gold ring to school to-morrow?"

"No, you can't. How many times have I got to tell you?" said her
mother, mixing her biscuit dough energetically.

"Please let me, mother. They didn't believe I've got one."

"Let them believe it or not, just as they have a mind to," said her
mother.

"They think I'm telling stories."

"What have you been telling about your ring in school for, when you
ought to have been studying? Now, Comfort, I can't have you standing
there teasing me any longer. I've got to get these biscuits into the
oven; they must have some supper before they go home. You go right
out and set the table. Get the clean table-cloth out of the drawer,
and you may put on the best knives and forks. Not another word. You
can't wear that gold ring until your hand grows to it, and that
settles it."

Comfort went out and set the table, but she looked so dejected that
the company all noticed it. She could not eat any of the hot biscuits
when they sat down to supper, and she did not eat much of the company
cake. "You don't feel sick, do you, child?" asked her grandmother,
anxiously.

"No, ma'am," replied Comfort, and she swallowed a big lump in her
throat.