Yes," said Ralph, looking important; "Father says that sometimes." "`Your honour' means this," continued Harriet: "You will never tell anybody what we are doing." "Course not," replied Ralph. "I aren't a tell-tale." "He isn't, either," said Harriet, looking at Pattie. "He is quite a good little boy, when he chooses. Well, then, we are ready, and I hope, Pattie, you are prepared to give us a very good time." Pattie answered at once that she was. In her heart of hearts, however, she was doubtful. Her father and mother were poor. Dr Pyke's practice was not a large one, and he found it difficult to make both ends meet. Then, there were numerous little Pykes at home--Pykes of all ages, from Pattie, whose years numbered twelve, to the baby, who was only three months old. It seemed to Pattie that the children swarmed everywhere. Still, she had a whole shilling stowed away in her purse in the corner of a drawer in her bedroom, that could be spent at the fair, and it was grand and delightful to bring a girl from Mrs Burton's to tea with her, and she also felt sure that little Ralph would have a welcome. When they reached the house, an ivy-covered house of old-fashioned make, which stood a little back from the village street, she found the hall door open.