Comfort put the ring in her pocket.  Her face was flushing redder and redder, and the tears rolled down her cheeks.

Miss Tabitha drew out a large pin, which was quilted into the bosom of her dress, and proceeded to pin up Comfort’s pocket.  “There,” said she, “now you leave that ring in there, and don’t you touch it till you go home; then you give it right to your mother.  And don’t you take that pin out; if you do I shall whip you.”

Miss Tabitha turned suddenly on the reading-class, and the faces went about with a jerk.  “Turn to the fifty-sixth page,” she commanded; and the books all rustled open as she went to the front.  Matilda gave Comfort a sympathizing poke and Miss Tabitha an indignant scowl under cover of the reading-class, but Comfort sat still, with the tears dropping down on her spelling-book.  She had never felt so guilty or so humble in her life.  She made up her mind she would tell her mother about it, and put the ring back in the box that night, and never take it out again until her finger grew to it; and if it never did she would try to be resigned.

When it was time for recess Miss Tabitha sent them all out of doors.  “I know it’s cold,” said she, “but a little fresh air won’t hurt any of you.  You can run around and keep warm.”

Poor Comfort dreaded to go out.  She knew just how the boys and girls would tease her.  But Matilda Stebbins stood by her, and the two hurried out before the others and ran together down the road.

“We’ve got time to run down to the old Loomis place and back before the bell rings,” said Matilda.  “If you stay here they’ll all tease you dreadfully to show that ring, and if you do she’ll whip you.  She always does what she says she will.”

The two girls got back to the school-house just as the bell rang, and, beyond sundry elbow-nudges and teasing whispers as they went in, Comfort had no trouble.  She took her seat and meekly opened her geography.

Once in a while she wondered, with a qualm of anxiety, if her ring was safe.  She dared not even feel of her pocket under her dress.  Whenever she thought of it Miss Tabitha seemed to be looking straight at her.  Poor Comfort had a feeling that Miss Tabitha could see her very thoughts.

The Stebbinses and Sarah Allen usually stayed at noon, but that day they all went home.  Sarah Allen had company and the Stebbinses had a chicken dinner.  So Comfort stayed alone.  The other scholars lived near enough to the school-house to go home every day unless it was very stormy weather.

After everybody was gone, Miss Tabitha and all, the first thing Comfort did was to slide her hand down over the bottom of her pocket, and carefully feel of it under her dress skirt.

Her heart gave a great leap and seemed to stand still—­she could not feel any ring there.