"Becky, I--I don't care for anybody but you."

     No reply--but sobs.

     "Becky"--pleadingly. "Becky, won't you say something?"

     More sobs.

     Tom got out his chiefest jewel, a brass knob from the top of an andiron, and passed it around her so that she could see it, and said:

     "Please, Becky, won't you take it?"

     She struck it to the floor. Then Tom marched out of the house and over the hills and far away, to return to school no more that day. Presently Becky began to suspect. She ran to the door; he was not in sight; she flew around to the play-yard; he was not there. Then she called:

     "Tom! Come back, Tom!"