"Oh no," rejoined her mother, "why do you wish Sarah to go? She will only
be a trouble to us."

"She won't be any trouble at all, mother, and I mean to go and ask her,"
said Hannah; and, putting on her bonnet, she set off towards the gate.

"No, Hannah," insisted her mother, "you _must not_ go. I don't wish to have
Sarah go with us to-day."

Hannah paid no attention to this prohibition, but ran off to find Sarah.
After a few minutes she returned, saying that Sarah was not at home.

"I am glad of it," said her mother; "I told you not to go to ask her, and
you did very wrong to disobey me. I have a great mind not to let you go
yourself."

Hannah ran off in the direction of the path, not caring for the censure or
for the threat, knowing well that they would result in nothing.

Her mother followed. When they reached the pastures Hannah began running
here and there over the grass.

"Hannah!" said her mother, speaking in a stern and reproachful tone; "what
do you keep running about so for all the time, Hannah? You'll get tired out
before we get to the village, and then you'll be teasing me to let you stop
and rest. Come and walk along quietly with me."

But Hannah paid no attention whatever to this injunction. She ran to and
fro among the rocks and clumps of bushes, and once or twice she brought to