Camilla hastily set the kettle to boil, and began to lay the table.  She could hear the velvety tones of Mrs. Francis’s voice in the library.

“Mrs. Francis speaks a strange language,” she said, smiling to herself, “but it can be translated into bread and butter and apple sauce, and even into shoes and stockings, when you know how to interpret it.  But wouldn’t it be dreadful if she had no one to express it in the tangible things of life for her.  Think of her talking about proper diet and aids to digestion to that little hungry girl.  Well, it seems to be my mission to step into the gap—­I’m a miss with a mission”—­she was slicing some cold ham as she spoke—­“I am something of a health talker, too.”

Camilla knocked at the library door, and in answer to Mrs. Francis’s invitation to enter, opened the door and said: 

“Mrs. Francis, would it not be well for Pearl to have a lunch before she starts for her walk into the country; the air is so exhilarating, you know.”

“How thoughtful you are, Camilla!” Mrs. Francis exclaimed with honest admiration.

Thus it happened that Pearlie Watson, aged twelve, began her journey into the big unknown world, fully satisfied in body and soul, and with a great love for all the world.

At the corner of the street stood Mrs. McGuire, and at sight of her Pearl’s heart stopped beating.

“It’s bad luck,” she said.  “I’d as lief have a rabbit cross me path as her.”

But she walked bravely forward with no outward sign of her inward trembling.

“Goin’ to Sam Motherwell’s, are ye?” the old lady asked shrilly.

“Yes’m,” Pearl said, trembling.

“She’s a tarter; she’s a skinner; she’s a damner; that’s what she is.  She’s my own first cousin and I know her.  Sass her; that’s the only way to get along with her.  Tell her I said so.  Here, child, rub yer j’ints with this when ye git stiff.”  She handed Pearl a black bottle of home-made liniment.

Pearl thanked her and hurried on, but at the next turn of the street she met Danny.

Danny was in tears; Danny wasn’t going to let Pearlie go away; Danny would run away and get lost and runned over and drownded, now!  Pearl’s heart melted, and sitting on the sidewalk she took Danny in her arms, and they cried together.  A whirr of wheels aroused Pearl and looking up she saw the kindly face of the young doctor.

“What is it, Pearl?” he asked kindly.  “Surely that’s not Danny I see, spoiling his face that way!”

“It’s Danny,” Pearl said unsteadily.  “It’s hard enough to leave him widout him comin’ afther me and breakin’ me heart all over again.”

“That’s what it is, Pearl,” the doctor said, smiling.  “I think it is mighty thoughtless of Danny the way he is acting.”

Danny held obstinately to Pearl’s skirt, and cried harder than ever.  He would not even listen when the doctor spoke of taking him for a drive.